Rule 5.3 Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance Law Firms And Associations

Question 1

Law Firms And Associations

Rule 5.3 (a) Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance

Answer 1

With respect to a nonlawyer employed or retained by or associated with a lawyer:

(a) a partner, and a lawyer who individually or together with other lawyers possesses comparable [managerial authority] in a law firm [shall make reasonable efforts to ensure] that the firm has in effect measures giving [reasonable assurance] that the [person’s conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer];

Question 2

Law Firms And Associations

Rule 5.3 (b) Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance

Answer 2

(b) a lawyer having [direct supervisory authority] over the nonlawyer [shall make reasonable efforts to ensure] that the person’s conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer; and

Question 3

Law Firms And Associations

Rule 5.3 (c) Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance

Answer 3

(c) a lawyer shall be responsible for conduct of such a person that would be a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct if engaged in by a lawyer if:
(1) the lawyer orders or, with the knowledge of the specific conduct, ratifies the conduct involved;

or

(2) the lawyer is a partner or has comparable managerial authority in the law firm in which the person is employed, or has direct supervisory authority over the person, and knows of the conduct at a time when its consequences can be avoided or mitigated but fails to take reasonable remedial action.

Question 4

Law Firms And Associations

Comment 1 Rule 5.3 Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance

Answer 4

[1] Paragraph (a) requires lawyers with managerial authority within a law firm to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the firm has in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that nonlawyers in the firm and nonlawyers outside the firm who work on firm matters act in a way compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer. See Comment [6] to Rule 1.1 (retaining lawyers outside the firm) and Comment [1] to Rule 5.1 (responsibilities with respect to lawyers within a firm). Paragraph (b) applies to lawyers who have supervisory authority over such nonlawyers within or outside the firm. Paragraph (c) specifies the circumstances in which a lawyer is responsible for the conduct of such nonlawyers within or outside the firm that would be a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct if engaged in by a lawyer.

Question 5

Law Firms And Associations
Comment 2 Rule 5.3 Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance

Nonlawyers Within the Firm

Answer 5

[2] Lawyers generally employ assistants in their practice, including secretaries, investigators, law student interns, and paraprofessionals. Such assistants, whether employees or independent contractors, act for the lawyer in rendition of the lawyer’s professional services. [A lawyer must give such assistants appropriate instruction and supervision concerning the ethical aspects of their employment, particularly regarding the obligation not to disclose information relating to representation of the client, and should be responsible for their work product.] The measures employed in supervising nonlawyers should take account of the fact that they do not have legal training and are not subject to professional discipline.

Question 6

Law Firms And Associations
Comment 3 Rule 5.3 Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance

Nonlawyers Outside the Firm

Answer 6

[3] A lawyer may use nonlawyers outside the firm to assist the lawyer in rendering legal services to the client. Examples include the retention of an investigative or paraprofessional service, hiring a document management company to create and maintain a database for complex litigation, sending client documents to a third party for printing or scanning, and using an Internet-based service to store client information. When using such services outside the firm, a lawyer must make reasonable efforts to ensure that the services are provided in a manner that is compatible with the lawyer’s professional obligations. The extent of this obligation will depend upon the circumstances, including the education, experience and reputation of the nonlawyer; the nature of the services involved; the terms of any arrangements concerning the protection of client information; and the legal and ethical environments of the jurisdictions in which the services will be performed, particularly with regard to confidentiality. See also Rules 1.1 (competence), 1.2 (allocation of authority), 1.4 (communication with client), 1.6 (confidentiality), 5.4(a) (professional independence of the lawyer), and 5.5(a) (unauthorized practice of law). When retaining or directing a nonlawyer outside the firm, a lawyer should communicate directions appropriate under the circumstances to give reasonable assurance that the nonlawyer’s conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer.

Question 7

Law Firms And Associations
Comment 4 Rule 5.3 Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance

Nonlawyers Outside the Firm

Answer 7

[4] Where the client directs the selection of a particular nonlawyer service provider outside the firm, the lawyer ordinarily should agree with the client concerning the allocation of responsibility for monitoring as between the client and the lawyer. See Rule 1.2. When making such an allocation in a matter pending before a tribunal, lawyers and parties may have additional obligations that are a matter of law beyond the scope of these Rules.