Sanctions imposed on attorneys for overbilling clients

For Ressearcher_D Only

Explain the differences among law office billing procedures, specifically, the differences involved in billing on a contingency basis, a flat fee basis, and an hourly basis.

Section Two 4 points

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of working as a freelance paralegal.

Section Three 20 points

Discuss the types of cases that would be handled in each of the following five law offices. (e.g., in a probate practice, paralegals would work on wills and trusts.) state attorney general's office public defender's office legal aid office county prosecutor's office private family law practice

Section Four 5 points

Research the ABA rules of professional of conduct and summarize the sanctions imposed on attorneys for over billing clients. What role does the paralegal play in maintaining accurate billing statements?

Section Five 5 points

What are the functions of a successful billing system? (2 points)

List at least 3 advantages computerized time-tracking has over manual time-tracking. (3 points)

Section 6 10 points

Identify which tasks can be billed to the client.

Client

Description of Services

1.

Mary Jones

Prepare draft of e-mail to client regarding date of hearing.

2.

Fred Smith

Prepare draft of Deed of Trust, Promissory Note, Addendum to Deed of Trust, and letter to Title Company for flat fee real estate case.

3.

PanAm Fruit & Vegetables

Prepare draft of letter to Mr. Miller.

4.

Dog Sitters Co.

Deposit retainer check in Trust account at Friendly Bank.

5.

Fred Smith

Prepare revision of real estate transfer papers.

6.

Karl Clark

Witness Interview: Jennifer Miller

7.

David Kirscher

Prepare draft of Order Granting Hearing on Summary Judgment.

8.

Karl Clark

Prepare medical chronology

9.

Fred Smith

Prepare final revision of real estate transfer papers.

10.

Gold East, Inc.

Organize client file and index documents.

Research and Writing: Brief Assignment 100 points

Submit your responses by Sunday PLEASE DRAFT YOUR ANSWERS IN A WORD PROCESSING PROGRAM AND SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER. Submit your Answers in an Attachment.

Note: When formatting this assignment, please do not include each section on its own page as directed. A line break or two between sections will suffice and save paper/trees

Review the fact pattern provided below. At this time, Mr. Kant stands convicted of either petit larceny or shoplifting, as dictated by your state statutes, and your office has been hired to handle the appeal. Based on your lessons and reading material regarding legal analysis and writing, legal research, legal citation and appellate procedure, prepare the appellate brief based on relevant statutory and case law from your state of residence. Proper format is outlined in Statsky Ch. 12 pgs. 600 - 602 and detailed in your state court rules, formbooks, etc. Thoroughly research the issues involved and address the statute/s from your state under which Mr. Kant would be charged and convicted. Locate at least one binding opinion upon which to base your arguments and apply the opinion in a thorough and concise manner. You should also apply any relevant secondary authority that might be used in support of your arguments. In completing this assignment, please focus on demonstrating your research, analysis, citation and writing skills over format of the brief. Bear in mind that you do not have access to the trial court record for this assignment, which would not be the case in an actual law office setting. Therefore, you may embellish the facts as necessary to fully develop your arguments. Use care, however, not to allow those embellishments to change the issues involved.

FACTS: Sam Kant, stands convicted of shoplifting/petit larceny (as dictated by your state statutes) from Bilmart, a national department store. At his wife’s request, Mr. Kant went to Bilmart on Wednesday, ______, 20___, and purchased a case of six 4 oz. cans of Hoover’s Baked Beans with Bacon. Upon returning home, his wife chastised him for once again failing to purchase what she had requested. Apparently, Mrs. Kant can’t stand the taste of Hoover’s Beans, but is very fond of the Handell’s brand, and was planning to serve them to her book club when she hosted them for lunch the following afternoon. Mrs. Kant ordered her husband to return to Bilmart to exchange the Hoover’s beans for Handell’s Beans. Upon arrival at the store early the next morning, Mr. Kant found that the line for customer service was extremely long due to Bilmart’s annual sponsorship of a major community food drive. In an effort to save time, and thinking the line might be shorter upon his return, Mr. Kant placed the case of Hoover’s beans into a shopping cart, made his way through the store to the bean shelf, and then added the Handell’s beans to the cart. However, upon his return, the line had not diminished and it was obvious that Sam would be waiting a considerable amount of time to formalize the exchange. Fearing the wrath of his wife should he not return in time for lunch, Sam placed the case of Hoover’s beans inside a cart filled with what appeared to be merchandise returns in need of re-stocking. With the desired Handell’s beans in the shopping cart, Mr. Kant then proceeded to the store’s exit. As he neared the doors, Mr. Kant was approached and detained by store security, who witnessed Sam’s actions, and police were called to the store. Apparently, the cart into which Sam had placed the Hoover’s Beans did not contain returned items to be shelved, but rather, donations to the Bilmart Community Food Drive. Officers Kopp and Slickman questioned Mr. Kant and then cited him for Shoplifting.

Bulletin Board Submission Six: 10 Points. Due Sunday.

1) Please explain how a paralegal may engage in advocacy

2) Please explain how you may have engaged in advocacy.

3) Please explain how engaging in advocacy may benefit your community.