Richard Zitrin, Lecturer in Law

Richard Zitrin was born in Brooklyn and raised in New York.  He taught school and spent two years as a political operative before going on to law school and a part-time NYC cab-driving gig.  He has lived in San Francisco since 1973, where he completed his last year of law school while working on a multiple-count murder case and practicing criminal law under the then-liberal student practice rules.

Professor Zitrin has taught Legal Ethics since 1977 - since ‘94 at Hastings - and has authored three books and dozens of articles in the field, including a current bi-monthly column, “The Moral Compass,” for American Law Media.  He founded and was the first Director of USF's Center for Applied Legal Ethics.  He was coordinator of USF's ethics curriculum and also taught Trial Practice.  He has taught ethics orientations around the country, including for several years at Fordham.  Professor Zitrin has also: chaired the California State Bar's ethics committee; been awarded the ABA's Pro Bono Publico Award in 2006; continually remained in private practice, trying 50 cases to verdict; become a CA certified specialist in legal malpractice law in 2010; and been technical advisor to the film Class Action (snagging a SAG card and a 13-word role opposite Gene Hackman).

In his free time, Professor Zitrin can be found playing saxophone or full-court basketball, at the ballpark or in his Italian restaurant, or watching movies with his wife or three adult children, all of whom live in the Bay Area.

Courses Taught: Legal Ethics in the Practice of Law (Professional Responsibility)

My favorite part about teaching you is... learning from you

What I hope you get from a legal education at Hastings... the ability to think like a lawyer and think - and feel - like a human being