Certified Legal Professional (CLP) Practice Exam

What is a concern for attorneys who form partnerships with non-lawyers?

1. Legal services may be compromised

2. Clients may experience undue influence

3. Ethical standards may be diminished

4. Fees may be misallocated

The correct answer is: Clients may experience undue influence

When attorneys form partnerships with non-lawyers, a significant concern is that clients may experience undue influence in their decision-making process. This can arise because non-lawyers may have differing motivations that do not align with the best interests of the client and can exert pressure on the attorney to prioritize business considerations over legal or ethical standards. In such partnerships, non-lawyers might influence how legal services are delivered, potentially leading to scenarios where financial objectives take precedence over the client's legal needs. This concern is especially pronounced in areas such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and the attorney-client relationship, where maintaining independence and impartiality is crucial for upholding the legal profession's integrity. While other potential issues do exist, such as the risk that legal services could be compromised, ethical standards diminished, or fees misallocated, the primary focus in many ethical guidelines and discussions about law practice management is on the influence dynamics between lawyers and non-lawyers. This underscores the vital importance of safeguarding the client’s interests from being compromised by external pressures.