X, Y, & Z LAW OFFICE

TO
:
ALL LAWYERS
FROM
:
THE MANAGING PARTNER
DATE
:
23 MAY 2015
SUBJECT :
GUIDELINES TO THE ACCESS, USE AND SHARING
OF WEBSITE
INFORMATION THROUGH THE LEGAL INFORMATION
SYSTEM (LIS)
In order to ensure that the Firm will be able to maximize the
utilization of information technology via our newly installed
system and at the same time protect the interests of the clients
which is the paramount concern of the Firm, the following
guidelines are issued to govern the access and use by the Firms
lawyers of the LIS:
1. Each of the firms lawyers shall be allowed to use
the firms website only for official and not personal
purposes.
Official purposes is defined as any activity, event,
gathering, conference, meeting, whether involving private
or government clients, held locally or abroad wherein the
firm or any its lawyers participated and rendered services
as counsel.
Posting of official events shall be with the prior
approval of the Managing Partner to ensure compliance
with these Guidelines.
BASIS: CANON 2 - A LAWYER SHALL MAKE HIS LEGAL
SERVICES AVAILABLE IN AN EFFICIENT AND CONVENIENT MANNER
COMPATIBLE WITH THE INDEPENDENCE, INTEGRITY AND
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROFESSION.
2. Under no circumstances shall any lawyer
advertise his or the firms legal services in the website of
the Firm. Advertising is defined as any public or private

communication made on or behalf of a lawyer or law firm

about that lawyer or law firm's services, the primary
purpose of which is for the retention of the lawyer or law
firm.
Directly soliciting clients (known as barratry, or "ambulance
chasing") is likewise absolutely prohibited and shall subject the
lawyer to disciplinary action.
BASIS: RULE 2.03 - A LAWYER SHALL NOT DO OR PERMIT TO
BE DONE ANY ACT DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO SOLICIT LEGAL
BUSINESS.
3. It is also prohibited to post endorsements or
testimonials from a former client, portrayal of a judge,
or fictitious lawyer, use of actors or fictionalized persons
and irrelevant characteristics of the lawyers.
BASIS:
CANON 3 - A LAWYER IN MAKING KNOWN HIS
LEGAL SERVICES SHALL USE ONLY TRUE, HONEST, FAIR,
DIGNIFIED AND OBJECTIVE INFORMATION OR STATEMENT OF
FACTS.
RULE 3.01 - A LAWYER SHALL NOT USE OR PERMIT THE USE OF ANY
FALSE, FRAUDULENT, MISLEADING, DECEPTIVE, UNDIGNIFIED, SELFLAUDATORY OR UNFAIR STATEMENT OR CLAIM REGARDING HIS
QUALIFICATIONS OR LEGAL SERVICES.
4. In no instance shall the social networking sites be
used to malign, harass, embarrass or in any manner destroy
the reputation of any lawyer or judge, directly or indirectly
through blind items and the like.
BASIS:
CANON 8 - A LAWYER SHALL CONDUCT HIMSELF
WITH COURTESY, FAIRNESS AND CANDOR TOWARDS HIS
PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES, AND SHALL AVOID HARASSING
TACTICS AGAINST OPPOSING COUNSEL.
RULE 10.01 - A LAWYER SHALL NOT DO ANY FALSEHOOD, NOR

CONSENT TO THE DOING OF ANY IN COURT; NOR SHALL HE

MISLEAD, OR ALLOW THE COURT TO BE MISLED BY ANY ARTIFICE.
CANON 11 - A LAWYER SHALL OBSERVE AND MAINTAIN THE
RESPECT DUE TO THE COURTS AND TO JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND
SHOULD INSIST ON SIMILAR CONDUCT BY OTHERS.
5.
In pending high-profile or controversial cases that
are highly publicized, the handling lawyer shall refrain from
using the social media sites to make public statements that
will arouse public opinion for or against a party.
BASIS:
RULE 13.02 - A LAWYER SHALL NOT MAKE PUBLIC
STATEMENTS IN THE MEDIA REGARDING A PENDING CASE TENDING
TO AROUSE PUBLIC OPINION FOR OR AGAINST A PARTY.
6.
All electronic communications made to and from
the Firms clients shall be absolutely confidential and shall
not be divulged by the handling lawyer to any other lawyer
or person except to the Managing or Senior Partners or upon
their authorization.
In accessing said cloud storage, lawyers shall take all
the necessary precautions to ensure the security of the
information, such as accessing the storage in a secure
network, securing via a password, and the like.
BASIS:
CANON 15 - A LAWYER SHALL OBSERVE CANDOR,
FAIRNESS AND LOYALTY IN ALL HIS DEALINGS AND TRANSACTIONS
WITH HIS CLIENTS.
RULE 15.02.- A LAWYER SHALL BE BOUND BY THE RULE ON
PRIVILEGE COMMUNICATION IN RESPECT OF MATTERS DISCLOSED
TO HIM BY A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT.
CANON 17 - A LAWYER OWES FIDELITY TO THE CAUSE OF HIS CLIENT
AND HE SHALL BE MINDFUL OF THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
REPOSED IN HIM.

CANON 18 - A LAWYER SHALL SERVE HIS CLIENT WITH COMPETENCE

AND DILIGENCE.
CANON 21 - A LAWYER SHALL PRESERVE THE CONFIDENCE AND
SECRETS OF HIS CLIENT EVEN AFTER THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT
RELATION IS TERMINATED.
RULE 21.01 - A LAWYER SHALL NOT REVEAL THE CONFIDENCES OR
SECRETS OF HIS CLIENT EXCEPT;
(A) WHEN AUTHORIZED BY THE CLIENT AFTER ACQUAINTING HIM OF
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISCLOSURE;
(B) WHEN REQUIRED BY LAW;
(C) WHEN NECESSARY TO COLLECT HIS FEES OR TO DEFEND
HIMSELF, HIS EMPLOYEES OR ASSOCIATES OR BY JUDICIAL ACTION.