Legalethics.com

California Issues Ethics Opinion on Confidentiality and the Use of E-mail and Technology To Transmit Client Information

26 Dec 2010

California Formal Opinion 2010-179 outlines the lawyer’s duties when transmitting or storing confidential client information when the underlying technology may be susceptible to unauthorized access by third parties. An attorney’s duties of confidentiality and competence require the attorney to take appropriate steps to ensure that his or her use of technology in conjunction with a client’s representation does not subject confidential client information to an undue risk of unauthorized disclosure. Because of the evolving nature of technology and differences in security features that are available, the attorney must ensure the steps are sufficient for each form of technology being used and must continue to monitor the efficacy of such steps.

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Categories : Confidentiality, California, E-mail, Internet Use, Computer Use, Attorney-client privilege, Privacy, Rules of Conduct, Ethics Opinions, Discipline, Security, Cloud

Proposed Texas Rule of Civil Procedure: The Internet is Off Limits, Too, Jurors!

16 Dec 2010

An article and link to the proposed amendment to emphasize that communication about a case is off limits whether on the Internet or not is here. Trial lawyers should consider asking for an instruction like this no matter where the venue.

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Categories : Texas, Ex Parte Communications, E-mail, Discussion Groups, Internet Use, Computer Use, Rules of Conduct, Social Networking, Social Computing, Evidence

Kentucky Proposes Fee, Regulation of Social Networking Posts

1 Dec 2010

The article with links to the proposal are here. To avoid getting any Kentucky readers in trouble, please don’t blog about this!

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Categories : Advertising, Attorney-client relationship, Discussion Groups, Internet Use, Computer Use, Kentucky, Rules of Conduct, Bar Association, Discipline, Social Networking

New York Professional Standards for Attorneys

30 Apr 2009

The New York Rules of Professional Conduct effective April 2009. Additional Professional Standard resources are available from the State Bar.

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Categories : New York, Rules of Conduct

NY St. Bar Ass’n Approves Gmail Use Despite Contextual Ad Scanning

14 Sep 2008

The New York State Bar Association concluded that lawyers could use gmail and comply with the duty of confidentiality despite the fact that email is ’scanned’ by Google to place contextual ads. The committee warned that this sort of unthinking, automated review was proper, but not human review. N.Y. St. B. Ass’n. Comm. Prof. Eth. Op. 820 (Feb. 8, 2008).

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Categories : Confidentiality, Websites, E-mail, Internet Use, Attorney-client privilege, New York, Privacy, Rules of Conduct, Bar Association, Discipline, Ethics Walls, Malpractice

New Hampshire Adopts Rule Protecting Prospective Clients who Unilaterally Email Law Firms

20 Feb 2008

Effective January 1, 2008, New Hampshire adopted a rule that clearly protects persons who, in good faith, e-mail confidential information to a lawyer from having the lawyer use the information against the prospective client. The comments to New Hampshshire Rule 1.18 provide in part: “In its version of these provisions, New Hampshire’s rule eliminates the terminology of ‘discussion’ or ‘consultation’ and extends the protections of the rule to persons who, in a good faith search for representation, provide information unilaterally to a lawyer who subsequently receives and reviews the information. This change recognizes that persons frequently initiate contact with an attorney in writing, by e-mail, or in other unilateral forms, and in the process disclose confidential information that warrants protection.”

The rule no doubt makes it more important for NH lawyersto use effective disclaimers on their web pages.

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Categories : Confidentiality, Websites, Attorney-client relationship, Disclaimers, E-mail, New Hampshire, Internet Use, Computer Use, Attorney-client privilege, Conflicts, Rules of Conduct

Wisconsin updates ethics rules, follows many ABA changes

6 Mar 2007

On Jan. 5, 2007, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued order 04-07 formally adopting changes to Chapter 20, the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys, effective July 1, 2007. The Wisconsin Bar offers information about the changes.

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Categories : Rules of Conduct, Wisconsin

Connecticut revises ethics rules, following many ABA updates; new filing requirement effective July 1, 2007

6 Mar 2007

The Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct have been modified and adopt many of recent changes adopted by the ABA. A redline version is available from the Connecticut Superior Court. These revisions become effective on January 1, 2007, except as follows:

Revisions to Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct were effective September 1, 2006
New Sections 2-28A and 2-28B and new subsection (e) of Section 2-27 become effective July 1, 2007

Note that Rule 7.2 (advertising) now requires electronic advertisements to be copied every three months on a compact disk or similar technology and kept for three years.

Importantly, Practice Book Section 2-28A, which takes effect July 1, 2007, requires filing with statewide bar counsel a copy of most advertisements. Section 2-28B provides a procedure for lawyers to request an advance advisory opinion concerning the propriety of an advertisement.See modified rules.

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Categories : Advertising, Connecticut, Rules of Conduct

ACTEC Commentaries on the Model Rules of Professional Conduct

18 Feb 2007

The American College of Trusts and Estates Lawyers (ACTEC) Commentaries on the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

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Categories : Rules of Conduct

Revised Rules of Professional Conduct take effect Febrauary 1st

10 Jan 2007

The revised D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct take effect Febrauary 1st. A markup of the Rules with the changes is available.

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Categories : Rules of Conduct, District of Columbia (D.C.)

Proposed Maryland rules changes

14 Sep 2005

The Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure offers a list of all recent proposed rules changes.

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Categories : Maryland, Rules of Conduct

Delaware Rules of Professional Conduct

1 Jul 2003

The Delaware Rules of Professional Conduct are available online.

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Categories : Delaware, Rules of Conduct

ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct

6 Jun 2001

The ABA now publishes the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct on its website.

Cornell’s Legal Information Institute’s American Legal Ethics Library also offers an annotated version of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct with commentary.

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Categories : States, ABA, Rules of Conduct

District of Columbia (D.C.) Rules of Professional Conduct

8 Nov 1999

The D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct are available online. A separate version is offered by the Legal Information Institute.

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Categories : States, Rules of Conduct, District of Columbia (D.C.)

Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct