Faculty of Business and Management Sciences

Department of Applied Legal Studies

Qualification: Bachelor of Paralegal Studies
Subject: Introduction to Law and Ethics, Communication Skills 1 and
Information Technology 1

Student Name: Sandiswa Luthuli

Student Number: 250268337
Lecturers: R Barday, S Hermans, K Bailey
Hand-In Date: 25 April 2025
Essay Topic: “A paralegal must adhere strictly to the accepted standards of
legal ethics and to the general principles of proper conduct” – NALA

Declaration:
I hereby declare that the attached essay is my own work, that I have not
copied the whole or any part from any source whatsoever, and where I have
copied, verbatim or otherwise, I have acknowledged the source so utilized. I
further understand that if I am suspected of plagiarism or any other form of
cheating, disciplinary proceedings will be instituted against me. This in turn
may result in me being expelled from the institution.

1
CONTENT PAGE :

Introduction – Page 3

What is Ethics? – Page 4

Importance of ethics for Paralegals - Page 5

Analysis of Code of Conducts(USA/UK) - Page 6

Fit and Proper Person and

Consequences of Breaching Ethics -Page 7

Conclusion – Page 8

Bibliography

2
1. Introduction

Ethics plays a very important role in the legal field ,therefore Paralegals in particular
should operate and carry themselves with morality. Although paralegals are not
attorneys and do not hold the same power and responsibilities of as attorneys,
paralegals are greatly involved in the processing of confidential client information,
interaction with clients directly, and drafting significant legal documents .According
to the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), “a paralegal must adhere
strictly to the accepted Standards of legal sector and to the general principles of
proper conduct." This statement made by NALA accentuates that ethics is a
compulsory factor in the legal sector.
This essay defines ethics, exploring it's critical importance in the role of Paralegals,
analyses the ethical frameworks from two foreign conducts, and examines the
criteria of a fit and proper person' , and lastly the consequences of unethical conduct.

3
2.What is Ethics?

Ethics is a set of moral values that shape people's and groups' behaviour. We can
describe ethics as a sense of morality. In professional settings, ethics means criteria
guiding the behaviour expected inside a certain profession. Legal ethics particularly
refers to rules of conduct governing legal staff members and attorneys in their
obligations to clients, courts, and the public. Rules that aren’t optional to oblige to but
are expected from individuals in the legal environment. In the words of Martin Luther
King Jr; “One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws.
Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”

3.The Important Of Ethics For Paralegals

Paralegals work hand in hand with the attorneys, they may not hold the some power as
them but their role is just as important as of an attorney. It is impossible to have a legal
team and expect it to function without Paralegals who serve as backbones of the team.
The close work relation between Paralegals and Attorneys is a result of Paralegals
having access to
confidential documents and having to manage sensitive information received from
attorneys and clients . Because of this close relation it is Important for Paralegals to
withhold strong ethical standards. It is essential for Paralegals to act with responsibility
and integrity, because a single ethical lapse such as disclosing confidential Information,
takes away the client’s right to privacy, and breaks the trust between firms and clients.
Furthermore, if Paralegals act ethically this builds a sense of responsibility, and
confidence.
Acting according to ethical morals in the workplace for paralegals also increases the
chance of promotions and exposure in the legal profession.

4
4.Comparative Analysis of Two Codes of Conduct

A. United Kingdom Professional Paralegal Register Code

The United Kingdom Professional Paralegal Register Code of Conduct sets out straight
forward expectations for paralegals.
Rule 2states and requires that a paralegal should act in a way that benefits the client’s
needs in terms of care and diligence.
Rule 4.F emphasises that clients should be regularly updated on cases.
These rules not only build integrity but also trust between the client and the legal
system also reinforce reliability .

B. NALA Code of Ethics (United States of America)

The NALA Code of Ethics out emphasises canons

that regulate the high standards for paralegals. Canon 3 bars unauthorised practice of
law, since it is impossible and not permitted for Paralegals to give legal advice Canon 6
and 1, emphasise and mandate competence and confidentiality, respectively.
These rules prevent clients being misled due to false information, and they provide a
sense of clarity.

5
5. A Fit And Proper Person

In the legal sphere, a "fit and proper person" is one who shows honesty, ability,
respect of the law, and ethical integrity. Also shows financial responsibility
because being in scandals such as bankruptcy might question their integrity. A
fit and proper person may also be described as someone who respects and
acknowledges the ethical standards that are relevant to the code of
conduct.Government utilise this as a legal and moral standard for professional
license. A person may not be eligible to practise law if they have committed
crimes, committed misrepresentations, or engaged in persistent ethical
transgressions.
There are very severe consequences to breaching the code of conduct.
Termination,, exclusion from professional registries, or civil or criminal
penalties are examples of consequences. Reputation damage is also one if the
consequences, this makes it hard for the individual to ever find employment
because their credibility and integrity is often questioned because of them
breaching their previous code of conduct.. To ensure accountability and public
trust, the PPR in the UK and NALA in the US have disciplinary procedures for
misbehaviour.

6
6. Conclusion
In conclusion, in the legal profession, ethics are fundamental and cannot be
ignored. Paralegals protect justice, provide responsible client service, and
preserve the standing of the legal profession by comprehending, internalising,
and upholding the ethical standards established by organisations like the PPR
and NALA. The significance of paralegals' ethical education and behaviour is
growing along in the legal profession.

7
7.Bibliography
Banks, C. (2016). Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice. SAGE
Publications.
National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). (n.d.). Code of Ethics and
Professional Responsibility. www.nala.org
Professional Paralegal Register. (2015). Code of Conduct. www.ppr.org.uk
Pollock, J. M. (2017). Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice.
Cengage Learning.