CANON 1: A PARALEGAL SHALL ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF COMPETENCE.
A paralegal shall achieve competency through education, training, and work
experience.
A paralegal shall participate in continuing education to keep informed of
current legal, technical and general developments.
A paralegal shall perform all assignments promptly and efficiently.
CANON 2: A PARALEGAL SHALL MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF PERSONAL
AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY.
A paralegal shall not engage in any ex parte communications
involving the courts or any other adjudicatory body in an attempt to exert
undue influence or to obtain advantage for the benefit of only one party.
A paralegal shall not communicate, or cause another to communicate, with a
party the paralegal knows to be represented by a lawyer in a pending matter
without the prior consent of the lawyer representing such other party.
A paralegal shall ensure that all timekeeping and billing records prepared
by the paralegal are thorough, accurate, and honest.
A paralegal shall be scrupulous, thorough and honest in the identification
and maintenance of all funds, securities, and other assets of a client and
shall provide accurate accountings as appropriate.
A paralegal shall advise the proper authority of any dishonest or fraudulent
acts by any person pertaining to the handling of the funds, securities or
other assets of a client.
CANON 3: A PARALEGAL SHALL MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD OF
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.
A paralegal shall refrain from engaging in any conduct that offends the
dignity and decorum of proceedings before a court or other adjudicatory body
and shall be respectful of all rules and procedures.
A paralegal shall advise the proper authority of any action of another legal
professional, which clearly demonstrates fraud, deceit, dishonesty, or
misrepresentation.
A paralegal shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.
CANON 4: A PARALEGAL SHALL SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY CONTRIBUTING
TO THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LEGAL
SYSTEM.
A paralegal shall be sensitive to the legal needs of the public and shall
promote the development and implementation of programs that address those
needs.
A paralegal shall support bona fide efforts to meet the need for legal
services by those unable to pay reasonable or customary fees; for example,
participation in pro bono projects and volunteer work.
A paralegal shall support efforts to improve the legal system and shall
assist in making changes.
CANON 5: A PARALEGAL SHALL PRESERVE ALL CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT OR ACQUIRED FROM OTHER SOURCES BEFORE,
DURING, AND AFTER THE COURSE OF THE PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP.
A paralegal shall be aware of and abide by all legal authority governing
confidential information.
A paralegal shall not use confidential information to the disadvantage of
the client.
A paralegal shall not use confidential information to the advantage of the
paralegal or of a third person.
A paralegal may reveal confidential information only after full disclosure
and with the client's written consent; or, when required by law or court
order; or, when necessary to prevent the client from committing an act which
could result in death or serious bodily harm.
A paralegal shall keep those individuals responsible for the legal
representation of a client fully informed of any confidential information
the paralegal may have pertaining to that client.
A paralegal shall not engage in any indiscreet communications concerning
clients.
CANON 6: A PARALEGAL TITLE SHALL BE FULLY DISCLOSED.
A paralegal's title shall clearly indicate the individual's status
and shall be disclosed in all business and professional communications to
avoid misunderstandings and misconceptions about the paralegal's role and
responsibilities. A paralegal's title shall be included if the
paralegal's name appears on business cards, letterhead, brochures,
directories, and advertisements.
CANON 7: A PARALEGAL SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN THE UNAUTHORIZED
PRACTICE OF LAW.
A paralegal shall comply with the applicable legal authority governing the
unauthorized practice of law.
CANON 8: A PARALEGAL SHALL AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND
SHALL DISCLOSE ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICT TO THE EMPLOYER OR CLIENT, AS WELL AS
TO THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS OR CLIENTS.
A paralegal shall act within the bounds of the law, solely for the benefit
of the client, and shall be free of compromising influences and loyalties.
Neither the paralegal's personal or business interest, nor those of other
clients or third persons, should compromise the paralegal's professional
judgment and loyalty to the client.
A paralegal shall avoid conflicts of interest which may arise from previous
assignments whether for a present or past employer or client.
A paralegal shall avoid conflicts of interest which may arise from family
relationships and from personal and business interests.
A paralegal shall create and maintain an effective recordkeeping system that
identifies clients, matters, and parties with which the paralegal has
worked, to be able to determine whether an actual or potential conflict of
interest exists.
A paralegal shall reveal sufficient non-confidential information about a
client or former client to reasonably ascertain if an actual or potential
conflict of interest exists.
A paralegal shall not participate in or conduct work on any matter where a
conflict of interest has been identified.
In matters where a conflict of interest has been identified and the client
consents to continued representation, a paralegal shall comply fully with
the implication and maintenance of an Ethical Wall.