Maintaining Competence Through Keeping Up With Technology
Last year, the ABA adopted an amendment to ABA Model Rule of Professional Responsibility 1.1, comment 8, providing that “a lawyer should keep abreast of changes in the law and its …
Cloud Computing and Legal Ethics
With the deployment of virtually every new law-practice technology come the questions. Is it permissible to use cell phones for client communications? Do professional conduct standards permit lawyers to send …
LASC Amends Procedural Rules Governing Disciplinary Matters
Effective January 5, 2010, the Louisiana Supreme Court amended certain procedural rules governing Louisiana lawyer disciplinary proceedings. More particularly, the court amended LASC Rule 19, section 18(B) as follows: To …
Louisiana Supreme Court Forbids Cash Withdrawals from Lawyer Trust Accounts
Effective January 6, 2010, the Louisiana Supreme Court amended Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15(f) to include the following language: “A lawyer shall not use any debit card or automated …
New Proposal Would Require Civil Defense Lawyers to Notify Plaintiffs of Settlement
The LADB Office of Disciplinary Council may soon propose amendments to the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct requiring the lawyer for a defendant in a civil action to send notice …
ABA to Discuss New Standards Regarding Ethics Education in Law Schools
The ABA Section of Legal Education, Standards Review Committee will meet on January 8-9, 2010 to consider new standards for “Learning Outcomes” at ABA Accredited law schools. These proposed standards, …
LSBA Rules Committee Defers Consideration of Amendments to Model Rule 3.8
The LSBA Committee on the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct met on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, to discuss adoption of ABA Model Rule 3.8(g-h). These model rule provisions, which the ABA …
Practice in Federal Court During State Court Suspension Not “Unauthorized”
On November 20, 2009, the LASC reinstated New Orleans lawyer Joseph M. Bruno to the practice of law in state courts. See In re Bruno, LASC No. 09-OB-2227 (filed Nov. …
Our Dysfunctional Marriage to the Law
I stumbled across a recent blog post asking an interesting question about me, “Is attorney Dane Ciolino of New Orleans an apologist for judicial misfits, a moron and ethically inept?” …
Lawyer Interfirm Mobility Facilitated by Recent Developments
Traditionally, a lawyer joined a law firm immediately after law school graduation and retired from that firm after a long career. This, of course, is no longer true. Several recent …