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"The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) is a professional organization comprised of paralegal associations and individual paralegals throughout the United States. an Canada" "The NFPA Promotes the growth, development, and recognition of the paralegal profession as an integral partner in the delivery of services."
- https://www.upcounsel.com/lectl-nfpa-model-code-of-ethics-and-professional-responsibility

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1. A Paralegal Shall Achieve and Maintain a High Level of Competence
2. A Paralegal Shall Maintain a High Standard of Professional Conduct
3. A Paralegal Shall Preserve All Confidential Information Provided by the Client or Acquired From Other Sources Before, During, and After the Course of the Professional Relationship
4. A Paralegal's Title Shall Be Fully Disclosed
5. A Paralegal Shall Not Engage in the Unauthorized Practice of Law
6. A Paralegal Shall Avoid Conflicts of Interest and Shall Disclose Any Possible Conflict to the Employer or Client, As Well As to the Prospective Employers or Clients
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. ("NFPA") is a professional organization comprised of paralegal associations and individual paralegals throughout the United States.
Members of NFPA have varying types of backgrounds, experience, education, and job responsibilities which reflect the diversity of the paralegal profession. NFPA promotes the growth, development and recognition of the paralegal profession as an integral partner in the delivery of legal services.

NFPA recognizes that the creation of guidelines and standards for professional conduct are important for the development and expansion of the paralegal profession. In May 1993, NFPA adopted this Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility ("Model Code") to delineate the principles for ethics and conduct to which every paralegal should aspire. The Model Code expresses NFPA's commitment to increasing the quality and efficiency of legal services and recognizes the profession's responsibilities to the public, the legal community, and colleagues.

Paralegals perform many different functions, and these functions differ greatly among practice areas. In addition, each jurisdiction has its own unique legal authority and practices governing ethical conduct and professional responsibilities.

It is essential that each paralegal strive for personal and professional excellence and encourage the professional development of other paralegals as well as those entering the profession. Participation in professional associations intended to advance the quality and standards of the legal profession is of particular importance. Paralegals should possess integrity, professional skill and dedication to the improvement of the legal system and should strive to expand the paralegal role in the delivery of legal services.

A Paralegal Shall Achieve and Maintain a High Level of Competence

EC-1.1 A paralegal shall achieve competency through education, training, and work experience.

EC-1.2 A paralegal shall participate in continuing education to keep informed of current legal, technical and general developments.

EC-1.3 A paralegal shall perform all assignments promptly and efficiently.
A Paralegal Shall Maintain a High Level of Personal and Professional Integrity
EC-2.1 A paralegal shall not engage in any ex parte communications involving the courts or any otheradjudicatory body in an attempt to exert undue influence or to obtain advantage for the benefit of onlyone party.

EC-2.2 A paralegal shall not communicate, or cause another to communicate, with a party the paralegal knows to be represented by a lawyer in a pending matter without the prior consent of the lawyer representing such other party.

EC-2.3 A paralegal shall ensure that all timekeeping and billing records prepared by the paralegal are thorough, accurate, and honest.

EC-2.4 A paralegal shall be scrupulous, thorough and honest in the identification and maintenance of all funds, securities, and other assets of a client and shall provide accurate accountings as appropriate.

EC-2.5 A paralegal shall advise the proper authority of any dishonest or fraudulent acts by any person pertaining to the handling of the funds, securities or other assets of a client.

A Paralegal Shall Maintain a High Standard of Professional Conduct

EC-3.1 A paralegal shall refrain from engaging in any conduct that offends the dignity and decorum of proceedings before a court or other adjudicatory body and shall be respectful of all rules and procedures.

EC-3.2 A paralegal shall advise the proper authority of any action of another legal professional which clearly demonstrates fraud, deceit, dishonesty, or misrepresentation.

EC-3.3 A paralegal shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. A paralegal shall serve the public interest by contributing to the delivery of quality legal services and the improvement of the legal system.

EC-4.1 A paralegal shall be sensitive to the legal needs of the public and shall promote the development and implementation of programs that address those needs.

EC-4.2 A paralegal shall support bona fide efforts to meet the need for legal services by those unable to pay reasonable or customary fees; for example, participation in pro bono projects and volunteer work.

EC-4.3 A paralegal shall support efforts to improve the legal system and shall assist in making changes.

A Paralegal Shall Preserve All Confidential Information Provided by the Client or Acquired From Other Sources Before, During, and After the Course of the Professional Relationship

EC-5.1 A paralegal shall be aware of and abide by all legal authority governing confidential information.

EC-5.2 A paralegal shall not use confidential information to the disadvantage of the client.

EC-5.3 A paralegal shall not use confidential information to the advantage of the paralegal or of a third person.

EC-5.4 A paralegal may reveal confidential information only after full disclosure and with the client's written consent; or, when required by law or court order; or, when necessary to prevent the client from committing an act which could result in death or serious bodily harm.

EC-5.5 A paralegal shall keep those individuals responsible for the legal representation of a client fully informed of any confidential information the paralegal may have pertaining to that client.

EC-5.6 A paralegal shall not engage in any indiscreet communications concerning clients.

A Paralegal's Title Shall Be Fully Disclosed

EC-6.1 A paralegal's title shall clearly indicate the individual's status and shall be disclosed in all business and professional communications to avoid misunderstandings and misconceptions about the paralegal'srole and responsibilities.

EC-6.2 A paralegal's title shall be included if the paralegal's name appears on business cards, letterhead, brochures, directories, and advertisements.

A Paralegal Shall Not Engage in the Unauthorized Practice of Law

EC-7.1 A paralegal shall comply with the applicable legal authority governing the unauthorized practice of law.

A Paralegal Shall Avoid Conflicts of Interest and Shall Disclose Any Possible Conflict to the Employer or Client, As Well As to the Prospective Employers or Clients

EC-8.1 A paralegal shall act within the bounds of the law, solely for the benefit of the client, and shall be free of compromising influences and loyalties. Neither the paralegal's personal or business interest, northose of other clients or third persons, should compromise the paralegal's professional judgment and loyaltyto the client.

EC-8.2 A paralegal shall avoid conflicts of interest which may arise from previous assignments whether for a present or past employer or client.

EC-8.3 A paralegal shall avoid conflicts of interest which may arise from family relationships and from personal and business interests.

EC-8.4 A paralegal shall create and maintain an effective recordkeeping system that identifies clients, matters, and parties with which the paralegal has worked, to be able to determine whether an actual or potential conflict of interest exists.

EC-8.5 A paralegal shall reveal sufficient non-confidential information about a client or former client to reasonably ascertain if an actual or potential conflict of interest exists.

EC-8.6 A paralegal shall not participate in or conduct work on any matter where a conflict of interest has been identified.

EC-8.7 In matters where a conflict of interest has been identified and the client consents to continued representation, a paralegal shall comply fully with the implementation and maintenance of an Ethical Wall.

copyright 1995 all rights reserved

National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.

P.O. Box 33108 Kansas City, MO 64114-0108

Telephone: (816) 941-4000 Facsimile: (816) 941-2725

Internet: info@paralegals.org

[I-L Note: This is an excellent organization who could use your support. Check out their Web Site at https://www.paralegals.org]

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https://www.lectlaw.com

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N.F.P.A. Model Code Of Ethics And Professional Responsibility

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1. A Paralegal Shall Achieve and Maintain a High Level of Competence 2. A Paralegal Shall Maintain a High Standard of Professional Conduct 3. A Paralegal Shall Preserve All Confidential Information Provided by the Client or Acquired From Other Sources Before, During, and After the Course of the Professional Relationship 4.

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"The Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) are a set of legal ethics rules created by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1983 in place of the 1969 Code of Professional Responsibility. The MRPC provides both mandates and guidance in discretionary situations on topics including conflicts of interest, attorney duties of competence, diligence, confidentiality and loyalty, conduct owed to the courts, attorney fees and solicitation, and more."
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/model_rules_of_professional_conduct
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/%20professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/model_rules_of_professional_conduct_table_of_contents/

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The Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) are a set of legal ethics rules created by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1983 in place of the 1969 Code of Professional Responsibility. The MRPC is comprised of the following sections: Client-Lawyer Relationship, Counselor, Advocate, Transactions with Persons Other than Clients, Law Firms and Associations, Public Service, Information About Legal Services, and Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession. The MRPC provides both mandates and guidance in discretionary situations on topics including conflicts of interest, attorney duties of competence, diligence, confidentiality and loyalty, conduct owed to the courts, attorney fees and solicitation, and more.

In contrast to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Model Rules of Professional Conduct are not inherently binding but have come into effect only when states choose to adopt certain rules. For example, New York was one of the last states to continue to use the 1969 Code, only adopting a modified version of the Model Rules in 2009. It is also important to note that the MRPC is not the exclusive source of ethical rules in the legal profession. Rather, it co-exists with federal and state statutes, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the inherent judicial authority to discipline and regulate proceedings by the courts, the general torts, contract, evidence and constitutional law, among others. Further, an attorney's a violation of the MRPC is not considered negligence per se or malpractice per se.

Other sources of ethical guidance include the Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers, the ABA Criminal Justice Standards, the Model Code of Judicial Conduct (1972), the American College of Trial Lawyers Code of Pretrial and Trial Conduct, and more.

[Last updated in May of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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The Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) are a set of legal ethics rules created by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1983 in place of the 1969 Code of Professional Responsibility. The MRPC is comprised of the following sections: Client-Lawyer Relationship, Counselor, Advocate, Transactions with Persons Other than Clients, Law Firms and Associations, Public Service, Information About Legal Services, and Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession.

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Compare/Contrast: Regulation of Paralegals and Regulation of Attorneys

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Compare/Contrast: Regulation of Paralegals and Regulation of Attorneys

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Although the education and regulatory guidelines differ in many ways, the loyalty to ethics and the court remains the same between attorneys and paralegals. There are many similarities between the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Similarities include: client communication requirements, confidentiality of information, and competence of the law. Attorneys are required to supervise the work their paralegals offer, as attorneys often submit the writings their paralegals create.

Contrary, paralegals are not authorized to practice law. Although paralegals conduct research and prepare documents for attorneys, the practice of law is strictly confined to those who have completed the American Bar Association requirements.

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Compare/Contrast: Licensing Requirements for Attorneys and Paralegals

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Compare/Contrast: Licensing Requirements for Attorneys and Paralegals

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There are several distinct differences between the requirements of becoming a practicing attorney or paralegal. As explained in Ethics for Paralegals by Linda A. Wendling, attached is a summary of what attorneys and paralegals must complete prior to their licensing, or lack thereof.

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Compare and Contrast Licensing Requirements for Attorneys and Paralegals PLS 250 Weeks 2-3

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The American Bar Association has created the Model Rules of Professional Conduct for all attorneys and other legal professionals. These rules outline exactly how a legal professional should conduct their lives in and outside of work. The Model Rules also explain why legal professionals should and will follow the guidelines that are written.

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Examples of Ethical Standards for Paralegals

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Examples of Ethical Standards for Paralegals

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Although paralegals are not federally regulated, there have been many ethical standards written for the practicing paralegal. Ethical guidelines have been written by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), the National Association of Legal Professionals (NALA), and the American Alliance of Paralegals Incorporation. Each association outlines how and why a practicing paralegal should conduct themselves in and outside of their profession.

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Examples of Ethical Standards for Paralegals PLS 200