The Scenario
Who owned a three storey walk up rental building in town?
Mr. Hamid owned this property in town.
These set of rules govern things like retainers, fees, client communication, consent, and competence.
What are the LSO Paralegal Rules of Conduct?
What happened with the retainer agreement?
The client did not to sign one.
What is a retainer agreement?
Explains what the paralegal will do and how much it costs.
Clear paperwork helps prevent what?
A problem.
Not paying rent and causing damages.
Before providing services a paralegal must clearly define what to their client?
scope of services and fees
The paralegal still decided to do what?
Keep working.
What is a retainer deposit?
Money that is paid before work starts.
Written signed agreements help avoid what type of disagreement?
A fee dispute.
The paralegal requested this amount for the retainer?
what is $150
What is informed consent?
A client fully understands the legal services and costs.
The firm did not have what?
A retainer policy.
What are the total fees and costs?
Clients should fully know this information before signing anything.
If you don’t write things down what can it be hard to prove later?
What actually happened.
The client refused to sign this very important document.
What is a retainer agreement?
Proceeding without a retainer risks breaching what?
Your duty of competence and proper client communication.
Why did the client did not pay?
there was no written agreement.
If expenses are not clearly explained what can happen?
A non-payment?
If you ignore the rules what can happen to your license?
You can lose your license.
Even after the refusal of payment the paralegal proceeded and faced this outcome.
What is non payment of fees?
You must follow these rules even if your firm doesn’t.
LSO Rules.
how would a collections agency help?
To get the money from the client.
Getting a signature in writing is important because?
The safest way to protect yourself.
Following what rule can protects both you and your client from problems?
No retainer means no work.