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P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | F A L L 2 0 2 4
Rules of Professional Conduct in the jurisdictions
in which they practice holding confidential every
piece of information a client provides. However,
those new to the legal industry may not instinctively
realize these confidentiality rules extend to them
when working in a law firm. The American
Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional
Conduct state that law firms shall take measures to
ensure that the conduct of nonlawyer employees is
"compatible with the professional obligations of the
lawyer" they work for.
How can firms impart this critical
requirement to their recent hires who are new
to legal? Consider providing this professional
responsibility guidance for nonlawyers written by
the Philadelphia Bar Association as a starting point:
• Assume all work by the firm to be
confidential; never discuss it with any
outsider.
• Take care even discussing confidential
matters with authorized persons at the office
in areas where outsiders may be present,
such as hallways or reception areas.
• Take steps to ensure you never misrepresent
yourself as a lawyer, such as signing a letter
on the law firm's letterhead. Ask the firm
how you should describe your role and
position in the office.
In addition to these guidelines for
maintaining client confidentiality in
everyday spoken interactions, law firms
should train new hires on their security
measures for handling electronically
sensitive information. Ensure that new hires
understand how to protect client data when
using legal technology, including managing
user permissions, establishing ethical walls,
and following compliance protocols.
Law Firm 101
Stepping into a law firm for the first time as a
non-lawyer can be daunting. To be successful
in their role, they will need help learning
the firm's terminology, technology, and
processes. What's second nature to a lawyer
won't be to your new hires – but if you find
ambitious candidates who enjoy a challenge,
you'll be surprised how quickly they learn.
Job shadowing offers a great way to
help new hires immerse themselves in what
your law firm does. Have the new employee
start by shadowing someone in a role like
theirs. Encourage them to observe and take
detailed notes of any acronyms or jargon and
follow-up questions they have. Ask those
being shadowed to narrate their work and
provide additional context when appropriate.
Once they have a good grip on the day-to-day
within their department, branch out and
have them shadow other teams they'll work
closely with.
By watching the work in progress and
the relationships between the team, they
can start to understand the processes and
Professional Responsibility
For Non-Lawyers
The Rules direct law firms and supervising
lawyers to make efforts to ensure that the
conduct of nonlawyers is compatible with the
professional obligations of the lawyer.
philadelphiabar.org
