Ind. Prof. Cond. Rule 5.3

Assistants

Effective January 1, 2005

With respect to a nonlawyer employed or retained by or associated with a lawyer:

(a) a partner, and a lawyer who individually or together with other lawyers possess comparable managerial authority in a law firm shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the

firm has in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that the person's conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer;

(b) a lawyer having direct supervisory authority over the nonlawyer shall make reasonable

efforts to ensure that the person's conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of

the lawyer; and

(c) a lawyer shall be responsible for conduct of such a person that would be a violation of the

Rules of Professional Conduct if engaged in by a lawyer if:

(1) the lawyer orders or, with the knowledge of the specific conduct, ratifies the conduct

involved; or

(2) the lawyer is a partner or has comparable managerial authority in the law firm in which

the person is employed, or has direct supervisory authority over the person, and knows of

the conduct at a time when its consequences can be avoided or mitigated but fails to take

reasonable remedial action.

Comment

[1] Lawyers generally employ assistants in their practice, including secretaries, invest-

igators, law student interns, paralegals and other paraprofessionals. Such assistants,

whether employees or independent contractors, act for the lawyer in rendition of the lawyer's professional services. A lawyer must give such assistants appropriate instruction

and supervision concerning the ethical aspects of their employment, particularly regarding the obligation not to disclose information relating to representation of the client, and

should be responsible for their work product. The measures employed in supervising nonlawyers should take account of the fact that they may not have legal training and are not

subject to professional discipline.

[2] Paragraph (a) requires lawyers with managerial authority within a law firm to make

reasonable efforts to establish internal policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that nonlawyers in the firm will act in a way compatible with the Rules of

Professional Conduct. See Comment [1] to Rule 5.1. Paragraph (b) applies to lawyers

who have supervisory authority over the work of a nonlawyer. Paragraph (c) specifies the

circumstances in which a lawyer is responsible for conduct of a nonlawyer that would be a

violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct if engaged in by a lawyer.