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Rishona Smith | LGLA 1219 – Ethics for Paralegals | April 24, 2017

Table of Contents

1. Syllabus Snapshot
2. Student Preparation Strategy
3. BOPPS Lesson Plan

a. Texas State Bar Paralegal Canons
b. Sample Jeopardy Game
4. Sample Test Questions
5. Rubric
6. Showcase Presentation
7. Reflective Essay

PAGE 1

Welcome to LGLA Ethics for Paralegals

Instructor: Rishona Smith
Department Contact: Charlotte Gore 281-618-5451
Anticipated Instructor Response Time Policy: 24-48 hrs. (not including weekends or holidays)
**Email is the preferred contact method. Please use the D2L email for this course.**

“You do what you think is right and let the law catch up,”
–Justice Thurgood Marshall

Know your BILL OF RIGHTS for this course:

***This is only a summary of the course syllabus. The
syllabus can be read in its entirety online in D2L***

Course Description: This course covers the moral and legal responsibilities that a member of
the legal profession owes to the public, the court, clients, and other professional
colleagues. Includes a review of the canons, codes and rules of professional responsibility

Required Textbook: Orlik, Ethics for the Legal Professional 8th Edition (Pearson Prentice Hall)

The course grade will be based on quiz grades, test grades, class participation and course
assignments. All assignments are due on the date assigned. All assignments must be uploaded in
D2L. Late assignments or tests will not be accepted.

The Midterm and Final will be given online via Respondus. Information regarding Respondus
will be sent to students via email.

Grades will be averaged and assessed as follows:

Homework, Assignments, Quizzes 20% Grades will be distributed as follows:

Class Participation 20% A: 90 - 100

Midterm/Final 60% B: 80 - 89

C: 70 - 79

D: 65 - 69

F: Below 65

Student Prep Stategy

LGLA 1219: Legal Ethics for Paralegals

Objective
At the end of each chapter a student should possess the ability to competently answer the chapter
review questions, understand the key terms of the chapter, determine which state law ethical canon
applies, and provide a meaningful response to the hypothetical discussion as assigned.

Strategy
Prior to each class session the main assignment will be to read the chapter. There are power point
presentations and videos that accompany the chapters that will also be assigned. At the beginning
of each class the students will prepare a question or statement regarding the chapter based on the
materials provided.
In addition, they will provide which ethical cannon for paralegals the chapter relates to per the state
of Texas. State bar paralegal division website - https://txpd.org/page.asp?p=Code%20of%20Ethics
The discussion for that class will be based on the reading materials and the questions and/or
statements provided by the students at the beginning of class. The statements will be a part of the
class participation grade.
After class a discussion will be posted. The discussion will be a hypothetical based on the chapter
discussed during class.
Discussion Example

Paralegal Mary Rose acts as both paralegal and calendar clerk in the law firm of Attorney Smith. Smith ask Mary to
calendar the date an answer to a complaint is due. Mary makes a mistake and calendars the date sixty days from the
day the complaint was served instead of thirty days. As a result, Smith does not answer the complaint on time and a
default judgment is awarded against the client.

What are the client's remedies? Is the failure to file the answer to the complaint on time an ethical breach? How can
Mary be disciplined for this conduct? What if Attorney Smith already has a private reproval on her record for a
similar violation?

BOPPPS LESSON PLAN

COURSE: LGLA 1219 Legal Ethics for Paralegals
Lesson Title: Paralegal Basics: Conflicts of Interest, Confidentiality, Billable Hours and Integrity

Bridge: I have in total over 20 years of legal experience. While working for a law firm I decided to obtain my paralegal certificate. The school I chose was North
Harris College (later Lone Star College). I started as a student just like them. I obtained my paralegal certificate and continued to work at a law firm as a
paralegal clerk. After I received my certificate I continued to work for law firms as a paralegal. In 2005 I began working for the federal government. I have
worked for Bankruptcy, Magistrate and District Judges. I have many stories and knowledge to share to encourage them to do (or not do) some of the many
things I have learned. My ultimate goal is for them to know that success is possible but it takes work.

Estimated time: 5 minutes
Course Student Learning Outcome:
Understand the ethical obligations to be a paralegal in Texas. What cannons apply to paralegal ethics. The national paralegal associations that are available for
membership.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to
1. Understand the ethical standard of a paralegal (COMPREHENSION)
2. Identify the ethical requirements of billable hours (APPLICATION)

Pre-Assessment: On the first day of class I give the students a hypothetical scenario regarding ethics. I ask them to arrange the “characters” from 1-5 from
MOST to LEAST ethical and explain why they chose that order. This information is referred to throughout the semester as each I cover each scenario topic. On
the last day of class I give the same hypothetical and let them compare their answers on the first day.

Estimated time: 10 min
Participatory Learning:
HIGHLIGHT AND LABEL THE FOLLOWING:

• 4 questions with Bloom’s level identified
• New instructional technology you are trying
• At least one classroom assessment technique (CAT)

Time Instructor Activities Learner Activities Lesson Materials

30 min Discussions/Hypotheticals Post 1 response; respond to 2 other classmate responses Textbook/Assignments/Personal
Experience
BLOOM: What personal experience can you relate to
the hypothetical? (SYNTHESIS, EVALUATION)

45 min Assignments BLOOM: How does what you learned apply to the Textbook
20 min Videos hypothetical? (APPLICATION)
20 min Ethics Jeopardy (NEW TECHNOLOGY) Upload completed assignment in Dropbox
10 min Pre/Post class Assessment Hypothetical
BLOOM: How do you effectively convey what you D2L
have learned? (KNOWLEDGE, COMPREHENSION,
APPLICATION)
Watch ethics videos

BLOOM: What have you learned from watching these

videos? (ANALYSIS)

Answer questions/ play game D2L

BLOOM: How does this game/activity help you Prior knowledge/ what was
review and prepare for the course? (SYNTHESIS) learned during course
Students are given a hypothetical the first and last day
of class. They are asked to list characters most to least
ethical. The answers are compared on the last day to
assess what they have learned.

CAT – KWL: What they know, What they want to
know, What they have learned

Post-assessment: Ethics Jeopardy. The student’s answers will be recorded but not graded. This game will be offered at the end of the lesson in preparation for
the final exam. It will be used to determine which questions were right/wrong and how they helped the student prepare for the exam.
Also offer practice quizzes.

Estimated time: 30 min
Summary: I will review the game and quiz answers/responses. I will address the common mistakes and any questions that were missed my majority of the
students. I will explain the answer and ask for their feedback. At this time I will also give them the same hypothetical I gave them on the first day. After they
have compared their responses we will discuss what they have learned during the course.

Estimated time: 30 min - 1 hour
ATTACH ANY LESSON MATERIALS (SLIDES, HANDOUTS, ETC.)



ETHICS
JEOPARDY

Just the Basics

Created by Rishona Smith

CLICK TO START

Integrity Confidentiality Conflicts Billable Hours

$200 $200 $200 $200
$400 $400 $400 $400
$600 $600 $600 $600
$800 $800 $800 $800

One who stands in special
relationship of trust,

confidence or responsibility in
certain obligations to another

person.

Answer

Fiduciary

Duty to be completely upfront
with the court

Answer

Duty of Candor

Under this doctrine the attorney
employers are liable for the

dishonest acts of their paralegal
employees under the court and

scope of the paralegal’s
employment.

Answer

Respondeat Superior

Sample Test Questions

Jody and Sam have agreed to end their marriage amicably. They have worked out all of the details of who will
get what assets and how their money will be divided. In order to save money, they want to hire on lawyer to
write up their agreement. Larry Lawyer should:
1. Can take this representation so long both parties sign a waiver of the conflict.
2. Is obligated to take the representation because lawyers have a duty to take cases regardless of how they

feel about the clients.
3. Can take this representation so long as both parties pay him an equal amount.
4. Should not take this representation because, even if Jody and Sam have agreed to all of the details of

their agreement, there is a conflict of interest between the two people
Correct answer #4. Bloom’s: Remember, Understand, Apply

Paralegal Julio has been friendly with Paralegal Nextar for several months. Nextar admitted to Julio that he
regularly “pads” his timesheets by adding an additional 10% to any time entry that is over 1 hour. Julio should:
1. Report Nextar’s timesheet padding to their supervising paralegal or attorney
2. Tell Julio that his policy is unethical, illegal, and is cheating the client; and report Nextar’s timesheet

padding to their supervising paralegal or attorney
3. Tell Julio that his policy is unethical, illegal, and is cheating the client
4. Try this policy himself
Correct answer #2. Bloom’s: Remember, Understand, Apply

LGLA 1219: Ethics for Paralegals

Discussion Rubric for Online Course: Designed to measure a student’s ability to answer hypothetical questions relating to the chapter.

EXCELLENT GOOD BELOW FAIL
AVERAGE

INIITAL POST Student responds to all Student responds to Student responds to Student does not respond to
some parts of the hypothetical.
parts of the most parts of the hypothetical.

hypothetical. hypothetical.

CONTENT OF Includes details from Includes some details Includes limited details Does not include details
INITIAL POST textbook. Also includes from textbook. May from textbook or no from textbook or does not
state bar paralegal include state bar mention of state bar mention state bar paralegal
cannon that is paralegal cannon that is paralegal cannon. cannon. No external or only
applicable. External applicable. External Limited mention of external sources were
sources may also be sources may be external sources. mentioned.
discussed. discussed.

RESPONSE POST Student responds to at Student responds to 2 Student responds to Student did not respond to
least 2 classmate’s initial classmate’s initial post. one classmate’s initial any classmate’s initial post.
post. Content of Content of response post. May ask
response was was not meaningful and questions that further
meaningful and ask did not further discussion. Content of
questions that further hypothetical discussion. response was not
discussion. meaningful

ONLINE ETIQUETTE Comments are always Comments are usually Comments are Comments are not
respectful and friendly. respectful and friendly. sometimes respectful respectful. Language is not
Language is appropriate Language is appropriate and friendly. Language appropriate for a classroom.
for the classroom. for the classroom is appropriate for the Note: Disrespectful
classroom. comments or inappropriate
language will result in an
automatic 0 for this
discussion.

ACP SHOWCASE
PORTFOLIO

Rishona Smith
LGLA 1219

April 24, 2017

This was a great ethics
seminar...What is right what is
wrong who's to say...

o What is the difference between legal ethics and moral ethics?

o Can ethics be taught?

o What is a conflict of interest?

o What is your ethical duty as a paralegal?

o What if your supervisor doesn’t take your ethical concerns
seriously?

o What is the definition of integrity?

o How do the state bar canons for paralegals relate to your
ethical duties?

Table of Contents

• Student Preparation Strategy

• BOPPPS lesson-be sure to highlight the
following:

• CAT
• Questions
• Technology

• Reflection

Student Preparation Strategy

Objective

• At the end of each chapter a student should possess the ability to competently answer the chapter review questions, understand the key terms of the
chapter, determine which state law ethical canon applies, and provide a meaningful response to the hypothetical discussion as assigned.

Strategy

• Prior to each class session the main assignment will be to read the chapter. There are power point presentations and videos that accompany the
chapters that will also be assigned. At the beginning of each class the students will prepare a question or statement regarding the chapter based on
the materials provided.

• In addition, they will provide which ethical cannon for paralegals the chapter relates to per the state of Texas. State bar paralegal division website -
https://txpd.org/page.asp?p=Code%20of%20Ethics

• The discussion for that class will be based on the reading materials and the questions and/or statements provided by the students at the beginning of
class. The statements will be a part of the class participation grade.

• After class a discussion will be posted. The discussion will be a hypothetical based on the chapter discussed during class.

Discussion Example

• Paralegal Mary Rose acts as both paralegal and calendar clerk in the law firm of Attorney Smith. Smith ask Mary to calendar the date an answer to a
complaint is due. Mary makes a mistake and calendars the date sixty days from the day the complaint was served instead of thirty days. As a result,
Smith does not answer the complaint on time and a default judgment is awarded against the client.

• What are the client's remedies? Is the failure to file the answer to the complaint on time an ethical breach? How can Mary be disciplined for this
conduct? What if Attorney Smith already has a private reproval on her record for a similar violation?

Paralegal Ethics Canons

BOPPPS – BRIDGE

• I have in total over 20 years of legal experience. While working for a
law firm I decided to obtain my paralegal certificate. The school I
chose was North Harris College (later Lone Star College). I started as a
student just like them. I obtained my paralegal certificate and
continued to work at a law firm as a paralegal clerk. After I received my
certificate I continued to work for law firms as a paralegal. In 2005 I
began working for the federal government. I have worked for
Bankruptcy, Magistrate and District Judges. I have many stories and
knowledge to share to encourage them to do (or not do) some of the
many things I have learned. My ultimate goal is for them to know that
success is possible but it takes work.

BOPPPS – OBJECTIVES

• Understand the ethical standard of a paralegal (COMPREHENSION)
• Identify the ethical requirements of billable hours (APPLICATION)

BOPPPS- PRE-ASSESSMENT

• On the first day of class I give the students a hypothetical scenario
regarding ethics. I ask them to arrange the “characters” from 1-5 from
MOST to LEAST ethical and explain why they chose that order. This
information is referred to throughout the semester as each I cover each
scenario topic. On the last day of class I give the same hypothetical and
let them compare their answers on the first day.

BOPPPS Time Instructor Activities Learner Activities Lesson Materials
30 min Discussions/Hypotheticals
Participatory Lesson Post 1 response; respond to 2 Textbook/Assignments/Personal
Assignments other classmate responses Experience
Videos
BLOOM: What personal
experience can you relate to
the hypothetical?
(SYNTHESIS,
EVALUATION)

45 min BLOOM: How does what Textbook
20 min you learned apply to the
hypothetical?
(APPLICATION)
Upload completed
assignment in Dropbox

BLOOM: How do you D2L
effectively convey what you
have learned?
(KNOWLEDGE,
COMPREHENSION,
APPLICATION)
Watch ethics videos

BLOOM: What have you
learned from watching these
videos? (ANALYSIS)

BOPPPS 20min Ethics Jeopardy (NEW Answer questions/ play D2L
TECHNOLOGY) game
Participatory Lesson
Pre/Post class Assessment BLOOM: How does this Prior knowledge/ what was learned
10 min Hypothetical game/activity help you during course
review and prepare for the
course? (SYNTHESIS))
Students are given a
hypothetical the first and last
day of class. They are asked
to list characters most to
least ethical. The answers
are compared on the last day
to assess what they have
learned.

CAT – KWL: What they
know, What they want to know,
What they have learned

BOPPPS- POST-ASSESSMENT

• Practice Quiz. These quizzes are not graded but allow the student to
practice applying the concepts learned. The questions won’t be T/F or
matching.

Example Quiz Question:

Paralegal Julio has been friendly with Paralegal Nextar for several months. Nextar admitted to Julio that he regularly "pads" his timesheets by adding an
additional 10% to any time entry that is over 1 hour. Julio should:

1. Report Nextar’s timesheet padding to their supervising paralegal or attorney
2. Tell Julio that his policy is unethical, illegal, and is cheating the client; and report Nextar’s timesheet padding to their supervising paralegal or

attorney
3. Tell Julio that his policy is unethical, illegal, and is cheating the client.
4. Try this policy himself

Question options:
Correct answer #2. Bloom’s: Remember, Understand, Apply

BOPPPS- POST-ASSESSMENT

• Ethics Jeopardy. I chose this because it is a game that the students
won’t feel the pressure of a quiz or exam. The student’s answers will be
recorded but not graded. This game will be offered at the end of the
lesson in preparation for the final exam. It will be used to determine
which questions were right/wrong and how they helped the student
prepare for the exam.

ETHICS
JEOPARDY

Just the Basics

Created by Rishona Smith

CLICK TO START

Integrity Confidentiality Conflicts Billable Hours

$200 $200 $200 $200
$400 $400 $400 $400
$600 $600 $600 $600
$800 $800 $800 $800

How is an IOLTA funded and why?

Answer

An IOLTA is a separate interest bearing
bank account created for the attorney
to hold a client’s payment that has not
been disbursed. The interest on that
account if used by the state bar to fund
free legal services of that state.

BOPPPS- SUMMARY

• I will review the game and quiz answers/responses by the
students. I will address the common mistakes and any
questions that were missed by majority of the students. I will
explain the answers and ask for their feedback and answer any
further questions.

• At this time I will also give them the same hypothetical I gave
them on the first day. After they have compared their
responses we will discuss what they have learned during the
course.

Personal Reflection on My ACP Experience

• I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to take this course.
I had no idea so much technical information was available. I
also was not aware of the various teaching skills and formats. I
have learned so much it is almost overwhelming but I definitely
look forward to using the skills I have learned. I will absolutely
be applying these valuable lessons to my future courses.

REFLECTIVE ESSAY

I have learned so much about teaching and tools that are available. I had no idea so many
tools such as PowToon, Poll Everywhere and TED Ed Lessons were available. During the
program I enjoyed being in an environment among other adjunct instructors. It was interesting
and insightful to hear from people with similar teaching situations.

When I first began teaching 12 years ago as an adjunct at North Harris College (now Lone
Star) the paralegal program was not ABA approved and it was a series of courses I had taken as a
student. Before I began teaching I was handed a textbook and a few materials. I had no prior
teaching experience and had to figure it out most of it on my own. At the time there were only 2
other instructors but they were very helpful in answering my many questions. In addition, my
parents were instructors and I relied on their experience at the start of my teaching. During the 12
years I updated the materials I was given and found my teaching style. However, I never had
formal teaching lessons. Learning the materials in this program have provided valuable
information that will greatly improve my teaching skills. Every single lesson I learned in this course
I will use for my future classes. I will update my course objectives and incorporate rubrics and
more technology into my classes. I even created a jeopardy game using powerpoint.

This program will make me more effective by being able to clearly set out my class
objectives. The discussion rubrics I created will help my students understand what is required for
each discussion and hopefully improve their participation. I will also incorporate rubrics into
more assignments so that students have a clear understanding for what is required to get the
maximum grade. This benefits myself as well as the students. I am excited to apply the things I
have learned and cannot wait to see the progress in my students.

I hope there are more programs offered like this one. I would like a writing professional
development program. I am interested in writing a textbook in the future. Also, I hope they offer
refresher courses for this program. I understand we will be in a “graduate” program for 2 years but
beyond that it would helpful to offer continuing education type courses regarding updates, changes
and new strategies available.