Utah Courts
UCJA Rule 15-301 (Code of Judicial Administration)
UCJA Rule 15-301 (Code of Judicial Administration)
Rule 15-301. Standards of licensed paralegal practitioner professionalism and civility.
Preamble
A licensed paralegal practitioner's conduct should be characterized at all times by personal courtesy and professional integrity in the fullest sense of those terms. In fulfilling a duty to represent a client, we must be mindful of our obligations to the administration of justice, which is a truth-seeking process designed to resolve human and societal problems in a rational, peaceful, and efficient manner. We must remain committed to the rule of law as the foundation for a just and peaceful society.
Conduct that may be characterized as uncivil, abrasive, abusive, hostile, or obstructive impedes the fundamental goal of resolving disputes rationally, peacefully, and efficiently. Such conduct tends to delay and often to deny justice.
Licensed paralegal practitioners should exhibit courtesy, candor and cooperation in dealing with the public and participating in the legal system. The following standards are designed to encourage licensed paralegal practitioners to meet their obligations to each other, to litigants and to the system of justice, and thereby achieve the twin goals of civility and professionalism, both of which are hallmarks of a learned profession dedicated to public service.
Licensed paralegal practitioners should educate themselves on the potential impact of using digital communications and social media, including the possibility that communications intended to be private may be republished or misused. Licensed paralegal practitioners should understand that digital communications in some circumstances may have a widespread and lasting impact on their clients, themselves, lawyers, other licensed paralegal practitioners, and the judicial system.
Licensed paralegal practitioners are expected to make mutual and firm commitments to these standards. Adherence is expected as part of a commitment by all participants to improve the administration of justice throughout this State. We further expect licensed paralegal practitioners to educate their clients regarding these standards.
These standards should be followed by licensed paralegal practitioners in all interactions with each other, lawyers, and judges, and in any proceedings in this State. Copies may be made available to clients to reinforce our obligation to maintain and foster these standards. Nothing in these standards supersedes or detracts from existing disciplinary codes or standards of conduct.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. Preamble [1], [13]; R. Civ. P. 1.
1. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall advance the legitimate interests of their clients, without reflecting any ill-will that clients may have for their adversaries, even if called upon to do so by another. Instead, licensed paralegal practitioners shall treat all other licensed paralegal practitioners, lawyers, parties, judges, and other participants in all proceedings in a courteous and dignified manner.
Comment: Licensed paralegal practitioners should maintain the dignity and decorum of judicial and administrative proceedings, as well as the esteem of the legal profession.
Licensed paralegal practitioners are expected to refrain from inappropriate language, maliciousness, or insulting behavior in meetings with opposing licensed paralegal practitioners, lawyers, and clients, telephone calls, email, and other exchanges. They should use their best efforts to instruct their clients to do the same.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. 1.4, 1.16(a)(1), 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3(a)(1), 3.4, 3.5(d), 3.8, 3.9, 4.1(a), 4.4(a), 8.4(d); R. Civ. P. 10(h), 12(f).
2. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall advise their clients that civility, courtesy, and fair dealing are expected. They are tools for effective advocacy and not signs of weakness. Clients have no right to demand that licensed paralegal practitioners abuse anyone or engage in any offensive or improper conduct.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. Preamble [5], 1.2(a), 1.2(d), 1.4(a)(5).
3. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall not, without an adequate factual basis, attribute to other licensed paralegal practitioners, lawyers, or the court improper motives, purpose, or conduct. Licensed paralegal practitioners should avoid hostile, demeaning, or humiliating words in written and oral communications with adversaries. Written submissions should not disparage the integrity, intelligence, morals, ethics, or personal behavior of an adversary unless such matters are directly relevant under controlling substantive law.
Comment: Hostile, demeaning, and humiliating communications include all expressions of discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, handicap, veteran status, or national origin, or casting aspersions on physical traits or appearance. Licensed paralegal practitioners should refrain from acting upon or manifesting bigotry, discrimination, or prejudice toward any participant in the legal process, even if a client requests it.
Licensed paralegal practitioners should refrain from expressing scorn, superiority, or disrespect. Legal process should not be issued merely to annoy, humiliate, intimidate, or harass.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. Preamble [5], 3.1, 3.5, 8.4; R. Civ. P. 10(h).
4. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall never knowingly attribute to other licensed paralegal practitioners, or to lawyers, a position or claim that the other professional has not taken or seek to create such an unjustified inference or otherwise seek to create a “record” that has not occurred.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. 3.1, 3.3(a)(1), 3.5(a), 8.4(c), (d).
5. Reserved.
6. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall adhere to their express promises and agreements, oral or written, and to all commitments reasonably implied by the circumstances or by local custom.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. 1.1, 1.3, 1.4(a), (b), 1.6(a), 1.9, 1.13(a), (b), 1.14, 1.15, 1.16(d), 1.18(b), (c), 2.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4(c), 3.8, 5.1, 5.3, 8.3(a), (b), 8.4(c), (d).
7. When committing oral understandings to writing, licensed paralegal practitioners shall do so accurately and completely. They shall provide other licensed paralegal practitioners or lawyers a copy for review, and never include substantive matters upon which there has been no agreement, without explicitly advising the other licensed paralegal practitioner or lawyer. As drafts are exchanged, licensed paralegal practitioners shall bring to the attention of other licensed paralegal practitioners or lawyers changes from prior drafts.
Comment: When providing the opposing party with a copy of any negotiated document for review, a licensed paralegal practitioner should not make changes to the written document in a manner calculated to cause the opposing party or that party’s representative to overlook or fail to appreciate the changes. Changes should be clearly and accurately identified in the draft or otherwise explicitly brought to the attention of the opposing party. Licensed paralegal practitioners should be sensitive to, and accommodating of, other professionals’ inability to make full use of technology and should provide hard copy drafts when requested and a redline copy, if available.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. 3.4(a), 4.1(a), 8.4(c), (d).
8. Reserved.
9. Reserved.
10. Reserved.
11. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall avoid impermissible ex parte communications.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. 1.2, 2.2, 2.9, 3.5, 5.1, 5.3, 8.4(a), (d).
12. Reserved.
13. Reserved.
14. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall advise their clients that they reserve the right to determine whether to grant accommodations to other licensed paralegal practitioners or lawyers in all matters not directly affecting the merits of the cause or prejudicing the client’s rights, such as extensions of time. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall agree to reasonable requests for extension of time when doing so will not adversely affect their clients’ legitimate rights.
Licensed paralegal practitioners shall never request an extension of time solely for the purpose of delay or to obtain a tactical advantage.
Comment: Licensed paralegal practitioners should not evade communication with other professionals, should promptly acknowledge receipt of any communication, and should respond as soon as reasonably possible. Licensed paralegal practitioners should only use data-transmission technologies as an efficient means of communication and not to obtain an unfair tactical advantage. Licensed paralegal practitioners should be willing to grant accommodations where the use of technology is concerned, including honoring reasonable requests to retransmit materials or to provide hard copies.
Licensed paralegal practitioners should not request inappropriate extensions of time or serve papers at times or places calculated to embarrass or take advantage of an adversary.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. 1.2(a), 2.1, 3.2, 8.4.
15. Reserved.
16. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall not cause the entry of a default without first notifying the other party’s lawyer or licensed paralegal practitioner whose identity is known, unless their clients’ legitimate rights could be adversely affected.
Cross-References: L.P.P. R. Prof. Cond. 8.4; R. Civ. P. 55(a).
17. Reserved.
18. Reserved.
19. Reserved.
20. Licensed paralegal practitioners shall not authorize or encourage their clients or anyone under their direction or supervision to engage in conduct proscribed by these Standards.
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