Review questions for Chapter 3 of the text book Ethics and Professional Practice for Paralegals
- Your client is a small private company, owned
by a wife and husband, specializing in property
management of multi-unit residential buildings. You
handle their Landlord and Tenant Board matters.
The original retainer agreement with the corporation
does not designate a person from whom you are to
obtain instructions. In the past, you have always taken
instructions from the wife, but recently the husband
has become more active in the business and has
begun instructing you as well. His management style
is very different from his wife’s, and sometimes the
instructions he gives you are different from those you
have already received from her.
What should you do?
- You work in a firm of four paralegal licensees. You
are contacted by Mrs Q. She was referred to you by
another licensee in the firm, who represented her in
a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board matter three
years ago. She wants to meet with you to discuss
representation of her 15-year-old son, D, who is the
defendant in a Small Claims Court action for damages
related to alleged vandalism to property. You
personally have never acted for D or for Mrs Q before.
- What step should you take before the initial
consultation with D and Mrs. Q?
- What are your obligations under By-Law 7.1,
Part III: Client Identification and Verification?
- What are some professional and procedural
issues that arise because of D’s age?
