A family law attorney was representing a wife in a divorce case. The jurisdiction required that each party prepare and file certain forms to disclose all relevant financial information. The attorney assigned the task of drafting the forms to a paralegal, instead of an associate in the office, because she knew that the paralegal had more experience with the forms, and because she needed the associate to draft a motion. The paralegal can perform the task if ____________________________________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The preparation of the forms does not require the exercise of independent professional judgment. "Legal assistants may perform services for an attorney in the representation of a client, provided . . . [t]he services performed by the legal assistant do not require the exercise of independent professional legal judgment." NALA Model Standards and Guidelines for Utilization of Paralegals, Guideline 3. Answer C is the best response because it directly reflects the language of Guideline 3. Answers A, B, and D are not consistent with the Guidelines.

A Family Law Attorney Was Representing a Wife in a Divorce