Lawyers and Cloud Computing - ABA Says Beware

Lawyers and law firm administrators take heed. The ABA's Commission on Ethics 20/20 has issued proposed changes to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct regarding the use of Cloud Computing technologies.

According to The Connecticut Law Tribune's article, Attorneys in the Cloud May Get ABA Wake-Up Call With Proposed Rules, by Marie Grady, "Proposed rules would require lawyers to take reasonable steps to stay abreast of the benefits and risks associated with technology used by Dropbox and other popular cloud computing services."

As digital communications continue to infiltrate the practice of law, it is important to remember that the rules regarding how attorneys conduct business remain ever steadfast and confidentiality is at the top of that list.

While Cloud Computing has its own set of risks, so too does storing any information on any computer that has an Internet connection. In today's age of spyware, malware, viruses and hackers, it is critically important that law firms take every step necessary to secure and backup client information - don't get stuck with your head in the clouds.