Several attorneys have asked the WSBA Ethics Line whether they can offer services in areas that are new to them. The primary ethical principle to consider before you offer any service is competence.
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When lawyers hear the phrase “unauthorized practice,” they usually think of RPC 5.5(a): “A lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, or assist another in doing so.” In addition to the professional rule, however, the unauthorized practice of law is also a crime.
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You probably know that the WSBA Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) investigates and prosecutes legal professionals who violate the ethical rules. What you may not know is that, in some instances, legal professionals must report their own misconduct or other information to ODC.
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Working remotely increases the probability of problems created by malware and ransomware, and the damage caused by them can be extreme. Therefore, a reasonable lawyer should take additional steps to secure the data if the burden of those steps is not too great.
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If the economic shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was the earthquake, the mounting claims of unemployment and other legal issues are the coming tsunami.
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Online dispute resolutions will be a critical component in preventing residential and commercial evictions rather than hashing issues out in court after someone has already been displaced.
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The coronavirus crisis has and will continue to cause massive cultural and economic disruptions. As Americans are being asked—and, in some cases, required—to stay indoors and venture into public spaces only for essential products and services, consumer needs and behaviors, as well as the way companies provide such products and services, are changing rapidly.
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An Oregon lawyer was recently suspended over the content of his responses to negative online reviews.
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COVID-19, especially in Washington state, poses a threat on the legal profession and the world. We dive into the current circumstances and look at ways to prepare for pandemic.
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Timothy MB Farrell, counsel to MBI Health Services, LLC, shares his pro bono experience protecting women and girls, LGBT people, sex workers, and political activists in Uganda.
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For countless law students, the ongoing Coronavirus crisis has halted their young careers before they’ve even begun.
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The WSBA Ethics Line has received inquiries from laid off or furloughed attorneys concerned about their firm’s ability to continue serving clients while also cutting staff, but other evidence seems to indicate that Washington-based medium and large firms aren’t gutting staff expenses on the books. Robin Schachter of Gamoran Legal Consulting advises medium and large firms in Seattle (as well as Anchorage and Portland), but said her clients haven’t reported layoffs or other significant cuts.
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Recently, several legal professionals have called the WSBA Ethics Line to ask about their ethical obligations if they’ve been let go from their job. Here is a snapshot of your ethical obligations any time you leave a firm
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Everything about coronavirus seems to change almost daily, but as of this writing nearly 17 million people filed unemployment claims in the U.S. in just three weeks. How it shake out in the legal profession?
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There are many videoconferencing options out there, but one toograbbing headlines lately is Zoom. Here are some of the emerging issues related to Zoom and my best practices for secure communications with any videoconferencing tool.
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At-Large Governor Alec Stephens will finish his term this year, and the search is on for the next WSBA member to fill his seat. The three at-large positions are intended to help increase the diversity of the board by including people who have been historically underrepresented.
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On Nov. 5, 2019, the WSBA Board of Governors voted to change the name of the WBSA’s award-winning member magazine back to its original title of Washington State Bar News. After taking some time to handle publication logistics, redesign, and a few technical tweaks, that change has come to fruition with the unveiling of the April/May issue of Bar News.
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Pursuant to the governor’s orders, many are working remotely. Your ethics obligations remain the same. Here’s a rundown of the basics:
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