Question

Using ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct, NALA’s Paralegal Canons of Ethics, and NFPA’s Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility answer the following:

2. Your supervising attorney asks you to sign a document as a witness although the document was not signed in front of the client.

Rule/Cannon:

Violation and correction:

Answer 1

Your supervising attorney asks you to sign a document as a witness although the document was not signed in front of the client.

Rule/Cannon:

· Rule 1.1 – Competence: The legal representative must give ethical representation to the clients. In this case, the attorney is signing as a witness when the document has not been signed by the client himself

· Rule 1.3 – Diligence: The lawyer needs to have diligence in his behavior and attitude. In this case, the attorney is doing fraud as he is signing the document unethically

· Rule 4.1 – Truthfulness in Statements to Others: The attorney must not make false statements and conducts

· Cannon 3: A paralegal must not engage in or contribute in any unethical or unauthorized practice of law

Violation and correction: The attorney needs to have a fair attitude in his professional life. He must take a stand that bluffing client and signing document in false light is not ethical and must not be done. The attorney must ensure that the client is taken into confidence before the document is signed.