what ethical values should one have to be a paralegal?

Answer 1

Having been paralegal for 8 years, before fleeing the field for greener pastures, better bucks, more appreciation and less bull...

Above all else, you should be able to follow the law and the rules of the law. Sound idealistic? Maybe, but if you don't, well, trouble rolls downhill, and you are the first person to get blamed if something goes wrong. Document, document, document, and if for some reason you are asked by a superior to do something unethical or even illegal, you should protest and refuse, even if it means you lose your job. Then you get to produce the documented evidence to keep your own butt out of a sling. This is far superior to being fired, disciplined or even prosecuted for something you did (or worse, didn't do). "I was just following orders" doesn't count for anything.

You need to be honest, reliable and able to keep confidences. People need to trust you with their secrets, whether its lawyers or client.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Honesty and commitment to the rules are paramount to being a good paralegal. Let's say you are in a warehouse doing discovery and you find a document and it is a smoking gun that will help your client win, however it is also marked "attorney client priveleged". Do you continue reading it and take notes, show it to your boss and ask him what to do, or immediately prepare a letter to the other side telling about their mistake and urging your boss to sign it?

Answer 3

To always do the right thing.......no matter what.......make sure that your decisions dont ruined somene elses life. Its important for profesionals to have ethics and have their own personality and make their own decisions as to whats best and the right thing for everyone rather than being selfish and wanting to keep their job.........because a job that requires you to be ethical then its not worth it.

Answer 4

The same as an attorney.

Answer 5

All of them.