At this year’s American Association for Justice (AAJ) Annual Convention, Amanda Cryderman and Brian Franciskato presented at the Paralegal CLE on The Unauthorized Practice of Law by Paralegals and How to Avoid Landmines.
The goal isn’t to do less as a paralegal. It’s to do more while staying on the right side of the ethical line. The most effective paralegals aren’t the ones who answer every question; they’re the ones who know which questions belong to the attorney.
American Bar Association Model Guidelines for UPL
NALA – The Paralegal Association, Code of Ethics & Professional Responsibility
A paralegal must not:
National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) emphasizes:
Three Rules to RememberRule 1: Just because you know the answer doesn’t mean you should give it.
Rule 2: Your experience is an asset and a risk; avoid assumptions framed as advice.
Rule 3: When in doubt, pause and involve the attorney. Defer, document, confirm.
Dangers that can lead to UPL
Informal Communications
Amanda Cryderman manages the Mass Torts Division at Nash & Franciskato Law Firm and brings more than 15 years of experience in complex litigation and mass tort case management. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Missouri Southern State University in 2009.
Amanda oversees all aspects of mass tort litigation, including case development, discovery, document management, and trial preparation. Through her work, she has developed significant experience in defective hip replacement and other medical device litigation. She collaborates closely with attorneys, clients, experts, and litigation support teams to efficiently manage complex, high-volume caseloads.
An active leader within the paralegal profession, Amanda has been a member of the Kansas City Paralegal Association since 2017. She currently serves as Policy Director and was recently elected President for the 2026–2028 term. She also serves as Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Paralegal Affiliates, where she works with legal professionals nationwide to promote education, professional development, and collaboration.
A frequent presenter on litigation, ethics, and professional responsibility, Amanda is passionate about mentoring paralegals and advancing the profession through education, ethical practice, and leadership.
Brian S. Franciskato, a partner at Nash & Franciskato Law Firm in Kansas City, Missouri. He is an accomplished litigator representing plaintiffs in serious personal injury and wrongful death claims. Brian also handles mass tort cases involving defective medical devices on a nationwide level. Brian is a firm believer in professional education and is frequently asked to speak at conferences on topics related to civil litigation, evidence, and products liability. He is the author of numerous legal publications, including handbooks that are widely used by other attorneys in Missouri. Brian is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has been routinely selected to SuperLawyers for Kansas and Missouri.
Nash & Franciskato is dedicated to nationwide representation of individuals affected by automobile and trucking accidents, wrongful death, product liability, defective drugs, medical devices, and other serious injuries caused by others. Our mission is to advocate for people whose lives have been disrupted by negligence and unsafe products.
American Association for Justice (AAJ) promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, safeguards victims’ rights—particularly the right to trial by jury—and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety. With members worldwide and a network of U.S. and Canadian affiliates involved in diverse areas of trial advocacy, AAJ provides lawyers and paralegals with the information and professional assistance needed to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values inherent in the civil justice system. Past results afford no guarantee of future results, and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
Past results afford no guarantee of future results, and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
