Commission on Ethics 20/20 makes small tweaks to Model Rules 
By:
W. William Hodes
Published: April 19, 2013
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, ethics, legal ethics
Since the Model Rules of Professional Conduct were first promulgated by the American Bar Association in 1983, they have been amended several times on an issue-by-issue basis, and the ABA has twice undertaken a more global overhaul.
Judicial ethics code applies to social networking, ABA panel says 
Published: March 7, 2013
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, ethics, Judges, social media, social networking, technology
Judges must follow the ethics rules governing social relationships and contacts when engaged in electronic social networking, an American Bar Association committee has made clear in a new ethics opinion.
ABA’s 20/20 Commission proposes final changes 
By:
Correy Stephenson
Published: March 5, 2013
Tags: ABA, advertising, American Bar Association, ethics, social media, technology
With the release of a final set of proposed changes to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the American Bar Association’s 20/20 Commission completed its work last month.
The group addressed major issues facing lawyers, including the maintenance of client confidences in the age of social media, the ethical obligations of legal outsourcing and the need to stay up-to-date and informed on technology.
Lawyer’s tax evasion results in disbarment 
Published: November 27, 2012
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, attorney discipline, disbarment, ethics, legal ethics, professional responsibility, Sanctions, tax evasion
Disbarment is the presumptive discipline for a lawyer who engages in tax evasion, the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled.
The benefits and challenges of limited scope services 
Published: October 10, 2012
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, book review, ghostwriting, law firm, unbundled legal services, unbundling
Stephanie Kimbro is well-known for starting one of the first virtual law practices in 2006.
Now the North Carolina-based attorney has written a book for the American Bar Association addressing the opportunities and challenges of unbundled legal services.
Should the ABA mandate diversity in its model rules? 
Published: October 4, 2012
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, diversity, ethics, Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession, legal ethics, Model Rules of Professional Conduct
The American Bar Association should include diversity as part of the group’s model rules for attorneys, according to a recent request from the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession.
Real estate is riskiest practice area, ABA survey finds 
Published: September 14, 2012
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, ethics, legal malpractice, legal malpractice insurance, Legal Malpractice Monitor, professional liability, real estate
Legal malpractice insurers for the first time are reporting a higher percentage of claims involving real estate than any other practice area, according to a new survey from the American Bar Association.
ABA: Lawyer use of blogs, social sites continues to rise 
Published: August 27, 2012
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, blogging, blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, social media, social networking, technology, Twitter
The use of social media by lawyers – including blogs and social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter – is continuing to increase, according to the annual technology survey conducted by the American Bar Association.
ABA adopts policies on online marketing, technology, data 
By:
Dan McDonald
Published: August 22, 2012
Tags: ABA, law schools, legal ethics, online marketing, technology
The American Bar Association adopted new ethical guidelines for lawyers regarding online marketing and staying aware of current technology at its annual meeting this month.
The ABA House of Delegates also approved a policy requiring law schools to provide detailed data online about their graduates’ employment.
ABA revisits model rule on virtual law practice 
By:
Lizzy McLellan
Published: July 17, 2012
Tags: ABA, ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20, ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, multijurisdictional practice
The practice of law has seen numerous changes in the last 10 years, as online options have expanded to give attorneys the ability to work from almost anywhere. For the last decade, though, the American Bar Association’s licensing guidelines have remained unchanged. But now, the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 has posed three possible approaches to revising the rule in an Issues Paper. It is accepting comments through July 31.
