This afternoon the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 sent an email through the listserv announcing a public hearing in mid-October in Chicago. The Commission is looking for comments on two topics: 1) “Client Confidentiality and Lawyers’ Use of Technology” and 2) “Lawyers’ Use of Internet Based Client Development Tools.” I’ve uploaded the first of these issues papers which you can review here:
Most of the issues discussed in this paper have some impact on virtual law practice. One of the Commission’s suggested options for action is to “propose amendments to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, such as Model Rules 1.1 (competency), 1.6 (duty of confidentiality), 1.15 (safeguarding client property), or the comments to those Rules.”
Therefore, it’s important that those of us interested in the delivery of legal service online take the time to read this paper, and if there is a perspective that is missing, to submit a comment before the deadline of December 15, 2010. I contributed Chapter Three of my book and may submit a comment as well after I’ve had time to review and digest the two issues papers again.
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