Recent orders
Kelly is a licensed paralegal who works as an associate in a law firm
Kelly is a licensed paralegal who works as an associate in a law firm. She had an initial consultation meeting with Sally on a Small Claims Court matter related to a burn that Sally sustained on her legs when using an ultraviolet tanning bed at the Sun-A-Soleil tanning salon. After the meeting Kelly thought the name of the tanning salon seemed familiar. She searched the conflict checking system at her law firm and identified that her firm is already defending Sun-A-Soleil in two other personal injury claims made by other customers. Based on the provided information, what steps is Kelly required to take with regard to Sally’s legal matter to fulfil her professional obligations as a licensed paralegal?
Authority: Text pp. 147-48; Paralegal Rules of Conduct Rule 3.04; Paralegal Professional Conduct Guidelines Guideline 9
You are the owner of a large paralegal firm that employs several paralegals
You are the owner of a large paralegal firm that employs several paralegals, law clerks and administrative staff. You also routinely supervise paralegal field placement students from the local college because you find it is an efficient way to recruit new talent to your growing business. Recently you met with a long-term client of your firm who owns a chain of prominent restaurants in the community. You had your new field placement student sit in on the meeting where you discussed your client’s plans to downsize their business due to the recent economic downturn and your recommended strategy for terminating the employees at the location that your client has decided to close. Your field placement student listens attentively to your discussion with your client and seems upset about what they hear. After the meeting they mention that they have friends who work at the restaurant that is going to be closed and that they depend on the money they earn in tips to pay for their tuition. Given the provided information, what paralegal responsibilities should you discuss with your field placement student to remind them of their obligations?
Authority: Text pp. 132-33; Paralegal Rules of Conduct Rule 3.03(1)-(3); Paralegal Professional Conduct Guidelines Guideline 8
You are a licensed paralegal who has recently been retained by a new client
You are a licensed paralegal who has recently been retained by a new client with regard to a landlord tenant matter. They are unhappy with the state of repairs on their rental unit and so want you to make an application to the Landlord Tennant Board for a rent abatement. During your last meeting with your client to finalize the application, they were very angry about how the owner of their apartment building ignores their requests about the repairs. During one of their tirades your client mentioned that they are sure that the landlord is using one of the empty units as an illegal marijuana grow-op. Your client is impatient about how long that matter will take to be heard and so instructed you to threaten the landlord with reporting the grow-op to the police if the landlord dos not agree to a rent abatement. Based on the provided information, how should you proceed with this matter?
Authority: Text p. 127; Paralegal Rules of Conduct Rule 3.02(9), Rule 3.08(5)(b)