What must paralegals do before taking on a case?

Before taking on a case, paralegals must evaluate the case for conflicts of interest. This is a critical step in maintaining ethical standards and ensuring that the paralegal can represent the client without any competing obligations or biases. Conflicts of interest can arise from various relationships or prior engagements that might compromise the paralegal’s ability to provide unbiased representation. Identifying and addressing these conflicts protects both the paralegal and the client's interests, ensuring that the legal process is fair and just.

Understanding and properly managing conflicts of interest is crucial in any legal practice, as it helps in maintaining the integrity of the legal profession and the trust of clients. If a conflict exists, the paralegal is obligated to disclose this information and, in many cases, may have to decline the engagement to avoid unethical conduct.

Other options may seem reasonable, but they do not encompass the same level of ethical obligation that evaluating conflicts of interest does. For instance, a brief review of the case may be insufficient to identify potential issues, and confirming qualifications with the client, while important, does not address the ethical ramifications of potential conflicts. Declining complex cases might be a valid approach in some situations, but it does not apply universally and does not prioritize the fundamental ethical considerations