The practice of law has changed drastically over the last decade – from the way client files are stored to the rise of Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO). Lawyers’ use of cloud computing is also growing as the technology becomes safer, the cost-effectiveness becomes more evident, internal productivity increases and the need to provide a variety of legal services delivery becomes a market imperative. However, numerous ethical issues have also arisen as these new cloud computing technologies have become more prevalent amongst lawyers and law firms.
In this excellent course on the ethics of cloud computing Donna Seyle provides a comprehensive discussion of how to fulfill your ethical duties when choosing cloud computing vendors and how to actually use the technology ethically. The main ethical issues addressed include confidentiality (Model Rules 1.6 & 1.15), competence & diligence (Rules 1.1 & 1.3), duties to prospective clients (Rules 1.18 & 1.2), unauthorized practice of law (Rule 5.5), and the duty to supervise (Rule 5.3). Other topics addressed include third party cloud applications, relinquishing control of client data, email, ABA Ethics 20/20, the “reasonable precautions” standard of Model Rule 1.6, satisfying the duty of confidentiality, vetting the vendor, security protocols, multijurisdictional virtual practice, the New Jersey “bona fide office” rule, self-help legal software, managing attorneys & non-lawyer employees, online submission forms, disclaimers and further resources.
Donna Seyle is an attorney, writer, and Founder of Law Practice Strategy, an information and consulting center addressing the future of law practice and legal technology, as related to the needs of solos and small firms in this new legal marketplace. A member of the ABA-LPM's eLawyering Task Force Committee, Ms. Seyle works with virtual law practice thought leaders on innovative uses of cloud technology for solos and small firms, and to improve access to justice. Mrs. Seyle is also a member of the State Bar of California’s Executive Committee of the Law Practice Management & Technology section, and is editor of the section’s ezine, The Bottom Line. Her work has been published in Technolawyer, ABA’s Law Practice Today, Legal Technology Newsletter, Law.com, and ABA's GP-Solo Magazine. She is author of the recently-published book, Law Practice Strategy: Creating a New Business Model for Solos and Small Firms, and is a co-author of the California Bar’s newest publication, Growing and Managing a Law Office.
Practice Areas: Ethics
State Accreditations: California (CA)