The Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers allows non-lawyer assistants to perform some services if under the direct supervision of a lawyer. Provided the lawyer maintains responsibility for the work product, a lawyer may delegate to a non-lawyer assistant some tasks normally performed by the lawyer. A lawyer must insure that the non-lawyer assistant’s conduct is consistent with the lawyer’s obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct. The law requires compliance by the lawyer and Legal Assistant with certain legal ethics requirements including the below:
A non-lawyer Legal Assistant must serve the public interest by contributing to the delivery of quality legal services and the improvement of the legal system.
A non-lawyer Legal Assistant must achieve a high level of competence.
A non-lawyer Legal Assistant must achieve a high level of personal and professional integrity and conduct.
A non-lawyer Legal Assistant must act within the bounds of the law, uncompromisingly for the benefit of the client.
A non-lawyer Legal Assistant must preserve all confidential information provided by the client or acquired from other sources before, during, and after the course of the professional relationship.
A non-lawyer Legal Assistant must do all the things incidental, necessary, or expedient for the attainment of the ethics and responsibilities imposed by statute or rule of court.
A non-lawyer Legal Assistant must avoid conflicts of interest and must disclose any possible conflict such as any lease with any client or prospective client.