Running head: TECHNOLOGY AND ETHICS

TECHNOLOGY AND ETHICS Students Name University Affiliation

TECHNOLOGY AND ETHICS TECHNOLOGY AND ETHICS 1. Write a short hypothetical with facts showing how new technology could lead to an ethical violation.

Consider a case where Mr. Jones an attorney at We Follow The Rules Firm decided to utilize the social networks as a channel to reach for clients and also expose the firm to the market. He decided to use Facebook since it could provide a platform that could be used with ease and also has a wide public audience and appeal. Mr. Jones decided to engage clients within the social network in several ways. First he discussed client cases in a forum that could be publicly viewed. By doing this he thought he would increase the firms reputation as he was not actively engaging any individual person directly. However, this was considered a violation of the confidentiality clause. Through the social network advertising he solicited for testimonials from former clients as well as current clients. However, the testimonials were viewed as an infringement on certain aspects of cases that he had previously handled and that he would otherwise not have had the permission to make in a direct manner. Finally, he used the site to communicate with potential clients who had shown interest in the company through the site. However, this was also considered a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct after he chose to use the opportunity to make the client conclude that there was an attorney-client relationship through such communication (Machado, 2012). 2. Find a rule that would apply, explain how it applies, and give your opinion about whether the rule should be changed to fit the new technology Rule 7.3 on Advertising applies in this context. The rule permits lawyers to advertise their services through public media, electronic communication as well as written or recorded channels. On a personal point of view, the law needs rectification. This is because it does not specify to

TECHNOLOGY AND ETHICS what extent the lawyer cannot go in advertising their service, especially through public media. The rule needs changing to accommodate advertisement to the public especially with the advent of social networks (American Bar Association, 2012).

3. You are a senior paralegal in the We Follow The Rules Law Firm (hereinafter Firm). There are 20 other paralegals working for the firm. Your supervising attorney who is also the managing partner has asked you to write a policy that will be inserted in the firms Paralegal Office Management Guideline For Paralegals (hereinafter Guideline) For the firm, We Follow the Rules, a policy on corporate social responsibility and pro bono work, can be written that can be included in the firms, Paralegal Office Management Guidelines. The policy will involve the paralegals in the Firm to contribute and give back to the society by undertaking some of the desperate cases pro-bono. These services will mainly target the poor and those who cannot afford the payment of an attorney. This policy will involve the paralegals taking up cases that are deemed as deserving and it will involve the lawyers giving up to 50 hours per annum of their time to ensure the success of the policy. This policy is required so as to enable the paralegals give back to the community as well as take part in community issues that affect them. This policy will also serve as a goodwill promotion of the company services. The means by which the Firm handles the case directed to it on pro-bono dimensions, serves as a platform upon which other clients can refer to in the future. This policy is required in the firm to allow the paralegals to be able to represent people of limited means, organizations of charity or even the community. It also enables the paralegals enough time to provide the additional services. These include; the issue of legal services without any fee and other social activities. The pro-bono initiative is expected to be a means of enhancing justice as well as equality to those who cannot afford proper and competitive representation.

TECHNOLOGY AND ETHICS

References American Bar Association (2012). Accessed on 30/9/2012. Retrieved from: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules _of_professional_conduct/rule_6_1_voluntary_pro_bono_publico_service.html Machado, G (2012).New Technologies and Old Rules: Pcs and Marketing In The Digital Age. Accessed on 30/9/2012.Retrieved from: http://nvbar.org/articles/content/rpcs-and-marketing-digital-age American Bar Association (2012). Accessed on 30/9/2012. Retrieved from: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules _of_professional_conduct/rule_7_2_advertising.html