Monthly Archives: October 2011

Time to Add a Disclaimer to Your Blog?

As I blogged about previously, earlier in the month the Virginia Bar charged attorney Richmond Attorney Horace Hunter with misconduct due to his Richmond Criminal Defense News blog (PDF here).[1] The attorney in question has now been found guilty of violating the Virginia ethics rules regarding advertising. Don’t fear for Hunter, his penalty was a public admonition and he was told take…

Blogging: Advertisement or Journalism?

Advertising has been a vexing problem for the legal profession for years now.  Before legal advertising was deemed legal with the 1977 Supreme Court decision in Bates v. Arizona, the fear was that advertising would erode notions of professionalism. And since advertising become legal for attorneys, we have had to suffer though the late night ‘Larry Parker got me $2.1 million’ commercials.…

Online CLE in New Jersey

New Jersey recently instituted mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE).  New Jersey attorneys now must complete 24 CLE units every two years, including 4 hours of legal ethics.[1] Under current standards, twelve units may be completed online.  However, there are two main exceptions that would allow New Jersey attorneys to complete all 24 units with approved online CLE.[2]  First, attorneys who do not…

Using Facebook and Social Media Evidence at Trial

Every morning I wake up and check the headlines on Law.com and the Law Technology News.  It seems everyday brings more headlines on the use of social media and other electronic evidence at trial.  Whether it’s prosecutors trying to ‘friend’ potential jurors or attorneys turning to social media for evidence to use at trial, the Internet holds massive amounts of information. The…

The Digital Age Brings New Legal Challenges For Schools

Guest post by Gretchen Shipley With fewer resources than ever before, school district administrators are overwhelmed with trying to keep up with and respond to on-line misconduct by students and teachers. In an era of sexting, cyberbullying, and Facebook, school administrators walk a fine line in trying to provide a safe school environment and at the same time, trying not to infringe…