Under Rule 5.3, a supervisor is responsible for a nonlawyer assistant's conduct if:

Under Rule 5.3, a supervisor is responsible for a nonlawyer assistant's conduct if:

• A. The nonlawyer acts without direction.
• B. The lawyer orders or ratifies the conduct, or the lawyer is a partner/direct supervisor and knows of the conduct.
• C. The nonlawyer acts independently.
• D. The client approves the conduct.

Answer: (B)

Rule 5.3 focuses on a lawyer’s duty to supervise nonlawyer assistants and to ensure their conduct complies with professional obligations. The lawyer becomes responsible for a nonlawyer’s conduct when the lawyer itself orders or ratifies that conduct, or when the lawyer is a partner or direct supervisor and knows about the conduct. In practice, this means if a paralegal carries out a improper act because the attorney directed it, or the attorney later approves or adopts that act, the attorney is answerable for it. The knowledge angle is important: even without directing the act, a supervising lawyer who knows about the misconduct and fails to correct it can be responsible. Client approval does not control the lawyer’s responsibility under this rule.

Rule 5.3 focuses on a lawyer’s duty to supervise nonlawyer assistants and to ensure their conduct complies with professional obligations. The lawyer becomes responsible for a nonlawyer’s conduct when the lawyer itself orders or ratifies that conduct, or when the lawyer is a partner or direct supervisor and knows about the conduct. In practice, this means if a paralegal carries out a improper act because the attorney directed it, or the attorney later approves or adopts that act, the attorney is answerable for it. The knowledge angle is important: even without directing the act, a supervising lawyer who knows about the misconduct and fails to correct it can be responsible. Client approval does not control the lawyer’s responsibility under this rule.