Watching Over, Watching Out: Lawyers' Responsibilities for Nonlawyer Assistants.

The article analyzes lawyers' professional responsibilities regarding their nonlawyer assistants. It discusses the duties imposed on lawyers by Model Rule of Professional Conduct 5.3 and state equivalents and explains that Rule 5.3 does not impose vicarious liability on lawyers. It examines special supervisory concerns for lawyers including the employment of family members, the employment of disbarred lawyers as nonlawyer assistants, and the use of private investigators.