As data sharing platforms like NetDocuments, Clio, ShareFile and Dropbox are increasingly being used by attorneys for client data collection, transfer, and storage, law firms should set compliant firm policies, vet data management software, and advise on privacy frameworks to…
Labor and Employment Ordinances
On April 17, the Bar Association of San Francisco offered a CLE on San Francisco and Oakland employment ordinances. For all of our members, here are some highlights: City of Oakland Employment Ordinances Minimum wage & paid sick leave ordinance…
Heads Up: New ChatGPT Privacy Concerns for Lawyers and Legal Staff
If you or your team use ChatGPT for research, drafting, or brainstorming, there’s an important new warning you should know about. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is now required to keep user chat logs—even deleted ones—because of a court order…
ABA Formal Opinion 514: A Detailed Reminder Concerning Representation of Organization Clients and the Attorney’s Diligence in that Context
July 10, 2025 The American Bar Association (“ABA”) and its Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, like many other associations including the Bar Association of San Franciso (“BASF”), periodically issues highly informative and useful ethics opinions. On January 8,…
Reminder to Enact the California Workplace Violence Prevention Plan and Training for Your Firm or Your Clients
Though new California employment laws normally become effective on the first of the year, the California legislature occasionally passes important laws mid-year. Such is the case of the California Workplace Violence Prevention Plan requirements and related training. These laws went…
Anatomy of A Trial
Summer may have reached its end, but we’ve got something hot for you in October. The Paralegal Section is holding an all-day conference – Anatomy of a Trial – on October 18th at BASF’s new headquarters. We have a full…
Using AI In Legal Work: COPRAC’s Tips On Confidentiality And Competence
As AI technology continues to advance, providing greater efficiency and the ability to process extensive amounts of data, legal professionals are increasingly tempted to utilize Generative AI as a convenient shortcut for drafting legal motions and pleadings. However, lawyers must…
Ethical Duties in Handling Appeals: 2024 Edition
In pursuing an appeal on behalf of a client, a California lawyer must meet the requirements of the California Rules of Professional Conduct (“CRPC”) and the State Bar Act. The following summarizes some of those requirements and recent developments. Fundamentally,…
Using AI In Legal Work: COPRAC’s Tips On Confidentiality And Competence
As AI technology continues to advance, providing greater efficiency and the ability to process extensive amounts of data, legal professionals are increasingly tempted to utilize Generative AI as a convenient shortcut for drafting legal motions and pleadings. However, lawyers must…
How to Ethically Prepare a Witness
I offer this short primer on the ethics of preparing a witness as a teaser trailer to this year’s annual Legal Ethics Lessons Learned from Fictional Attorneys CLE, to be presented by the Ethics Committee of The Bar Association of…
Procedural and Substantive Guidance for Litigation of Sexual Harassment Claims
Sexual harassment continues to be an issue of significant concern in the workplace. While California law prohibits harassment and requires training to prevent it, those of us who practice in this area know that harassment, unfortunately, continues to occur. If…
Does Using a Social Media Ad Campaign to Market Legal Services Violate Ethics Rules?
Several social media sites, such as Meta and Twitter, have built-in ad managers that allow attorneys to pay to advertise their legal services using the social media platform. However, attorneys should proceed cautiously. Before using one of these social…