Professional Ethics and Conduct Flashcards
7 cards from real ALA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics and Conduct flashcards as text
A legal administrator discovers that a senior partner has been billing a client for work performed by a paralegal at attorney rates. What is the administrator's most appropriate first step?
Answer: Document the discrepancy and report it internally to firm leadership or ethics counsel
The administrator should document and escalate internally through appropriate channels before taking external action.
Under the ALA Code of Professional Responsibility, which duty most directly governs a legal administrator's obligation to safeguard client information?
Answer: Duty of confidentiality
The duty of confidentiality requires administrators to protect client information from unauthorized disclosure.
A legal administrator is offered a significant gift by a vendor seeking the firm's business. According to ethical standards, the administrator should:
Answer: Decline the gift and disclose the offer to firm management
Gifts from vendors seeking business create conflicts of interest and should be declined with disclosure to management.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'imputed disqualification' as it may affect a legal administrator's role?
Answer: An administrator is disqualified from a case based on a conflict held by another firm member
Imputed disqualification means a conflict of one firm member can disqualify others, including non-attorney staff, in certain circumstances.
A CLM candidate is required to complete continuing education credits primarily to:
Answer: Demonstrate ongoing competency and commitment to professional development
Continuing education ensures CLMs maintain and update professional competencies in a changing legal environment.
When a legal administrator becomes aware that a firm employee is violating workplace harassment policies, the ethical obligation is to:
Answer: Report the behavior through established HR or compliance channels
Ethical conduct requires reporting workplace misconduct through proper compliance channels to protect all parties.
A legal administrator who holds a financial interest in a company being considered as a vendor to the firm should:
Answer: Recuse from the selection process and disclose the conflict
Disclosing the conflict and recusing from the decision protects the administrator and the firm from impropriety.