Grass: Supervising nonlawyer assistants: Lawyers’ duties
Here are three things to know about the requirement to directly supervise nonlawyers.
3 Things to Know About Ethics: James J. Bell and Stephanie L. Grass
Articles
Bell and Grass: 3 things to know: Commenting on pending legal matters
Have you recently been hired on a case and know the media want to talk to you? Before you post a comment on social media or conduct an interview, you should stop and think of the potential ethical implications. Those implications are outlined in the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission’s recently issued Advisory Opinion 1-22, “Lawyers’ Public Comments on Pending Matters.”
Bell and Grass: 3 things to know: Ethically working from home
In April 2020, we wrote to you about “The ethics of working from home.” In that article, we reminded you to protect client confidentiality and maintain competency when outside the office, which included understanding the technology you use to communicate with clients. We also reminded you to supervise nonlawyer staff through regular communication. Eighteen months […]
Bell and Grass: 3 things to know about speaking with represented people
Can a criminal defense attorney depose the victim in a domestic violence incident without getting the consent of the victim’s divorce lawyer? Can a family law attorney depose the opposing party about a personal injury lawsuit without the personal injury lawyer’s consent? That depends on what those lawyers want to ask about and whether they have the witness’s counsel’s consent.
3 things about responding to online criticism as a lawyer
We’ve all scoped a Yelp review, been turned off by a customer’s dismal review and chosen a new restaurant. While restaurant management has the ability to respond to unfavorable online reviews, for a lawyer, it’s not that simple. Here are three things to know about responding to online criticism as a lawyer.
Bell and Grass: Confidentiality clauses, contraband and the duty to report
The Indiana Supreme Court recently issued a disciplinary opinion that addressed the issues of confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements, a lawyer’s handling of contraband, and the tension between a lawyer’s duty to report child abuse and the lawyer’s duty of confidentiality.
Bell & Grass: 3 things to know about attorneys’ social media
Because our parents (who have trouble with remote controls) are now officially on Facebook, we can safely assume that close to all attorneys are using social media. Using social media is simply an inexpensive and convenient way to get the word out about your law firm. However, there is an element of risk that comes along with an attorney’s use of social media. These risks were highlighted in July, when the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission listed social media’s many “minefields.”