Approval for this program is still pending in UT. We will update as approval is received.

An attorney’s decision to use a computer tablet, a cloud-based service, a smart phone, a public Wi-Fi network, or a free email account in the furtherance of delivering legal services is not, in and of itself, unethical or necessarily a poor business decision. The real concern is with what the attorneys who use such tools do or don’t do with them. For example, portable devices, which includes backup drives, can be lost or stolen; rogue programs that capture banking passwords, encrypt your data, or steal your data can be unintentionally downloaded; and this list goes on and on. These kinds of breaches are often the result of common missteps such as lax security procedures, falling victim to a social engineering attack, and even simple ignorance about how a given device works or what a computer app or program really does. This ethics program will discuss various cyberattack vectors and share practical advice on how to manage the risk of a breach.

A Sampling of Attendee Takeaways:

• An awareness of the numerous ways office computer networks can be breached.

• An explanation as to why a firm’s efforts to prevent a breach can’t be left to IT support alone.

• Identification of the basic steps one must take to try and prevent a network breach coupled with an understanding of an attorney’s ethical obligations to take such steps.   

• Knowledge of how wire fraud occurs to include practical tips on how to identify and avoid these scams.

• An understanding of backup best practices in light of ransomware threats.