Associate professors Karla McKanders and Paula Schaefer were both published in the January 2016 issue of DICTA, the official monthly magazine of the Knoxville Bar Association.
McKanders’s article, “Global Becomes Local: Working with Interpreters,” discusses the “ethical implications and logistics of working with interpreters,” as the foreign-born population continues to increase locally and nationwide.
In the piece, McKanders stresses the importance of recognizing that cultural barriers may transcend the linguistic. “There are also cultural practices embedded within language that impact the manner in which your client and witnesses communicate,” explains McKanders. “While you may interpret certain non-verbal cues as dishonest, rude, arrogant, or indifferent, there may be cultural differences that impact the message your client is conveying.”
Schaefer’s article, “Professional Conduct Obligations in Limited Scope Representations,” discusses the importance of making sure that a “good deed does not turn into months of working as an unpaid attorney in the shadows of [a] case,” as well as the importance of complying with professional conduct obligations.
In the piece, Schaefer advises that it is better to err on the side of caution when taking on limited-scope representations. “While it may seem like overkill to state the terms, risks, and benefits of [a] limited scope representation in an engagement letter, taking that step will ensure that [the client] understands what to expect (and not expect) from you in the future,” explains Schaefer.
Published each month except for July, DICTA has a circulation of over 1,800. This total includes the 1,700 attorneys and judges who are members of the Knoxville Bar Association, plus the members of the Association of Legal Administrators-Knoxville Chapter and other bar leaders across the state.