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Hot Topics in Legal Ethics: From AI to Client Communication (and Everything In Between)

This engaging ethics CLE seminar explores key responsibilities under the ABA Rules of Professional Conduct, with a focus on client communication, fee agreements, and the proper management of trust accounts. The program will also address the ethical considerations and best practices for integrating artificial intelligence into legal practice, including a focus on how courts are responding to lawyers using artificial intelligence. Participants will gain practical guidance on navigating the evolving challenges of legal practice while maintaining ethical integrity. Ideal for attorneys in all practice areas, this program provides valuable insights and actionable takeaways to help lawyers meet their ethical obligations and strengthen their practice.

Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes

Originally broadcast: September 2, 2025 9:00 AM PT

Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

00:00 Introduction

Judge Dolores Dorsainvil will discuss legal ethics, focusing on ABA Model Rules. Judge Dorsainvil highlights the importance of understanding professional conduct rules to protect legal licenses. The presentation will cover client communication, trust accounts, and the impact of AI on legal ethics. Judge Dorsainvil stresses the educational purpose of the webinar and the importance of jurisdiction-specific rules.

04:58 Client Communication and Rule 1.4

Judge Dorsainvil identifies Rule 1.4, concerning client communication, as a common area of ethical violations. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining adequate communication with clients to prevent grievances. Effective communication involves setting clear expectations and promptly responding to client inquiries. Judge Dorsainvil advises against using informal communication methods like text messaging. She suggests using form letters and documenting client interactions to ensure clarity and prevent disputes.

14:56 Fee Agreements and Rule 1.5

Judge Dorsainvil discusses Rule 1.5, which mandates that lawyers' fees must be reasonable and outlines factors to determine reasonableness. She explains the importance of clear fee agreements, including the scope of representation. Contingency fees are prohibited in domestic and criminal cases due to public policy concerns. Fee disputes are common in consumer-based practice areas, and resolving them amicably is crucial to avoid bar complaints. Judge Dorsainvil advises against changing hourly rates during representation without proper notice to clients.

38:30 Trust Accounts and Misappropriation

Judge Dorsainvil highlights the importance of trust accounts and the severe consequences of misappropriation of client funds. Misappropriation, even temporary, is considered a serious ethical violation and can lead to disbarment. She stresses the need for complete and accurate trust account records to avoid disciplinary actions. Lawyers must avoid commingling client funds with personal or operating accounts to prevent ethical breaches. Judge Dorsainvil advises maintaining trust account records for a significant period due to the lack of a statute of limitations on grievances.

49:35 AI in Legal Practice

Judge Dorsainvil discusses the ethical implications of using AI in legal practice, emphasizing the need for competence and understanding of the technology. Lawyers must ensure that their use of AI tools complies with professional conduct rules, such as maintaining client confidentiality. She highlights the risks of relying on AI for legal research and writing without proper oversight. Recent cases demonstrate the consequences of improper AI use, including sanctions for submitting inaccurate filings. Judge Dorsainvil advises lawyers to verify AI-generated content.

01:00:28 Q&A and Practical Advice

The Q&A session addresses practical concerns, such as charging for consultations and the role of social media in gathering evidence. The session also covers strategies for advocating for AI policy development and managing client expectations. Judge Dorsainvil advises against relying solely on AI for legal work and stresses the importance of lawyer oversight.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Speaker

Honorable Dolores Dorsainvil Judge

Judge Dorsainvil was appointed as Judge to the District Court for Prince George’s County, MD on February 17, 2020. Judge Dorsainvil presides over trials and issues decisions in numerous cases including civil lawsuits, criminal misdemeanors and certain felonies, domestic violence matters, tax, motor vehicle violations, landlord-tenant disputes, replevin and detinue claims, emergency evaluation petitions, extreme risk protective order petitions, bail review and preliminary (probable cause) hearings for any crime charged in Maryland. She also reviews search warrants and issues decisions regarding expungements, shielding, garnishments, statutory exemptions, and motions filed before and after civil and criminal trials in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Read More ›

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

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California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Legal Ethics

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

New Jersey CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.20 Ethics/Professionalism

Earn Credit Until: September 9, 2026

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Ethics

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2026

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility

Difficulty: All Levels

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2025

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility

Earn Credit Until: August 31, 2026

This presentation is approved for one hour of Legal Ethics CLE credit in California, one hour of Ethics CLE credit in North Carolina, and one hour of Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility CLE credit in South Carolina (all levels). This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.20 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 1.20 qualify as total hours of credit for Ethics/Professionalism. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.00 credit hours, of which 1.00 credit hours will apply to Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility credit.

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