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Ethical Implications of using AI for Texas Attorneys
May 17, 2023The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered tools, like ChatGPT, has the potential to transform various industries and how tasks are performed. And many proponents argue that the legal industry is no exception. While the emergence of these technological advancements has the potential to deliver better client service and increase Read the full post
ABA Formal Opinion 503 Finds Implied Consent to “Reply All” Responses
April 18, 2023Should I “reply all”? Wait–did I just inadvertently “reply all”?! We’ve all asked ourselves these questions. For lawyers, “reply all” raises more than just questions of workplace etiquette (or possible sources of mortification), but ethical questions as well. In this Article, we discuss the recent formal opinion from the American Read the full post
Wire Transfer Scams: How to Minimize the Risk
September 19, 2022Scams continue to target Texas attorneys regardless of firm size. Email wire transfer scams–most commonly targeting real estate closings or legal settlements–have increased exponentially resulting in millions of dollars of losses each year. In this Article, we provide an overview of the prevalent email wire transfer scam, the ethical and Read the full post
Practical Tips for Texas Lawyers on Staying Ethical on Social Media
August 3, 2021Attorneys have increasingly embraced social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Avvo for professional purposes. According to the American Bar Association’s 2020 Legal Technology Survey Report, 77% of all respondents reported using social media for professional purposes. LinkedIn is currently the leading social media platform for attorneys, with 88% Read the full post
I’m Not A Cat: Etiquette, Privacy and Security Considerations When Using Video Meeting Platforms
June 4, 2021As working remotely has become the new normal, it’s no surprise that video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Cisco Webex have seen a tremendous spike in active users. These platforms have become part of attorneys’ virtual practice enabling lawyers to ensure continuity of service to their Read the full post
Virtual Practice under ABA Opinion 498: Implications for Texas Lawyers Working Remotely
April 1, 2021The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility recently issued Formal Opinion 498 (Opinion), entitled Virtual Practice, to provide guidance and best practices for lawyers working remotely. This Article examines both the ABA Model Rules and Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct commonly implicated in virtual practice, as well Read the full post
The Role of Vendors in Avoiding Cyber Attacks and Information Disclosure
January 29, 2021The recent massive cyberattack on federal agencies can be traced back to an Austin IT management company, SolarWinds, which is literally down the road from TLIE. According to reports, SolarWinds appears to have been hacked due to lax security practices. After breaching SolarWinds, the hackers were able to breach many Read the full post
Texas Ethics Opinion 651: Email Links on Law Firm Websites
January 18, 2016The Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas has issued an opinion regarding the confidentiality of emails sent by prospective clients. Opinion 651 is a critical opinion for lawyers and law firms which have websites. The opinion concludes that lawyers are not required to warn prospective clients who Read the full post
Do You Need Case Management Software?
May 19, 2015By Dee Crocker Practice Management Advisor / Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund Dee Crocker has been a Practice Management Advisor with the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund since 1992. She has been employed in law related positions for 30 years, including 3 years as a supervisor of 50 Read the full post
Law Firm Online Policies
May 19, 2015A recent article has a good outline for a law firm online activity policy. Michael P. Downey, Law Firm Online Line Activity Policy, 19 The Prof. Lawyer No. 4 pg. 4 (2009), available for a fee from http://www.abanet.org/abastore/index.cfm?fm=Product.AddToCart&pid=46200011904PDF This article correctly notes that it is difficult, if not impossible, to ban Read the full post