This course is also available in the 2023 Paralegal Cruise Bundle.

In the legal profession, ethical behavior is not optional—it is the cornerstone of trust and professionalism. Paralegals must balance their critical role in supporting attorneys with strict adherence to ethical standards that protect clients, safeguard privilege, and uphold the integrity of the legal system.

This course explores the paralegal’s ethical responsibilities in depth, from avoiding the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) to maintaining client confidentiality. We will examine what tasks paralegals may and may not perform, the boundaries of attorney supervision, and the attorney’s responsibility for paralegal conduct. Participants will also learn how to recognize and navigate conflicts of interest, including when changing employers, and how to implement “ethical walls” to prevent breaches.

Additional focus will be placed on managing issues of privilege, preventing confidentiality violations in daily practice, and understanding the difference between moral and ethical duties in the workplace. Using practical do’s and don’ts, this program equips paralegals with the tools to handle ethical challenges, avoid liability, and maintain the highest standards of professionalism.

Course Format

This is an on demand seminar – you’ll receive immediate access to the on demand recording, the PowerPoint presentation, and a certificate of attendance/CLE. You have lifetime access to this program, so once it’s in your account, you can return to complete it whenever it is convenient for you.

Video length: 61 Minutes.

Continuing Legal Education Credit (CLE)

NALA CP or ACP: This program meets the requirements of the NALA Certifying Board for continuing legal education credit required to maintain the CP (Certified Paralegal) credential. This program is pre-approved by NALA for 1.0 hours of substantive CLE including 1.0 Ethics.

Florida Bar FRP: As approved by NALA, this seminar meets the requirements under Rule 20-6.1 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar for continuing legal education credit required to maintain the FRP credential.

NALS – This program is approved by NALS for 1.0 Ethics CLE Hour.

NFPA RP® or CRP™: NFPA automatically accepts substantive CLE hours which bears the accreditation of NALA on the certificate of attendance.

State Bar of Texas – Paralegal Division – The Division will accept substantive law CLE approved by the National Association of Legal Assistants for credit towards the Paralegal Division mandatory membership renewal CLE requirement.

Meet your Speaker

Candy Ryan, CRP™, BA, is the Senior Litigation Paralegal at The Silvera Firm in Dallas, Texas. She has had an extensive career handling such diverse matters as non-subscriber defense and subrogation, commercial litigation, insurance defense, bankruptcy, business and corporate, probate and trust, real estate, trucking, railroad, and family law.  She is experienced in both federal and state courts in numerous jurisdictions, including, Texas, California, Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New York, and New Jersey.  Ms. Ryan has been an active part of the legal community since 1980, having worked in Seattle, San Diego, and Dallas.  She is a graduate of the University of San Diego, ABA accredited Paralegal Studies Program (1988) and has specialized in litigation for more than 35 years.  In addition, she is one of the initial 16 paralegals to be certified by the National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA) as a CORE Registered Paralegal (CRP) in the State of Texas and one of the first 200 CRPs in the United States (2011).  Further she received her B.A. in Legal Studies in 2015.  She enjoys public speaking and has been a regular contributor to NBI/IPE seminars since 1999 as well as presenting continuing legal education for the Perfectly Paralegal Cruises on the following issues: 2017 Ethics, 2019 Calendaring and Docketing and 2022 Foolproof Calendaring and Mastering the Basics of Discovery.  She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Dallas Area Paralegal Association in various positions as well as acting as a Coordinator for the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.  In her free time, she loves to camp, kayak, hike, and scuba dive.