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Code of Ethics
Canon 1. I shall not engage in the practice of law as defined by statutes or court decisions, privately, publicly, directly or indirectly, including but not limited to accepting cases or clients, setting fees, giving legal advice or appearing in a representative capacity in court or before an administrative or regulatory agency (unless otherwise authorized by statute, court or agency rules); the legal assistant shall assist in preventing the unauthorized practice of law.
Canon 2. I shall not mislead the public as to such legal assistant's status or position.
Canon 3. I shall not perform any of the duties that attorneys only may perform or do things which attorneys themselves may not do.
Canon 4. I shall exercise extreme care in using independent professional judgment and in determining the extent to which a client may be assisted without the presence of an attorney, and shall be prohibited from independently acting in matters involving professional legal judgment.
Canon 5. I shall preserve and protect the confidences and secrets of a client and adhere to any statute controlling privileged communication.
Canon 6. I shall not solicit legal business on behalf of an attorney.
Canon 7. I shall not engage in performing paralegal functions other than under the direct supervision of an attorney, and shall not advertise or contract with members of the general public for the performance of paralegal functions.
Canon 8. I shall avoid, if at all possible, any interest or association which constitutes a conflict of interest pertaining to a client matter and shall inform the supervising attorney of the existence of any possible conflict.
Canon 9. I shall maintain a high standard of ethical conduct and shall contribute to the integrity of the paralegal and legal profession.
Canon 10. I shall continually strive to maintain a high degree of competency to better assist the legal profession in fulfilling its duty to provide quality legal services to the public.
Canon 11. I shall remain current with developments in the area of law in which such assistant is engaged through continuing legal education.
Canon 12. I shall do all other things incidental, necessary or expedient to enhance professional responsibility and the participation of legal assistants in the administration of justice and public service in cooperation with the legal profession.
Conflicts of Interest (Duty of Loyalty)
(a) I shall not undertake
to provide any services for a lawyer's client when the paralegal's personal or business interests may reasonably affect the interests of another client, unless the client has consented after full disclosure, and the supervising lawyer reasonably believes that the work will not adversely affect the paralegal's relationship with the other client.
(1) I shall avoid entering into business transactions with a lawyer's client unless full disclosure has been made to both the client and the supervising attorney;
(2) I shall not acquire literary, publication or media rights related to a client's representation during the course of the representation;
(3) I shall not advance or guarantee financial assistance to a lawyer's client;
(4) I shall not enter into an agreement with a lawyer's client purporting to limit the client's rights to file a complaint against the paralegal or the lawyer by whom the paralegal is supervised.
(5) I shall avoid conflicts of interest that arise from family relationships.
(b) I shall not undertake to provide services to a lawyer's client and thereafter undertake to provide services to another person in the same or a substantially related matter in which that person's interests are materially adverse to the interests of the former client, unless the former client consents after full disclosure.
(c) I shall create and maintain records to identify clients, parties and matters to determine whether a conflict exists or may arise.
(d) I shall not participate in any matter where a conflict of interest has been identified by the supervising attorney.
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