Question

Sarah, a diligent paralegal at a prestigious law firm, stumbles upon a confidential email from the opposing counsel while organizing case documents. The email contains sensitive information about the opposing party's defense strategy. Tempted by the potential advantage it could give her firm, Sarah chooses to use this information to her client's benefit and does not disclose the source of the information when making her suggestions to the supervising attorney.

a. Sarah's actions are ethically justified.
b. Sarah should report the email to her supervising attorney.
c. Sarah should use the information strategically without disclosure.
d. Sarah should confront the opposing counsel about the email.

Answer 1

The ethical course of action for Sarah, the paralegal, would be to b. Sarah should report the email to her supervising attorney. Hence, option (b) is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sarah should report the email to her supervising attorney.

As a paralegal at a prestigious law firm, Sarah must maintain professional ethics and not use confidential information to gain an advantage for her client. Using the information without disclosure would be a breach of ethics and could result in legal consequences. By reporting the email to her supervising attorney, Sarah can ensure that the information is handled appropriately and that any potential advantages are gained through proper and ethical means.

Furthermore, disclosing the source of the information is important to maintain transparency and ensure fairness in legal proceedings. Concealing the source would be misleading and could undermine the integrity of the judicial system.