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Article
Thinking About Technology - Lawyers Can’t Be Luddites Anymore: Do Law Librarians Have a Role in Helping Lawyers Adjust to the New Ethics Rules Involving Technology
105 Law Library Journal 395 (2013)
  • Darla W. Jackson, University of South Dakota School of Law
Abstract

It is understood and well documented that technology affects almost every aspect of the practice of law. In August 2012 the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates, recognizing the influence of technology, voted to amend the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Legal professionals have begun to comment on how such changes may affect lawyers in every area and size of practice. Although many lawyers have expressed the sentiment that they did not become lawyers to learn about technology, the changes to the standards of professional conduct will necessitate that attorneys have some basic technological competence. Those attorneys desiring to gain only minimum levels of technological knowledge and skill will need to establish relationships with those who have additional knowledge so as to meet the required competence levels. Firm, academic and governmental law librarians can make themselves uniquely valuable by developing knowledge and skill in the area of technology that will transform them into those experts on whom attorneys rely to ensure technological competence. This article focuses on some specific areas in which law librarians may find opportunities to share newly developed and well-established expertise. These areas include computer assisted legal research, ediscovery, courtroom technology, and the use of measures to ensure the maintenance of confidentiality.

Keywords
  • Professional Conduct,
  • Technology
Disciplines
Publication Date
2013
Citation Information
Darla W. Jackson. Lawyers Can’t Be Luddites Anymore: Do Law Librarians Have a Role in Helping Lawyers Adjust to the New Ethics Rules Involving Technology. 105 Law Library Journal __ (forthcoming) (2013).