Quiz 4 Flashcards
Sanctions
punishment issued to attorneys for engaging in conduct that violates the state’s code of professional conduct.
Complaint
document that commences an action when the opposing party is served
Grievance
complaint filed with disciplinary body against an attorney
work product
notes, materials, memoranda, and written records generated by an attorney
vicarious liability
employer is responsible for negligence and other torts committed by his or her employees when the acts are committed during the scope of their employment; doctrine is respondeat superior
deep pocket
characterizes defendant in a lawsuit who has the financial resources to absorb a civil suit for monetary damages
premium
monetary sum paid on annual or installment basis for malpractice insurance coverage
release
document that indicates the client has given attorneys permission to disclose info to another party
attorney-client privilege
ethical rule stating attorneys cannot disclose info related to the representation of a client
multiple representation
one lawyer is hired to represent both parties to a case
Former client-current opponent
upon an attorney or paralegal switching jobs, discovering that their new employer is representing the opponent in a former client’s case
ethical wall
paralegal cannot discuss a case with anyone in office or have access to file because of possibility of conflict of interest
unbundled legal services
clients purchase legal services on a task-by-task basis
Limited scope retainer agreement
attorney-client contract for legal services where attorney limits the scope of representation with the client’s consent
competency
duty to exercise a reasonable degree of care and skill commonly used by other attorneys in similar area of practice
flat fee
arrangement whereby a fixed dollar amount is agreed on and charged for the entire case
retainer
payment made in advance to an attorney
contingent fees
arrangement that entitles attorneys to a percentage of the financial outcome of the case, be it a judgement or settlement
Time sheet/slip
record of work performed on behalf of a client on a periodic basis
padding
unjustifiably increasing the number of hours actually slept on a client’s case
solicitation
actively seeking persons in need of legal service, either by mail or in person
reciprocity
one state may extend to attorneys in a different state the right to practice law in its jurisdiction in exchange for the other state’s granting the same privilege to attorneys in their state
pro hac vice
where a state may grant an attorney to special permission to handle one particular case
Conflict of interest
activity that may divide the attorney’s loyalty and compromise their independent judgement
conflicting out
where prospective divorce client engages in practice of interviewing all the available family law attorneys in a geographical area for the purpose of disqualifying them from representing the other spouse
financial worksheet
client’s income, expenses, assets, and liabilities, be they joint or seperate
initial client interview
first meeting between client and attorney or paralegal at which basic info to start work on a case
retainer agreement/letter
contract between law firm and client whereby the law firm agrees to provide specified legal services in exchange for monetary compensation
petitioner
brings a court action against another
respondent
party against whom an action is brought
subject matter jurisdiction
the court’s power to actually hear a divorce case