ABA Ethics Study of Attorney Client-Development Tools

The American Bar Association is looking at the possibility of pursuing further study over the next two years of the ethics of attorney online client development tools such as blogs, websites, and Facebook, a Law Technology News article last Monday said.

The ABA's Commission on Ethics 20/20 submitted a 15-page report discussing potential ethics concerns over "lawyers' use of Internet-based client development tools" last September, highlighting four specific areas of possible research and regulation: internet-based client development tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter; blogging; pay-per-click advertising; and lawyer websites. The Commission is taking no position on the matters addressed in the report, saying that its goal is to describe the several issues the Commission has identified in this context and elicit comments on possible approaches the Commission is currently considering.

Those questions & comments should be directed by December 15, 2010, to:

Natalia Vera
Senior Research Paralegal, Commission on Ethics 20/20
ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
321 North Clark Street 15th Floor
Chicago, IL 60654-7598
Phone: 312/988-5328 Fax: 312/988-5280

e-mail mailto:veran@staff.abanet.org

Comments received may also be posted to the Commission’s website