Another option is to report the paralegal's misconduct to your local or national paralegal association for referral to an ethics board or disciplinary committee. In addition, you may consider, or may be required to report the misconduct to a legislative or court-appointed body which acts as a disciplinary committee for paralegals in your state. This obligation is usually the first, last and middle rule paralegal students hear in every paralegal course. It should be the one about which a supervising attorney reminds every new paralegal employee on the first day of work. And yet, paralegals with many years of experience, as well as those fresh out of school, seem to breach this obligation frequently.
Loose lips sink ships.
Hopefully, with another reminder in tow, a sunken ship is all that needs towing. Lest there be no paralegals sinking today. She is the owner of Paralegal Enterprises Inc. in Vineland, NJ, which provides contract paralegal services to attorneys concentrating their practices in personal injury litigation. Daughtery also is serving her fifth year on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Paralegal Education and Regulation and chairs its Subcommittee on Ethical and Performance Standards for Paralegals.