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PLEG100 – Intro to Legal Studies
Case Scenario: The Unethical Paralegal
This Assessment is part of the Case Scenario category, worth 15% of your grade.
Deadline
Due by the end of Week 6 at 11:59 pm, ET.
Completing this Assessment will help you to meet the following:
Course Outcome
• Assess the history of the legal profession with an emphasis on ethical and professional issues
facing legal professionals today.
Scenario
One of our firm’s newer paralegal hires, Candy Smith, has possibly been
unintentionally violating legal and ethical rules. These potential violations are a major
concern for our firm. We also know that Candy Smith never received any legal ethics
education or training prior to starting at our firm. We plan to speak to her directly
regarding these incidents, but we would also like to use this as an opportunity to
provide additional ethics training to all the paralegals in our firm. We can use these
incidents as examples in future trainings for spotting ethical issues and discussing how
to avoid them.
Directions
In a 550-word essay to help update our training materials, discuss the importance of
legal ethics, analyze the two incidents below, and provide suggestions for avoiding
ethical violations.
•
In approximately 200 words:
o Provide a general overview of the importance of legal ethics in the
profession.
o List possible consequences for violating ethical rules.
•
For each of the following two incidents below, address the following:
o Identify a possible ethical violation in each situation.
o Explain the purpose of the ethical rules applicable in this situation.
o Provide suggestions on how paralegals can avoid this type of ethical issue
in the future.
Formatting
•
Times New Roman or Arial
•
12-point font and Page numbers in the top right corner
PLEG100 – Case Scenario
•
2
1” margins and double-spaced
Incident One
Our firm has been representing a high-profile client, the husband, in a particularly
contentious divorce for the last eight months. Last week, during a settlement
conference, both parties became quite argumentative. The wife made potentiallydamaging statements regarding the husband’s alleged extramarital affair – statements
the husband completely denies. Due to our client’s high profile in the community, if
these allegations regarding an affair were made public, it could negatively impact the
husband’s business. Candy Smith was not working on this case, nor was she present at
the conference. She must have learned about the details of the case and the
conversations regarding the affair from someone else in our office. It has been brought
to my attention that Candy Smith made a lengthy social media post about her day at
work later that day. While she did not mention our firm, our client, or his wife
specifically by name, the post summarized many personal details of the couple’s
divorce and financial situation and mentioned the damaging allegations regarding the
extramarital affairs.
Incident Two
Our firm’s main office phone number receives numerous phone calls daily from callers
looking for assistance with legal issues. Some callers want to make an appointment
with an attorney, but other callers simply want to explain their legal problems over the
phone and hear their possible legal options. Our firm regularly handles personal injury
cases, and Candy Smith has worked with supervising attorneys on many of those cases.
Last week, Candy Smith answered the main office phone line and spoke to a potential
client calling to discuss a personal injury case. The caller’s situation sounded very
similar to a case Candy Smith had just finished two days early. When the caller asked
about his chances of receiving compensation for his injuries, she responded, “I’ve
worked on lots of cases just like this one, and it sounds like you have a good case. Let’s
go ahead and make you an appointment with an attorney.”
PLEG100 – Case Scenario
Criteria
Content
70 points
Organization
20 points
Mechanics
10 points
Instructor
Comments:
3
PLEG100 – Case Scenario Grading Rubric
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
63 – 70 points
The Essay thoroughly describes the
importance of legal ethics and
possible consequences for ethical
misconduct. The two case scenarios
are accurately analyzed and identify
the ethical issue and explain the
importance of the rule. Suggestions
for avoiding ethical violations are
clearly articulated.
18 – 20 points
The essay is 550 words or more. All
components are present. The
arrangement of information is
consistent throughout the
document. The document’s format
is Times New Roman or Arial, 12point font, double-spaced and with
1” margins, with no errors.
49 – 62 points
The Essay generally describes the
importance of legal ethics and
possible consequences for ethical
misconduct. The two case
scenarios are generally analyzed
for ethical issues and information
is present explaining the
importance of the rule. General
suggestions for avoiding ethical
violations are present.
14 – 17 points
The essay is at least 550 words.
All components are present, but
two or fewer may be
misplaced/out of order. There are
three or fewer errors in the
document format of Times New
Roman or Arial, 12-point font, and
with 1” margins.
9 – 10 points
No grammar, punctuation, or
spelling errors.
7 – 8 points
Three or fewer errors in grammar,
punctuation, and/or spelling.
Needs Improvement
0 – 48 points
The Essay does not describe
legal ethics or their importance
in the profession. The two case
scenarios are not analyzed or
are analyzed incorrectly. There
are no suggestions for avoiding
ethical issues in the future or
those suggestions are not
applicable to the scenarios.
0 – 13 points
The essay is less than 550 words.
Components may be missing, or
there are several that are
misplaced or out of order. The
arrangement of information is
inconsistent or unorganized.
There are four or more errors the
document’s format of Times
New Roman or Arial, 12-point
font, double-spaced, and with 1”
margins.
0 – 6 points
Four or more errors in grammar,
punctuation, and/or spelling.
Total Points:
Points
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