Paralegal Profession Essay

558 Words3 Pages
As a paralegal, one of the hardest things to accomplish is separating work relations from family and friend relations. In Sally’s case, she has to be sure to draw the line between work and friend so no conflict is to arise. While a paralegal has the ability to help individuals, they must take care into what type of advice they give and how they give it. An attorney is legally the only person who can advise clients on any subject matter but a paralegal can give the attorney’s advice to those clients (Miller & Urisko, 2011). Sally has been working as a paralegal for ten years. Over those ten years she has gained incredible knowledge about her job. She should know what kind of advice she can legally give to her friends and family. She has probably been friends with Molly for a while, so Molly knows about Sally’s job. Though Molly does not know all of the rules and ethics involved, she needs to understand Sally’s position. As a friend, Sally should be there for support and give her opinion, by saying what she would do in that circumstance. She has to be wise, however, in what she says and how she says it. The important thing she needs to state is her position. She needs to explain to Molly that, despite the fact that she is a paralegal, Sally cannot legally give her any advice on the subject. When Sally clarifies her position at the beginning of the discussion, Molly will have a better understanding of Sally’s standpoint on the issue. Legally the only thing Sally can do, in this situation, is inform Molly that she needs to get a lawyer. When Sally informs Molly of attorney’s that could handle the job, Sally needs to explain to Molly, that even though she works with attorney’s that specialize in malpractice cases, it would be best for her to seek an alternative. If Molly was to retain an attorney at Sally’s office, it could cause a conflict of interest for
Open Document