Professional Ethics and Practice Skills

This capstone unit integrates ethics, professionalism, and practical paralegal skills needed for entry-level practice in North Carolina. Students refine judgment on confidentiality, scope of practice, technology use, client communication, drafting, and courtroom procedures while preparing for workplace expectations and community service responsibilities.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze ethical and confidentiality scenarios (including conflicts of interest, duty to disclose imminent harm, and limitations on unauthorized practice) and identify appropriate responses consistent with North Carolina professional responsibility rules
• Apply professional communication and supervisory practices by preparing questions for attorneys, sharing case information responsibly, and drafting fundamental legal documents and cost bills for attorney review
• Demonstrate proper use of technology, research methods, and courtroom procedures (including evidence handling, avoiding plagiarism, and electronic device protocols) to support legal matters effectively and ethically
• Evaluate strategies for professional development and community engagement by assessing pro bono opportunities, participation in paralegal organizations, and methods for maintaining workplace conduct and avoiding harmful behaviors such as gossip