Ethics

One of NFPA’s Core Values is its commitment to our profession’s Code of Ethics. NFPA established the Ethics Board to fully address ethical concerns raised by and about paralegals.  The Ethics Board is composed of both NFPA and non-NFPA members, professionals dedicated to upholding the most stringent ethical standards at NFPA.

NFPA first published its Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility in May 1993 (updated in 2006). This document was comprehensively updated on June 18, 2022 , and retitled the “ Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility ” , and the Guidelines for Enforcement were sunsetted.

Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility (2022)

The Ethics Board provides informal opinions on ethical issues facing paralegals, as well as answering fundamental ethics questions and educating paralegals, legal professionals, and the public about legal ethics through CLEs and articles.

Anyone can request an informal ethics opinion by contacting ethics@paralegals.org. Please see NFPA Guidelines for Rendering Ethics and Disciplinary Opinions for more information about the process.

NFPA Ethics Board
Ethics Co-Chairs: Caren Mansfield, CLA & Cassidy L. Mohn, CRO, MPS ethics@paralegals.org
Crystal Powell
Heather Picket
Mariana Fradman
Dr. Robert N. Diotalevi, Esq., L.L.M., Non-NFPA Member
Robert Hrouda

NFPA Ethics Publications

• Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility
  • NFPA Guidelines for Rendering Ethics and Disciplinary Opinions
• The Ethical Wall and Its Application to Paralegals (2009)
• Paralegals and Conflicts of Interest (currently under review as of 10/2021)

NFPA  Informal Ethics and Disciplinary Opinions

• NFPA Information Ethics and Disciplinary Opinion No. 21-1 What are the ethical implications, if any, for the misuse and misrepresentation of NFPA's paralegal certification?
• 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?
• 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. 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. 11-01 What are a paralegal’s duties, obligations and responsibilities to the client when a supervising attorney has been incarcerated?