When Jane and her boyfriend Zeke came to the office, Carl did not introduce himself as a Paralegal and took on the responsibility as an Attorney. Carl violated the NFPA Ethical Considerations-1.7(A) that indicates that “A paralegal’s title shall clearly indicate the individual’s status and shall be disclosed in a business and professional communications to avoid misunderstandings and misconceptions about the paralegal’s role and responsibility.”
By taking a third person into the interview, Carl breached confidentiality. Also, Carl possibly put the information of other cases/client’s (names and other information) that was on Attorney Howe’s desk visible to Zeke when he let him come around the reception desk to use the phone. When walking Jane and Zeke through the lobby, Carl was discussing the case, alimony, and other information pertaining to the case that other’s that are not assigned to the case could have possibly over heard. NFPA Ethical Considerations - 1.5 (A) “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.”
By discussing alimony, fees, and other information pertaining to costs, Carl acted as an Attorney and stepped over the boundaries on practicing law
TUESDAY
While in the middle of an interview with Jane in regards to her discovery interview, Carl picks up the phone with another client and starts discussing another case with another client. This is another example of a