Ethical Considerations for Working Digitally

Law firms are increasingly adopting digital tools to help them work more efficiently. With the right technology, lawyers can connect with clients, share documents, and collaborate with colleagues more efficiently. However, they must always consider how their ethical obligations to clients intersect with their use of technology.

Focusing on these fundamental considerations can help you choose a practice management system to secure your documents and client information.

Ethics to Consider to Protect Your Client’s Data and Documents

The use of technology by lawyers is essential for advancing the interests of their clients. They must consider these ethical obligations when dealing with digital communication and files.

Diligence and Client Communication

You should always be diligent about communicating with your clients about what you can do for them, how long things will take, and what they can expect from their relationship with you.

When any decision requires informed consent, you must communicate it promptly to the client under the American Bar Association (ABA)’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Informed consent means you must explain the facts that apply to your client’s case, the benefits and drawbacks of a proposed action, and any options.

If you have lawyers and staff members working remotely, it is important to maintain seamless client communication. You may need to update your website, automatic email response, and voice mail system with information about your firm’s remote status.

Additionally, attorneys should regularly check voicemails, emails, and other client communication methods to stay in touch with clients. Maintaining constant contact with clients ensures prompt responses to reasonable inquiries.

Competent Representation

A law firm must be competent in representing its clients, including understanding the benefits and risks of relevant technology. For instance, an attorney who doesn’t know how to forward an email and save documents to a computer is limited in the legal services they can provide to clients.

Competent lawyers should understand these technologies and use them in a way that safeguards the property and information entrusted to them.

Legal professionals can build technological competence by studying publications, reading blog posts, and listening to podcasts. Additionally, they can work with the practice management software’s onboarding and support specialists to gain confidence in using it.

Client Data and Confidentiality

Firms must monitor all office resources connected to the internet, including external data storage and vendors who offer data services. As a result, they need to use secure Wi-Fi, keep data private, and communicate securely with clients. Additionally, lawyers must keep all client information confidential unless the client gives their informed consent and, if necessary, in cases of certain death or harm.

Law firms must consider how to store confidential information and the level of encryption for all data to ensure its security. A cloud-based practice management system can back up client data in multiple data centers if one fails. It also allows law firms to access data from anywhere to work on client cases while on the go.

Ensure Compliance with backdocket to Protect Your Client Data

Many law firms turn to practice management software to help protect client data and ensure compliance with ABA rules. Backdocket’s practice management software can organize workflows that help keep your clients’ information private and secure.      

Communication Tools

Communication is critical to ethics compliance to ensure clients receive updates regarding their cases. Backdocket lets you set up reminders for contacting clients. The customizable fields in the clients’ records let you take notes as you talk to them.

Your lawyers can inform their clients about important appearances with a calendar integrated with Microsoft Office 365 and Google.

Document Organization and Reporting

Organizing your documents in all your clients’ records helps maintain ethical compliance. The backdocket platform allows users to track timelines for record requests without opening up each claim.

Its customizable search field makes it easy to find any documentation you need for a client. Customized reports help you see the statuses of your cases and which clients require follow-up.

Privacy and Security of Client Data

Backdocket uses standard security measures to ensure the confidentiality of all client information. You can work with backdocket’s onboarding specialist to designate certain users for access to client information. Its cloud storage capabilities make it easy to share documents without sharing them through email and text messages.

Find Out if backdocket Can Work for You

Ensure you use technology ethically to communicate with clients and secure their data. Using backdocket can help you comply with ethics guidelines related to communication, competent representation, and client data security.

Book a demo today and learn how we can help you customize your platform to help you make the best of our features and connect with your clients.

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