PRL 101 EXAM 1 Flashcards

Janice Davis is a recent college graduate. She has earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in paralegal studies. Janice would like to introduce herself to the workforce, but is unsure of how to present herself most effectively to employers. She aspires to work in a law firm that handles various types of litigation, including civil, criminal, and contract law. Her background includes working as a receptionist in a law firm, so she has some experience—just not as a paralegal.

What paralegal organization could Janice join in order to make her resume more appealing to a potential employer?
a. American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE)
b. American Bar Association (ABA)
c. National Federation of Legal Assistants (NFLA)
d. National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)

d. National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)

Janice Davis is a recent college graduate. She has earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in paralegal studies. Janice would like to introduce herself to the workforce, but is unsure of how to present herself most effectively to employers. She aspires to work in a law firm that handles various types of litigation, including civil, criminal, and contract law. Her background includes working as a receptionist in a law firm, so she has some experience—just not as a paralegal.

In order for Janice to work as a paralegal, what certification, if any, does she need?
a. Paralegal certification is mandatory in about half of the states
b. Paralegal certification is mandatory in California, Florida, and Texas
c. Paralegal certification is mandatory in all states
d. Paralegal certification is not mandatory

d. Paralegal certification is not mandatory

Janice Davis is a recent college graduate. She has earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in paralegal studies. Janice would like to introduce herself to the workforce, but is unsure of how to present herself most effectively to employers. She aspires to work in a law firm that handles various types of litigation, including civil, criminal, and contract law. Her background includes working as a receptionist in a law firm, so she has some experience—just not as a paralegal.

When Janice was a receptionist at the firm with which she worked while in college, she noted that Martha, the paralegal employed by the firm, would often speak with the attorneys' clients over the phone and give them legal advice. Did Martha have the authority and right to give legal advice to the clients as a paralegal?
a. Yes, but only if she had worked for the firm for five years or more
b. No, because legal advice may be given to clients only by their representative attorneys
c. Yes, but only if Martha was a certified paralegal
d. Yes, if the attorney told her it was okay

b. No, because legal advice may be given to clients only by their representative attorneys

Janice Davis is a recent college graduate. She has earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in paralegal studies. Janice would like to introduce herself to the workforce, but is unsure of how to present herself most effectively to employers. She aspires to work in a law firm that handles various types of litigation, including civil, criminal, and contract law. Her background includes working as a receptionist in a law firm, so she has some experience—just not as a paralegal.

If Janice attends an ABA-approved paralegal course after graduation and earns a certificate of program completion, can she attest on her résumé and in interviews that she is now a certified paralegal?
a. No, because only those who are certified by NALA can use the certification title
b. No, because paralegal certification is different from merely obtaining a certificate of completion
c. No, because only those who are certified by the AAfPE can use the certification title
d. Yes, as long as the program was ABA approved

b. No, because paralegal certification is different from merely obtaining a certificate of completion

Janice Davis is a recent college graduate. She has earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in paralegal studies. Janice would like to introduce herself to the workforce, but is unsure of how to present herself most effectively to employers. She aspires to work in a law firm that handles various types of litigation, including civil, criminal, and contract law. Her background includes working as a receptionist in a law firm, so she has some experience—just not as a paralegal.

After Janet obtains a position in a law firm, she is dismayed to find that she is being asked to perform some secretarial work. Should she discuss this with her supervising attorney?
a. Yes, because as a paralegal she should not be asked to perform secretarial work
b. Yes, because only legal assistants -- not paralegals -- are expected to do secretarial work
c. No, because in a small law firm, a paralegal's tasks may include some secretarial work
d. No, because during the first year as a paralegal in a law firm, the paralegal's work never includes contact with clients

c. No, because in a small law firm, a paralegal's tasks may include some secretarial work

Johann Krauss is an attorney at a small law firm and his paralegal is moving to a new city. Johann needs to hire a replacement and is interviewing paralegals to work with him on his caseload. The firm specializes in criminal law, and there are two other partners in the firm, each with her own legal assistant.

After narrowing his list of applicants from twenty to ten potential interviewees, Johann realizes he will only have time to interview three candidates. He wants to hire the most qualified individual with the best credentials. What guidelines should he establish in order to narrow his list to three candidates for interviewing?
a. Only interview paralegals who have previously worked in criminal law.
b. Try to interview the paralegals or legal assistants with certification in the most states in the geographical area of his firm.
c. Only interview paralegals who are certified with a PLS through NALS.
d. He should not be concerned with any specific certification, but should interview candidates with a paralegal education and some experience or training in a law firm.

d. He should not be concerned with any specific certification, but should interview candidates with a paralegal education and some experience or training in a law firm

Johann Krauss is an attorney at a small law firm and his paralegal is moving to a new city. Johann needs to hire a replacement and is interviewing paralegals to work with him on his caseload. The firm specializes in criminal law, and there are two other partners in the firm, each with her own legal assistant.

Johann has arranged for interviews with the three candidates, and he is writing a job description for the paralegal position in his firm. Which of the following tasks would not appear on the job description he is writing?
a. Locating and interviewing witnesses
b. Filing legal documents with courts
c. Interviewing potential clients and deciding whether to take on their cases
d. Performing secretarial work

c. Interviewing potential clients and deciding whether to take on their cases

Johann Krauss is an attorney at a small law firm and his paralegal is moving to a new city. Johann needs to hire a replacement and is interviewing paralegals to work with him on his caseload. The firm specializes in criminal law, and there are two other partners in the firm, each with her own legal assistant.

Johann is very impressed by the candidates he has interviewed, and he must now make a final decision on which paralegal to hire. Assuming all three candidates possess equivalent levels of education, certification, and experience, what else should Johann take into consideration as he finalizes his decision?
a. Analytical and organizational skills
b. Communication skills, such as reading, speaking, and writing skills
c. Computer skills and technological knowledge
d. All of these choices

d. All of these choices

Johann Krauss is an attorney at a small law firm and his paralegal is moving to a new city. Johann needs to hire a replacement and is interviewing paralegals to work with him on his caseload. The firm specializes in criminal law, and there are two other partners in the firm, each with her own legal assistant.

Johann has decided to hire Keesha as his paralegal, because she was the most impressive of the three candidates he interviewed. Before she starts work at the firm, he wants to discuss with her the importance of professionalism. How should Johann define professionalism in relation to the job of a paralegal?
a. Because the attorney-client privilege is one of the most important components of the legal profession, Keesha should make every effort to keep client information confidential.
b. Keesha should keep her certification up to date with continuing education courses so that she stays abreast of changes in the profession.
c. Professionalism means being responsible, honest, and accurate, and maintaining a professional appearance and attitude.
d. Professionalism for a paralegal means that analytical and organizational skills should be finely honed and that all legal communication should be well written.

c. Professionalism means being responsible, honest, and accurate, and maintaining a professional appearance and attitude

Johann Krauss is an attorney at a small law firm and his paralegal is moving to a new city. Johann needs to hire a replacement and is interviewing paralegals to work with him on his caseload. The firm specializes in criminal law, and there are two other partners in the firm, each with her own legal assistant.

One of the first clients Keesha meets in Johann's firm is a young man who is accused of stealing money from the till at the bookstore where he works. Johann is not in the office when the young man arrives for his first meeting with the attorney, so Keesha is responsible for greeting the prospective client. How should Keesha handle this situation?
a. Sit down with the prospective client in the conference room, listen to the details of the case, and then get started on conducting some initial research on the case while waiting for Johann to return.
b. Sit down with the prospective client in the conference room, listen to the details of the case, and discuss a few strategies that Johann might pursue in the client's defense.
c. Greet the prospective client and have him sit in the waiting room, because as a paralegal she should not be concerned with client relations, especially because she has an important legal memo to draft.
d. Seat the prospective client in the conference room, offer him a beverage, and provide him with something to read as he waits for Johann to return.

d. Seat the prospective client in the conference room, offer him a beverage, and provide him with something to read as he waits for Johann to return

State certification is mandatory for those states that have certification programs.
a. True
b. False

b. False

Attending a paralegal course whereby one obtains a paralegal certificate has the same meaning as being a certified paralegal.
a. True
b. False

b. False

The American Bar Association is a voluntary national association of attorneys.
a. True
b. False

a. True

Procedural law establishes the methods of enforcing the rights established by substantive law.
a. True
b. False

a. True

Ambiguity is an attribute that is helpful to a paralegal.
a. True
b. False

b. False

PRL 101 EXAM 1

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