lease write an informal memorandum, at least six (double-spaced) pages in length on the topic described after these instructions. The format does not need to follow the standard format of a legal memorandum, with the standard sections—Summary, Issue or Question Presented, Short Answer, Facts, etc. Instead, please format it like an academic essay, with a strong thesis statement/argument, and supported by primary and secondary sources (see my explanation in the Discussion Posts section above). The question I will post will require you to do some research from outside the regular readings for class. You will find the state bar websites of other states (besides those from Maine) to be helpful, as well as the Model Rules of the American Bar Association, and the Westlaw Campus Research database available through the library A-Z databases page, which has a comprehensive collection of appellate case law as well as the ethics opinions of many state bar associations.
Ethics Topic: Your law firm, that specializes in personal injury litigation, has hired a new paralegal, Terry Talker, that you know from school. Terry came from a law firm in which she worked on insurance defense cases. Terry is eager to get to know people and you have heard her, occasionally, discussing cases she worked on at her prior legal employment. Terry is friendly and likes to tease some of your co-workers. One of your co-workers, Sandy Young, is a very shy young man who keeps to himself. You have seen Terry ruffling his hair and telling Sandy that she likes his clothing. It seems to you that Sandy is uncomfortable when Terry touches him and remarks on his outfits. One day you overhear one of the lawyers in the firm asking Terry to start working on a case against Telco, Inc., a manufacturing company that has had many lawsuits filed against it in recent years due to dangerous workplace conditions. You have noticed recently that this lawyer has been coming in late and sometimes smells of alcohol. You have also heard Terry talk about working at her prior firm on cases in which this company was the client. You have also heard Terry talking about how great ChatGPT is because it “does the work for you.” What are the issues that you see with Terry and the assigning lawyer, what ethical rules govern, what will you do in this situation and what are the possible consequences for you and the firm as a result of these issues?
