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ETHICS: Top Ten Rules for Paralegals
Deborah K. Orlik

ISBN-10: 013119321X
ISBN-13: 9780131193215

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 176 pp
Published: 09/28/2005

Suggested retail price: $29.20
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Appropriate for courses in ethics for paralegals, legal assistants, or legal secretaries at the undergraduate level. Also appropriate as a supplement in an Introduction to Law course or an in-house training program.

Top Ten Rules for Paralegals presents a straightforward upbeat approach to developing an understanding of professional responsibility in the field of law.  Common everyday ethical issues in the real world of law are discussed in a conversational “plan English” style designed to make concepts more accessible and interesting for the student. 

Specifically designed for today's paralegal students, Top Ten Rules was written by a leading authority in field of paralegal ethics, Deborah Orlik. It is a distillation of over 20 years of legal study and practical use of the rules of professional responsibility as a paralegal.  This is the author's sixth book on the subject, however, this book takes a different, less dry, approach to the subject. The author warns the students to be prepared to use their own morality to test their threshold of right and wrong while discussing the scenarios presented in the book.  The object is to place the readers in a realistic workplace context involving an ethical issue and ask them to use their newly gained knowledge of the law and of their own morality to work through the problem.  This course of study will give them an opportunity to explore their feelings and opinions and get them ready to deal with issues on the job.

 

No one book can provide the answers to all ethical issues.  But this text will give the student a starting place.  By the end of this course of study they should be able to: 1) identify an ethical issue; 2) put it into a general category - one of the Top Ten rules; and 3) know where to start researching the answer to any ethical issue.

Appropriate for courses in ethics for paralegals, legal assistants, or legal secretaries at the undergraduate level. Also appropriate as a supplement in an Introduction to Law course or an in-house training program.

 

Top Ten Rules for Paralegals presents a straightforward upbeat approach to developing an understanding of professional responsibility in the field of law.  Common everyday ethical issues in the real world of law are discussed in a conversational “plan English” style designed to make concepts more accessible and interesting for the student. 

 

 

  • “Plain English” conversational writing style communicates concepts in an easy-to-read and understand manner. 
  • Emphasis on Workplace Application of the rules of professional responsibility provides students with realistic contexts for applying the rules. 
  • What Do You Think? questions allow students to tie concepts to their personal beliefs. 
  • Legal Terminology Margin Boxes aid the students in understanding legal terminology. 
  • End-of- Chapter Questions focus the student's learning on the key concepts in each chapter.

Preface to Student

Introduction

 

Rule#1 — Have Integrity

                Why Start Here

                We’re in Charge of Our Own Profession

                                Report Violations — The Lawyer’s Duty

                                Report Violations — The Paralegal’s Duty

                                How Does This Apply to Me?

                                Does It Really Apply to the Paralegal?

                                The Threat of Disciplinary Action

                                Who Are “the Proper Authorities”?

                                Checklist for Reporting Unethical Behavior

                General and Miscellaneous Misconduct Prohibited

                                General Misconduct and the Paralegal

                                Sexual Relations with the Client

                                Stress and Alcohol/Drug Abuse

                                Sexual Harassment

                Proof of Unfit Character

                Rule #1 Wrap Up

                Rule #1 Review Questions

 

Rule #2 — Preserve the Confidences and Secrets of the Client

                Keep the Client’s Secrets

                                What is “Confidential”?

                                Attorney/Client Privilege is Different

                                When is it Okay to Disclose Confidential Information?

                                Some Stuff That Happens is Not Confidential

                                One More Time: Attorney/Client Privilege is Different

                                Work Product is Confidential and Privileged

                Technology & Confidentiality

                Client Files and Confidentiality

                Rule #2 Wrap Up

                Rule #2 Review Questions

 

Rule #3 — Get and Stay Competent

                What the Codes and Rules Say About Competence

                                Protection of the Public is the Goal

                                Minimum Standards

                Professional Negligence

                                Competence in a Specific Area

                                Examples of Negligence

                                Negligent Disregard for the Client

                                Good Faith as a Defense

                                Standard of Care

                                Statute of Limitations in Negligence Actions

                Professional Negligence Liability Insurance

                Liability for Others

                Rule #3 Wrap Up

                Rule #3 Review Questions

 

Rule #4 — Charge Only Fair Fees

                Fee Agreements with Clients

                                Contingency Fees

                                Hourly Billing

                                Other Billing Methods

                                Other Fee Agreement Terms — Retainers

                Pro Bono Work

                Recovery of Fees From the Client

                Recovery of Fees From the Other Side

                Referral Fees

                Client Files and Fees

                Rule #4 Wrap Up

                Rule #4 Review Questions

 

Rule #5 — Make Legal Services Available

                Access to Justice

                Access to Information

                                Advertising

                                Advertising and the Paralegal

                                Bad Solicitation

                                Good Solicitation

                                Corporate Clients and Solicitation

                                Technology and Solicitation

                                Direct Mail

                                Mass Disasters

                Rule #5 Wrap Up

                Rule #5 Review Questions

 

Rule #6 — Represent Each Client with Zeal and Dedication

                Due Process as Our Cornerstone

                                Due Process Requirements to the Client

                                Due Process Requirement to the System

                Where is the Boundary of the Law?

                                Suppressing Evidence

                                Fabricating Evidence

                                Inducing a Witness to Testify Falsely

                                Allowing a Witness to Testify Falsely

                                Making False Documents

                The Practice of Deceit

                                Deceit is Discovery

                                Employees and Deceit

                Harassing Jurors

                Overpaying Experts

                Courtesy to Opposing Counsel

                Communication with Opposing Counsel

                Rule #6 and the Court

                                Courtesy to the Court

                                Give the Court Only Truthful Statements

                                Give the Court All of the Law

                                Lying to the Court and Dicta

                                File Only Righteous Claims with the Court      

                                Gifts to Judges

                Prosecutor’s Role to Seek Justice Contrasted

                Rule #6 Wrap Up

                Rule #6 Review Questions

 

Rule #7 — Don’t Practice Law Without a License

                What is the UPL?

                                Why Should Only Lawyers Practice Law?

                                Why Should We Care?

                                We Really Do Know What the Practice of Law is

                Prohibitions on the Practice of Law by Non-Attorneys

                                Representing Other as UPL

                                Preparing Legal Documents as UPL

                                Advising Other and Books and Kits as UPL

                What is Not UPL

                                Overlapping Functions — Not UPL

                                “Incidental to” — Not UPL

                                Doing Your Job — Not UPL

                What About Disbarred or Suspended Lawyers?

                Prohibitions Under Scrutiny

                What is the Effect of UPL?

                Exceptions to General UPL Rules

                What is Definitely Not “Giving Legal Advice” — The Conduit Theory

                Corporations and UPL

                Lawyers Aiding UPL

                                Improper Supervision

                                Improper Division of Fees

                                Improper Business Relationships

                The Lawyer’s Responsibility for Non Lawyer Personnel

                                Supervision and Hiring

                                Delegation

                Misrepresentation

                Enforcement and UPL Regulations

                Rule #7 Wrap Up

                Rule #7 Review Questions

 

Rule #8 — Be Loyal to Each and Every Client

                What is the Duty of Loyalty?

                Your Outside Interests Divide Your Loyalty

                                Overreaching for Fraud

                                Transaction in Good Faith

                                Witness

                                Champerty

                                Friends

                                Publicity Rights

                                Gifts

                Multiple Clients Divide Your Loyalty

                                Seller and Purchaser

                                Insured and Insurer

                                Husband and Wife

                                Debtor and Creditor

                                Representation of Corporations

                                Joint Representation of Criminal Defendants

                What Others May Want

                                Who’s Paying the Tab?

                Rule #2 Creates Conflicts of Interest

                                Presumption of Conflict

                                Who is Disqualified?

                                Preventing Disqualification

                                Ethical Wall Theory

                                Waiver of Conflict by Client

                Appropriate Action and Possible Penalties

                Rule # 8 Wrap Up

                Rule #8 Review Questions

 

Rule #9 — Work to Improve the Legal System

                Make the Law Safe

                Assist in Changing the Law

                                Simplify/Simplify

                                Public Pro Bono Work

                                The Unsavory Client

                                Report Misconduct

                                Improper Use of the Law

                                Criticism of the Judicial System

                One Last Word About Integrity

                Serve in Public Offices

                Rule #9 Wrap Up

                Rule #9 Review Questions

 

Rule #10 — Don’t Even Think About It

                Avoid the Appearance of Impropriety

                                Conflict of Interest

                                Exaggeration and Zeal

                Protecting the Public Trust

                Client Money and Trust Accounts

                Relationship with the Bench

                Rule #10 Wrap Up

                Rule #10 Review Questions

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