Come join the Louisiana Paralegal Association a network of support, education and friendship. Contact our membership chair Amy Crawford for details.

MEMBERSHIP
(1st VP)
AMY CRAWFORD
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Post Office Box 3087
Monroe, LA 71210
(318) 322-6740 amy_crawford@lawd.uscourts.gov

Download a membership application (click here)

CODE OF ETHICS
It is the responsibility of every paralegal to adhere strictly to the accepted standards of legal ethics and to live by general principles of proper conduct. The performance of the duties of the paralegal shall be governed by specific canons as defined herein in order that justice will be served and the goals of the profession attained.

The canons of ethics set forth hereafter are adopted by the Louisiana State Paralegal Assocation, Inc. as a general guide, and the enumeration of these rules does not mean there are not others of equal importance although not specifically mentioned.

CANON I
A paralegal/legal assistant shall not perform any of the duties that only lawyers may perform no do things that lawyers themselves may not do.

CANON II
A paralegal/legal assistant may perform any task delegated and supervised by a lawyer so long as they lawyer is responsible to the clients, maintains a direct relationship with the client, and assumes full professional responsibility for the work product.

CANON III
A paralegal/legal assistant shall not engage in the practice of law by accepting cases, setting fees, giving legal advice or appearing in court (unless otherwise authorized by the court or agency rules) or otherwise engage in the unauthorized practice of law.

CANON IV
A paralegal/legal assistant must act prudently in determining the extent to which a client may be assisted without the presence of a lawyer.

CANON V
A paralegal/legal assistant must protect the confidences of a client, and it shall be unethical for a paralegal/legal assistant to violate any statute now in effect or hereafter to be enacted controlling privileged communications.

CANON VI
It is the obligation of the paralegal/legal assistant to avoid conduct which would cause the lawyer to be unethical or even appear to be unethical, and loyalty to the supervising lawyer is incumbent upon the paralegal/legal assistant.

CANON VII
A paralegal/legal assistant shall work continually to maintain integrity and a high degree of competence throughout the legal profession and shall adhere to the ethics and responsibilities imposed by statute or rules of court.

CANON VIII
A paralegal/legal assistant shall strive for perfection through education in order to better assist the legal profession in fulfilling its duty of making legal services available to clients and the public.

CANON IX
A paralegal/legal assistant shall adhere to the Codes of Professional Responsibility of the American Bar Association and the Louisiana State Bar Association.
image