Legal Research and Writing Exam 5

Paralegals ___________________________________.

• rarely work with files

• work with file clerks who mainly handle the case files

• just monitor

• are often responsible for organizing files and the information in the files

A poor filing system has the following characteristics.

• Files are lost and cannot be found.

• Attorneys and paralegals do not trust the file system.

• Large amounts of time and money are lost and wasted.

• All of the above.

The larger the number of cases, the more problems the office will experience with a(n) _____________ filing system.

• numerical

• bar coding

• alphabetic

• none of the above

A filing system that can handle an infinite number of cases without having to “reshuffle” the file drawers is a(n) _____________ filing system.

• centralized

• bar coding

• alphabetic

• none of the above

A filing rule states that the ____________ the case number, the more misfiling and other types of errors will occur.

• longer

• shorter the combination of letters and numbers in

• wider

• none of the above

In a ________________file system, a file department manages all active files.

• decentralized

• centralized

• combination decentralized and centralized

• all of the above

Which statement is NOT true?

• Each client must have a separate file opened.

• Multiple legal matters for the same client may be kept together in the same file.

• Alphabetic systems require the shuffling of files.

• Alphabetic systems “break down” when the office has different clients with the same name.

In a _______________ file system, files are kept in various locations throughout the law office.

• decentralized

• centralized

• combination decentralized and centralized

• none of the above

A ____________________ is used to check for conflicts, to assign a case number, to easily track the type of fee agreement, and to track how the client was referred to the office.

• docket form

• file opening form

• confidentiality form

• none of the above

Law offices have an ethical duty to return client materials to the client.

• True

• False