Recent orders

You have a longstanding client who owns several apartment buildings

You have a longstanding client who owns several apartment buildings located in the city where you are a partner at a respected paralegal firm. Because of the large number of tenants who live in these buildings, your client is frequently requires representation at the Landlord Tennant Board regarding tenant disputes. One day while you are chatting with another paralegal who is an associate at your firm, they advise you of a new client they recently met with who lives in a building you recognize is owned by your longstanding client. Based on the provided information, which of the following statements with regard to managing conflicts of interest is TRUE?
(a) There is no conflict of interest if your associate only provides legal services to the tenant and not the owner of the buildings
(b) There is no conflict of interest if you take over tenant’s matter and represent both the tenant and the owners of the buildings because you are a partner in the firm and not an associate
(c) There is a potential conflict of interest but you need more information on the nature of the tenant’s legal issue to determine if a conflict of interest exists
(d) There is a conflict of interest because there is a connection between the tenant and the owner of the building, regardless of the nature of the legal issue the tenant has retained your firm for
Authority: Text pp. 146, 148; Paralegal Rules of Conduct Rule 3.04; Paralegal Professional Conduct Guidelines Guideline 9

You are a paralegal who owns a successful legal services firm that employs two paralegal associates

You are a paralegal who owns a successful legal services firm that employs two paralegal associates, one law clerk, and one receptionist. You also routinely supervise a field placement student from the local college at your firm. Which of the following statements regarding the duty of confidentiality owed to the clients of your firm is TRUE?
(a) You, your employees and the field placement students you supervise owe a duty of confidentiality to all of the clients of your firm
(b) Your employees and field placement students owe a duty of confidentiality to the clients whose matters they complete work on, but not the clients whose matters they don’t work on
(c) You, and your employees owe a duty of confidentiality to the clients of your firm, but not the field placement students you supervise
(d) You and the field placement students you supervise owe a duty of confidentiality to the clients of your firm, but not your employees
Authority: Text pp. 132-33; Paralegal Rules of Conduct Rule 3.03; Paralegal Professional Conduct Guidelines Guideline 8

Which of the following statements regarding a paralegal’s professional obligations

Which of the following statements regarding a paralegal’s professional obligations with regard to withdrawing from representing a client is TRUE?
(a) A paralegal is not permitted to withdraw from representation from representation of a client except for good cause and on reasonable notice to a client
(b) A paralegal may terminate the paralegal-client retainer at any time, for any reason
(c) A paralegal may withdraw from representing a client in a quasi-criminal or criminal matter for any reason at any time up until the commencement of the trial
(d) The only basis for a paralegal to withdraw from ever representing a client is for non-payment of fees
Authority: Text p. 173; Paralegal Rules of Conduct Rule 3.08(1)