CLA/CP Professional and Ethical Responsibility Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real CLA/CP Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CLA/CP Professional and Ethical Responsibility Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A paralegal discovers that the supervising attorney has missed a critical filing deadline. What is the paralegal's most appropriate first step?
Answer: Immediately notify the supervising attorney of the missed deadline
A paralegal must promptly notify the supervising attorney of any missed deadlines so the attorney can take corrective action and fulfill their duty to the client.
Which of the following activities would constitute the unauthorized practice of law by a paralegal?
Answer: Advising a client on whether to accept a settlement offer
Providing legal advice, such as recommending whether to accept a settlement, is the practice of law and is reserved exclusively for licensed attorneys.
A paralegal working at a family law firm leaves to join a firm representing the opposing spouse in an active divorce case. What must occur?
Answer: The new firm must implement an ethical screen around the paralegal
When a paralegal switches firms and has a conflict of interest, the new firm must establish an ethical wall to screen the paralegal from any involvement in the conflicting matter.
Under NALA's Model Standards and Guidelines, which statement best describes a paralegal's obligation regarding continuing education?
Answer: Paralegals should maintain competence through continuing legal education and professional development
NALA's guidelines emphasize that paralegals have a professional obligation to maintain and enhance their competence through ongoing education and training.
An attorney asks a paralegal to notarize a document that the paralegal did not witness being signed. The paralegal is a commissioned notary. What should the paralegal do?
Answer: Refuse to notarize because the signer was not personally present
A notary public must personally witness the signing or obtain satisfactory evidence of identity; notarizing an unwitnessed signature violates notary law regardless of who requests it.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'fee splitting' as it relates to paralegals?
Answer: An attorney may not split legal fees with a paralegal because it constitutes aiding unauthorized practice of law
Attorneys are prohibited from splitting legal fees with non-lawyers, including paralegals, as it could incentivize the unauthorized practice of law.