Internet Links
The following links reflect sites that we believe offer important content for anyone researching Texas legal malpractice and ethical issues. We are always looking for new resources. If you have suggestions for additional sites or know that one of our sources is outdated, please contact us.
The Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism
TCLEP is a non-profit center funded in large part by the Texas Bar Foundation. Resources on this site include the Texas Disciplinary Rules, Ethics Opinions, A Guide to the Basics of Law Practice, the Ethics Course, and other Texas specific materials. This a thorough collection of relevant Texas ethics materials.
Judges Ethics Information
The Code of Judicial Conduct and Judicial Ethics Opinions are available online at http://www.courts.state.tx.us/Judethics/. Information on laws affecting judicial candidates are available at http://www.courts.state.tx.us/Judethics/candidacy.asp
Cornell Legal Information Institute, Legal Ethics
This site includes information regarding ethical and malpractice rules relating to Texas. Of particular note is the American Legal Ethics Library Narrative for Texas, which was prepared by the Houston law firm of Vinson & Elkins. This is a searchable discussion of the law of BOTH malpractice and ethics in the state of Texas-we found it to be very up to date when reviewed in January 2000. Don't be fooled when the first thing that comes up in the outline is Texas legal ethics, they do have the law of malpractice included in the Narrative. Links from this page also allow search of other states' law on legal malpractice and ethics. The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct are available at http://www2.law.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/foliocgi.exe/modelrules/ on this site.
University of Houston Texas Ethics Reporter
This site includes Texas Disciplinary Rules and Ethics Opinions, but is not as comprehensive as TCLEP. When searching by subject matter, this site may be faster than TCLEP.
Law Office Management Program of the State Bar of Texas
The Law Office Management Program has as its goal facilitating law firm management-the details not taught in law school. The program includes both seminars and office consultations. Books and videos available are described on the site. The resources section of the site includes a number of pamphlets on various law firm administration topics. Many of these pamphlets, such as How to Document Client Expenses and Attorney's Fees, are directly relevant to malpractice prevention. A links page connects to a number of sites that focus on law firm management.
ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability
The Standing Committee offers a number of important resources for attorneys interested in lawyers professional liability and insurance. A number of materials can be purchased online, including The Lawyer's Desk Guide to Legal Malpractice.
ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
The Center for Professional Responsibility coordinates most of the ABA's activities regarding legal ethics. There are usually a couple of commissions or subcommittee working on hot topics, and they will have links on this page. There are some free and some paid resources available from the site. Summaries of relatively recent ABA Formal Opinions are included on the site.
This site is best described as a news and resource site for legal ethics in the US. The collection of links to ethics sites around the country is good, but the news feature on the home page is the best feature. We refer to this page frequently to keep on top of ethics developments.
This is a free general legal research site that can be a poor man's substitute for Westlaw, at least with regard to research of regulations and statutes. Many of their links to state statutes are easier to search than Westlaw, in our opinion.
TLIE is a member of the National Association of Bar Related Insurance Companies. The websites for the companies often provide valuable loss prevention advice and forms. We have created a separate page for the links to these sites, with analysis of the loss prevention materials available. If you are an attorney from a state other than Texas, you may want to check with these companies for professional liability and other types of insurance.
Lawyers Serving Society Through Technology
This ABA sponsored site provides a variety of useful information about both the mechanics and ethics of providing legal services over the Internet, including confidentiality, advertising, and unauthorized practice of law issues.
Home ©Texas Lawyers' Insurance Exchange 2000. This page was last updated on January 17,2003.