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ABA panel: Lawyers must warn clients about e-mail risks 

Published: September 16, 2011

Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, client confidentiality, e-mail, ethics, technology

Lawyers have a duty to warn whenever a client’s use of e-mail poses the risk of disclosure of confidential information to employers or other third parties, according to an American Bar Association ethics committee.

Sixth Circuit decision to bring an end to e-mail seizures 

By: David Frank
Published: April 5, 2011

Tags: Department of Justice, e-mail, e-mail seizures, Fourth Amendment, privacy, search and seizure, Stored Communications Act

Two lawyers who have won a landmark 6th Circuit case say the ruling should spell the end of a long-standing practice across the country of federal prosecutors seizing e-mails without warrants.

Four steps for using e-mail to efficiently manage tasks 

By: Tony Ogden
Published: March 15, 2011

Tags: e-mail, practice management

E-mail is the hub of most lawyers’ work day. Yet between the backlog in the morning and the new messages reaching the inbox throughout the day, sometimes more time is spent scanning e-mails than getting work done.

Husband charged with felony for reading wife’s e-mail 

By: Correy Stephenson
Published: January 20, 2011

Tags: computer hacking, divorce, e-mail

A husband in Michigan was charged with a felony after he read his wife’s e-mail in an attempt to find out whether or not she was having an affair.

Family law in 2010 

By: Correy Stephenson
Published: January 10, 2011

Tags: birth certificate, child abduction, child support, custody, Defense of Marriage Act, divorce, DOMA, e-mail, Facebook, First Amendment, iPhone apps, no-fault divorce, Prop 8, relocation, same-sex adoption, same-sex custody, same-sex marriage, Skype visitation, social networking, technology

2010 was a busy year for family law and its practitioners. The economy – last year’s biggest story – continued to play its part, with family lawyers trying to run as tight a financial ship as possible.

But other issues crowded the headlines, from technology’s increasing role, particularly in divorce cases to ongoing litigation over same-sex relationship issues nationwide.

Here is a look at some of the top news in 2010.

Subscriber had expectation of privacy in e-mail 

By: Pat Murphy
Published: December 15, 2010

Tags: e-mail, Fourth Amendment, search and seizure, Stored Communications Act

Government agents violated a wire fraud defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights by compelling his Internet service provider to turn over his e-mails without first obtaining a warrant, the 6th Circuit has ruled.

Pennsylvania issues ethics opinion on virtual law office 

By: Correy Stephenson
Published: October 4, 2010

Tags: e-lawyering, e-mail, ethics, practice management, technology, virtual law office, virtual law practice

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility issued an opinion last week on the ethical obligations of maintaining a virtual law office in the state.

Lawyers communicating across generations 

By: Correy Stephenson
Published: September 30, 2010

Tags: communication, e-mail, legal marketing, practice management, technology, texting

Good communication skills are essential for lawyers. But in a multi-generational, increasingly technological world, how should lawyers stay in touch with their clients, colleagues and opposing counsel?

E-mail program helps users avoid sending hostile e-mail 

By: Allison McAndrew
Published: September 22, 2010

Tags: e-mail, ToneCheck

Almost everyone has been in a situation where an e-mail that they sent was misinterpreted by the receiver, but a new product may help avoid such awkward situations altogether.

Five tips on how to write better e-mails 

By: Tony Ogden
Published: July 19, 2010

Tags: e-mail, technology

For most lawyers, operating without the high-speed and low-cost of e-mail would be unimaginable. Yet for all that e-mailing, many people aren’t very good at it.