6/22/70L3 I i What Every Paralegal Should Know sbout Ethics but ij Afroid to A:sk! racilitatld by Brent D,, Rose, M.P$cctg. (Tax), J.D. Managing Director df BEST AovlsoRs (949) 838-4423 wwwlinkedin.com/inlbrentdros*e I brentdroseattorney@juno,com What is a PAnnLEGAL? . Held out as a PRnereeRr (rn]ee mruce, tNDEeENDENI Corurnlcl Vrnrunl), LrcnL o[ ArroRrury Assrsrnrur . Qualified br11of the follotjuing: - 1) Education - approved Penfilecnr- program - 2) Training - bachelor's degrpe'+ 1 year supervised or - 3) Work Experience - high s[hool + 3 yrs supervised Suprnvlsiolrl BY CA ATToRNEy wIJH > 3 YEARS PRACTICE . Not Legal Document or Urilawful Detainer Assistant nor provide Legall Services directly Business & Professions Code $ections 6450 & 5455 What Tasks May a P cal Perform? ANY if Properrly Delegated Supervised by an Attorney, who is ulti ly Responsible to the Client & for the Work P uct, UruLrss Task . Requires "lndependent lJudgment" (rendered to Client, not . Direct Relationship with ient or Control Ex. Fact Gatl.iering, Legal ents, Research, Interviewing or ing Clients? Business & Professions
6122/2013 What Can't a PRRRlrcal Do Provide "LEGAL ADVIcE" - Urunwrul Pnaclcr? a Lrenl Docuurrut Assrsrnrul except to Attorney a Rururue n or CRpprR -'Ambulance Chaser" a CorurnRcr with or Evpr-ovro by Noru-ArroRNEY a Itrtoucr lruvrsrve ru1 FtruRructRl PRopucr or a SERvtcE, Tnnrusncrtoru for lrucovte or PRortr EsrReLtsH Fres - Discuss, Quote, Admin Court? Business & Professions Code Section 5450(b) What is Unlawful or lllegal? . ANY Services for a CorusuMER, unless Under the Direction & Supervision of an Attorney (64s1) . Label or ldentify anyone as a PRnRleeRt, LrcRL or ArtoRruev AsststRrur who is NOT Qualified - Includes Verbal, Advertisement, Letterhead, Business Card, Sign, etc. &/or Without the Name of the Attorney, Law Firm, Corporation or Agency the PnnnlrcnL is employed by or has a contract with (64s2) Business & Professions Code Sections 6451 & 6452 What a re the Conseq uences? . Civil Compensation - ANY Violation of B&P Code Sections 6450 to 6456 - lnjunctive Reliel Restitution & Damages plus Attorney Fees to Injured Consumer - 6455(b) . Criminal Conviction - Violation of Services (64s1) or Marketing (6+s2) - L,t Violation - Infraction = $2,500 Fine for. each - Thereafter - Misdemeanor - Fine &/or 1 year Jail - Plus Restitution Business & Professions Code Section 6455(b) &6452 2
6122/?.01,3 Why lmportantlto ComplV? . lt is the Law & part,of W$at you Do - Role of a Pnnnlecnl is to Hplp others find Justice through, Uphold & Enforcp the Law Attorneys are Vica rio uslyl Li a b te fo r PnRelrcRl - WRrur ro Krrp youn Joe? . NO Reimbursement for PhnnlreRt Fees for Fiduciary's Attorney in Esftate, Conservatorship & Gua,rdianship Proceedi Business& Professions Cdde Section 6452(b) & Californla Rules of Cobrt 7.703 & 7 .754 Are There Other thical Rules? . Continuing Ed Reqs - 4 E ics&4Other,2Yr,s - certified br7 Supervising A - 6450(d) . CRrrroRuA RUrEs or Pnor olrtRl Cotrtoucr - applicable only to Attor - UwRulnoRrzED PRAclcE oF W - Rule 1-300 - Cases - PnRtruERsHrp WmH Nolr- R - Rule 1-310 - fees? : - FrrunrucrnL AnnRue Evrrurs w Non-Lnwyrns - Rule 1-320 - Aovrnlrsrr.rc & Soilctrartoru Rule 1-400 - No Prior or Family Business & Professions Section 6450(d) & http rllrules.calba r.ca.gov/Ru lesof Professiona lConduct What Concerns a e there with Email & Soci Media? ' EMATL - Signature line with Pnnnl - Disclosing or Attaching ng, Confidential or or Information Privileged Documents an - NOT Responding with y to All" - Client's Employer. or E Email - discoverable ' SoctRL MrorR {ex. Linkedtn, k, Twitter) - Do NOT Connect, Post, U ad or Attach for Work - Discoverable, Embarrassi rflvacy vlotailontsj ABA Standing Committee on Ethics Professiona I Responsibility Formal Opinion 11-459 & CA Civil Proc. Sec. 2034.270
6t21t13 Ethical Guidelines fcr Potential NeryClient lnquiry- The California tlitigator fsr Fst*:ntEal New #lient $ffiqulry ffit$"tiual ffiuldelines i::eb 0t'I Posled by [*arrbara Haubvi*lr in *thics Replrblished from the P*ralegnI Juncti*n Sy Barbara Hass, ,{CPlfAS Most law firms have E-zuggdg1e-to fotlow concernjng lega inquiries from a potentiaI ttew clierrt. Hven with a solo to smatl lawfirm, the attorney is ost likety nr:t going to atrswer the .J.nSgnUg-cAJL to obtai n the general i nformation surroundi g a potentiaL new client's legal for obtaining the basic facts fcr inquiry. The legal strpport staff wilf typicatly be responsi peaking with a potsntial new the attcrn*y. There are ethical guidetines to fol,low when ciient. These guidetines include, but are not t'imited to: 1. A parategal has a duty during any professionat contact o clarify that the paralegai is not an attorney. When a polenttal:new client calls, a non-atlo ney should always begin the conversatjon by.$troducinqJhenildyq -.!he.lr joF ce citv. You never want a catler to think that you are an attorney. [National Association of L gal Assistants, ModeL Standards and Gu'ide['ines for Utilization of Paralegals, Grrideline 1] Example: Good morning. My nome is Sally Smith and I am the paralegal for Attorney Jomes I need 10 to 15 minutes of your time to obtain some preliminary informatlon regarding the legol inquiry that DoGood, cal[ing about. Do you have 1A b 15 minutes to go over your tegal motter al this fime? yGU Are 2. A parategat is absotutety Arohipirgd from p]royi dj!g glJl4nion on the merits of d potentiat case or providlng iegal advice. [Catifornia Business ]o prolessrons cooe s oq:u(o)tTl-N;E;;;m;;;iatiofr of Legat ,Assistants, Modai Standards and Guidelines {or Utilization of Faralegals, Guideline 2l i Fxample: lf asked for an opinion on ihe merits of a potentia[ case or for tegol advile, simp[y say something like: I am not permitted to comment on that. l am mere[y gothering information for Mr. Qo6ood's review, l/r. Do6ood will answer all of your questious when he cantacts you to discuss yaur matter. J. A paralegal js absolutely prohibited from quoting legal fees or estabtishing the fees to charge a client. IBusiness a'rd Professions Code 5 6450 tbJlST; NEtionat Associitio-n oi]l$t Assi stants,-Modet Standards and Cuidetines for Utiiization of Paralegals, Guidetine 2l simply soy soinefhing fike; ! rsm not permiffed f,xampte: if askedwhat the attarnsy chargss far this type af matter, ta tliscuss lvlr. Da6ood's Cegaf fees with yau. lv1r. DaGoad wf I{ go aver hfs fees withlyau when he conrocrs you fo discuss vour matter. 4. A paraiegat must be on constant guard againsl a breach of confidentia tity. Any information a potentiat new chent provides to you js confidentiat. The hard and fast rule of not discussing client mattbrs with third parties applies. When it comes to confidentiality, it is always better to err on the side of caution. i 5. lt is important to tell the potential new client the g€neral turn-around time for 4 return tetephone cali from the attorney. This provides the calter with a timeline for a return catt. Example: Pleose hold while I transfer your call to llr. Do6ood; or, Mr. DoGadd wi[4 return ydur catl by the end of the day; or, Mr. Docoad wlll return yaur cal{ with.in z4-hours; or, Any other timetine d(signoted by your supewising otiurnuy. Finatly, it is always important toJ(lle lgluljl[ of the information that a potentiaf 1ew ctient provides to you so that an accurate summary can be pr&i?ET16-[6iattorney. Always follow the attorney's instructions on how to conduct an )nrtjat intervjew so that the attorney is prepared to speak with the potential new cqent wirh ease. 20r3 T ags: ilr:t*ntial N*w Clierrt Inqr"riry; $iew C;il!er; N*v,, Cli*nt; Hthi**l Guid*lines P rirrt 1t2 thecalifornialitig ator.cor#easyblog/ethical-g t-tidelines-for-potential-ne\+clieni-inquiry.htn{?print= 1&tnpi=corqrcnent
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