Top 10 Legal Ethics Developments of 2024: A Year in Review
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on the most significant developments in legal ethics that shaped the profession this year. These changes highlight the …
The California Supreme Court Clarifies Judges’ Ability to Respond to Public Criticism
On November 19, 2024, the California Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions released CJEO Formal Opinion 2024-027, addressing an important ethical question: Under what circumstances may a judge publicly …
Want a Cut of Legal Fees? Texas Bar Says Hold Your Horses
In a move that could reshape how law firms engage with legal tech vendors, the State Bar of Texas has proposed new ethical guidelines that would significantly limit revenue-sharing arrangements …
Can Settlement Agreements Muzzle Lawyers About Public Case Information?
The short answer is no. The North Carolina State Bar recently tackled this issue and made it clear that settlement agreements can’t restrict lawyers from discussing information that’s already public …
The New Frontier of Legal Marketing: Search Engine Keywords
Legal marketing has gone digital, and law firms are getting creative with their online strategies. One increasingly common tactic: using competitors’ names in Google ads – a practice known as …
Ethical Guidelines Published for Judges’ Use of Social Media
In October of 2024, the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC) published ethical guidelines for judges on the responsible use of social media. See Guidelines on the Use of Social Media by …
ABA Releases Formal Opinion Addressing A Lawyer’s Duty to Inquire Into and Assess the Facts and Circumstances of Each Representation
On August 23, 2024, the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released Formal Opinion 513 discussing a lawyer’s duty to inquire into and assess the facts and circumstances …
State Advisory Opinion Addresses Considerations for Lawyer Departing Law Firm
Lawyers departing from a law firm face many practical considerations when departing a firm for a new practice. This is especially true when some clients choose to leave the lawyer’s …
May a lawyer offer legal services under a subscription service fee model in which the client pays a monthly fee for legal services that the client may or may not utilize?
Subscription services are an increasingly common way for consumers to access products and services they frequently require. Services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Instacart sell a product or service to …
Another Lawyer Lead Astray by ChatGPT
On January 30, 2024, a three-judge panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit referred Lawyer Jae S. Lee to the court’s grievance panel for engaging …