Positions and Issues - Ethics
Ethics Documents
- THE ETHICAL WALL Its Application to Paralegals (PDF)
- Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Guidelines for Enforcement (PDF), updated 9/06/06, typo on p.4 fixed 12/9/2014
- NFPA Guidelines for Rendering Ethics and Disciplinary Opinions
- Paralegals and Conflicts of Interest
NFPA Ethics Board Opinions
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 95-1 May an individual employed by a corporation use the title "paralegal" when the corporation does not employ in-house counsel to supervise or be accountable for the individual's work?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 95-2 Is it ethical for a legal assistant to have her/his name appear on the law firm letterhead provided that the legal assistant's designation is clearly indicated?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 95-3 May a paralegal with whom a conflict of interest in a legal matter has been identified erect an ethical wall? If so, what steps should be taken to erect and adhere to that ethical wall?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 95-4 Is it ethical for a paralegal to bill clients for tasks which are more clerical and non-professional than substantive in nature?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 95-5 Are contract paralegals retained by attorneys in law firms, corporations and other legal entities, required to comply with the same ethical obligations as employed or traditional paralegals?
- FPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 95-6 What are the ethical implications, if any, of freelance paralegal solicitation of attorney clients?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 96-1 What are the ethical implications concerning client confidentiality, if any, of paralegals communicating in cyberspace?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 96-2 What are the ethical implications concerning the unauthorized practice of law as it relates to paralegals communicating in cyberspace?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 2000-1 What language relating to a paralegal's education, training, experience or recognition can be included in advertising to the general public?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 05-1 What are the ethical implications surrounding paralegals attending and signing in for an attorney at a CLE course?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 05-2 What are the ethical implications concerning disbarred attorneys teaching paralegal courses?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 05-3 Is there a "published" rule on paralegals receiving part of settlements in cases?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 06-01 What means of compensation can a paralegal receive for referring business to their firm?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 06-02 What steps should a law firm take to preserve client confidentiality when it hires or otherwise uses outside persons or businesses?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 06-03 Can a paralegal continue to work in a law office during the thirty (30) days his/her attorney supervisor has been suspended from the practice of law?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 07-01 Whether or not volunteering to draft bylaws or being asked to draft bylaws for a “Neighborhood Association” would be an ethical violation?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 08-01 What are a paralegal's obligations and responsibilities when an attorney becomes impaired due to age or disability?
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 11-01 What are a paralegal’s duties, obligations and responsibilities to the client when a supervising attorney has been incarcerated?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 12-01 What are a freelance paralegal’s duties regarding maintenance of file materials after their assignment by a supervising attorney has been completed?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 16-1 What are the general ethical duties of a paralegal when communicating via social media?
- NFPA Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 18-1 Under what circumstances is a paralegal expected to report future criminal activity to the appropriate authorities?
Other Legal Ethics Websites
