KNOW, the Magazine for Paralegals Spring 2014 | Page 21

Nancy Heller:

suspended and disbarred attorneys to seek permission
from the governing body to work as a paralegal after a
period of five years of their suspension or disbarment.

As Stacey has discussed, disbarred and
suspended attorneys practicing as paralegals
brings into play a number of ethical issues and
dilemmas. Non-prohibition of this practice
by many states calls into question issues that
diminish the integrity of our profession by
allowing those who have committed unethical conduct or actions making them unfit to
practice law to work as paralegals.

Wisconsin is another state which has implemented
a total ban on this practice and their rule there provides: “A suspended or disbarred attorney may not
engage in the practice of law or in any law work activity customarily done by law students, law clerks
or other paralegal personnel, except that he or she
may engage in law-related work for a commercial
employer not itself engaged in the practice of law.”

By permitting them to be part of the practice of law in a different capacity merely promulgates existing negative perceptions

Most other states which permit disbarred and suspended attorneys to work as paralegals place some

ment these days?
guessed it – he is working as a paralega