Topic: Handling Ethical Issues for Paralegals

Topics to be discussed:

• Ethics rules and professional guidelines
• Conflicts of interest and how to avoid them
• Confidentiality
• Unauthorized practice of law
• Working with secretive and/or dishonest clients
• Handling allegations of abuse and neglect
• Fee arrangements and related issues
• Terminating representation
• Paralegal as witness
• Lawyers asking to do something that is misconduct
• Communications with clients
• Paraprofessional practice pilot project

Speaker: Ruta Johnsen

Ruta is a devoted advocate for her clients and their children. Ruta’s practice includes areas of marriage dissolution, custody and parenting time matters, child support, paternity, spousal maintenance, international family law, child in need of protection and services, termination of parental rights proceedings, and appeals. Ruta’s background in child protection and juvenile justice gives her a distinctive perspective in working with families going through a variety of family transitions such as dissolution, custody disputes and child protection proceedings. Ruta thoroughly enjoys working with Nancy on International family law matters such as international child abductions. Ruta was born and raised in Lithuania, and as such, has first-hand understanding ofthe unique and complex issues of foreign nationals. Ruta graduated from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law where she was a recipient of the Student Award of Merit. She is admitted to practice in the state of Minnesota and Federal District Court, District of Minnesota.

Remote attendance only.

• Member Cost: Free
• Non-Member Cost: $15

Ethics CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by February 14, 2022.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Bean or Jennessa Carlson at amandab@hllawfirm.com or mpa.jennessa@gmail.com.