Ethics CLE Teleforum 2017

Professional Responsibility & Legal Education Practice Group Teleforum

The Federalist Society offers a unique opportunity to acquire one hour’s worth of ethics CLE credit.

Our panel of three experts in legal and judicial ethics will discuss several recent cases and regulatory developments in the field, with an eye towards translating these developments into practical wisdom about their likely impact on law practice in 2017 and beyond.

The following topics will be discussed: 

Unauthorized Practice of Law and Its Growing Implications for Lawyering

We will examine some of the recent developments in UPL and its application to the delivery of legal services.  New business structures and services are beginning to test the old legal concepts.  And, as some recent cases illustrate, the ABA’s modification of Model Rule 5.5 may now be outdated.

Recent Developments in Attorneys’ Fees

As practice continues to evolve, the ABA, the state bars, and some courts have provided more guidance on lawyer issues relating to attorneys’ fees. In some cases, lawyers are using creative language to protect their rights and in other cases, client protection remains an important interest.

A Sampling of Ethical Pitfalls in the Electronic Age

Many seminars and much advertising tout the virtues of establishing or enhancing a lawyer or a firm's online presence and technical tools. Increasing business, facilitating lawyer-client communications, and better managing litigation are only a few of the benefits that can result. But there is a dark side to the adoption of Electronic Age technology as well. Chief among the dangers is the unauthorized disclosure of client confidences, through inadvertence or third party mischief, but that hardly exhausts the dangers. Recent cases and ethics opinions reveal an array of other difficulties that can arise.

Advertising

As an increasing number of American lawyers handle more matters that touch on more than one state, the rules governing lawyer advertising in various formats have become less and less uniform across state lines. Every state has rules that are based on Part 7 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, but almost every state made detailed and widely varying amendments before local adoption. The ABA has begun formal consideration of a proposal developed by the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL) that would greatly simplify the Model Rules provisions, while eliminating most regulations that speak to matters of taste rather misrepresentation or other harms to clients.

Featuring:

• Prof. W. William Hodes, Professor Emeritus of Law, Indiana University & President, The William Hodes Law Firm
• Prof. John S. Dzienkowski, Professor of Law & Dean John F. Sutton, Jr. Chair in Lawyering and the Legal Process, Texas Law

Call begins at 11:55 a.m. Eastern Time.

Teleforum calls are open to all dues paying members of the Federalist Society. To become a member, sign up here.  As a member, you should receive email announcements of upcoming Teleforum calls which contain the conference call phone number. If you are not receiving those email announcements, please contact us at 202-822-8138. 

Because we are offering CLE for this Teleforum, it is open to non-members as well. The Teleforum call in number will be available with the CLE materials upon registration.

One hour of ethics CLE available in some jurisdictions pending approval*

$25 for CLE (Federalist Society members)
$50 for CLE (non-Federalist Society members)

Charges apply only to those seeking CLE credit.

Registration for CLE credit is required.
Attendance must be verified during the presentation.**
No registration or fee is required if you are not seeking CLE credit. 

*Please note that the Teleforum has been approved for CLE credit in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Tennessee, and Washington. Accreditation is anticipated in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvanian, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Additional applications for CLE credit will be made in states states not mentioned above if requested during registration. 

**Additional CLE Instructions:

1. Please check your confirmation email for the link to the webpage to download all CLE Materials including the link for the online Certificate of Attendance, Evaluation Form, and Written Materials.
2. Call into the Teleforum number listed on the CLE materials webpage and available in the confirmation email before 11:55 a.m. ET on Friday, September 29.
3. A registration page link will be sent to you the morning of September 29. Please make sure to electronically sign in using this link at the beginning of the call, preferably within the first 5 minutes of the call.
4. Listen for the "Unique Program Codes" during the call and enter those codes on your Certificate of Attendance to verify your attendance.
5. Fill out your Certificate of Attendance and Evaluation Form that will be provided with your confirmation email within 15 days of the program.