Asked by Joshua Welch on May 31, 2024
Verified
Paralegal Susan arrives at her office at 9:00 A.M. Every morning when arriving in the office, Susan normally checks her personal calendar for the day's court filing deadlines. Today, however, the secretary is out sick and Susan must answer the phones and serve as the word processor for her. Susan forgets to check her calendar until the end of the day. As a result, she fails to file an important document with the court on behalf of her supervising attorney. Which ethical rule has been breached?
A) The duty of client confidentiality
B) The work product doctrine
C) The conflict-of-interest rule
D) The duty of competence
Duty of Competence
A professional obligation requiring individuals to have the necessary knowledge and skill to perform tasks effectively.
Court Filing Deadlines
The specific dates by which documents must be filed with the court to ensure they are considered in a legal case.
- Detect circumstances that might precipitate a breach of expertise.
- Understand the significance of time management and organizational skills in the context of practicing law.
Verified Answer
MN
Meghan NelsonMay 31, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Susan breached the duty of competence by failing to file an important document with the court on behalf of her supervising attorney due to not checking her calendar for the day's court filing deadlines. This oversight directly impacts her ability to competently perform her duties.
Learning Objectives
- Detect circumstances that might precipitate a breach of expertise.
- Understand the significance of time management and organizational skills in the context of practicing law.