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Code of Ethics

EMPLOYED LEGAL ASSISTANTS AND PARALEGALS

  1. The Member must maintain the integrity of the legal profession.

  2. The Member must discharge their duties with honesty and integrity and shall observe the rules of conduct set out in this code of ethics.

  3. The Member shall at no time represent themselves to a client or any person as a lawyer.

  4. The Member shall not counsel nor give legal advice to a client without the authority and direction of their Principal at which time the Member shall advise the client that it is their Principal’s consent and/or legal advice.

  5. The Member has a duty to hold in strict confidence all information acquired in the course of the professional relationship concerning the business and affairs of their Principal and the clients of their Principal and the Member shall not divulge any such information unless expressly authorized by their Principal or required by law to do so.

  6. The Member owes a duty to their principal to observe all relevant rules and laws regarding the presentation and safekeeping of the property of any client entrusted to their Principal.

  7. The Member’s conduct towards the clients of their Principal and other members of the legal profession must be characterized by courtesy and good faith.

  8. The Member shall work in a conscientious, diligent, and efficient manner and shall provide a service at least equal to that which a lawyer generally would expect of a competent Member.

  9. Any behavior of the Member in direct conflict of this Code will be considered misconduct or negligence on the part of the Member.  

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INDEPENDENT PARALEGALS

  1. The duties performed by the Member shall at all times be subject to this Code.

  2. The Member must maintain the integrity of the legal profession.

  3. The Member shall conduct themselves in accordance with the laws of Alberta and Canada.

  4. The Member shall at no time represent themselves to a client or any person as a lawyer.

  5. Any marketing material used by a Member shall not in any way indicate or infer that the Member is a lawyer and shall articulate the role of independent paralegal.

  6. The Member shall not counsel nor give legal advice to a client.

  7. The Member has a duty to hold in strict confidence all information acquired in the course of the professional relationship concerning the business and affairs of their clients and the Member shall not divulge any such information unless expressly authorized by their client or required by law to do so.

  8. The Member owes a duty to their client to observe all relevant rules and laws regarding the presentation and safekeeping of the property of any client entrusted to the Member.

  9. The Member’s conduct towards their clients and other members of the legal profession must be characterized by courtesy and good faith.

  10. The Member shall work in a conscientious, diligent, and efficient manner and shall provide a service at least equal to that which our peers generally would expect of a competent Member.

  11. The Member must discharge their duties with honesty and integrity. The Member must not act or continue to act for a client where there is a conflict of interest, personally or professionally.

  12. The Member must maintain membership status in good standing when representing themselves as an independent paralegal Member.

  13. Any behavior of the Member in direct conflict of this Code will be considered misconduct or negligence on the part of the Member and shall be subject to sanctions where deemed appropriate by the Director of Professional Conduct & Disciplinary Review.

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