YourABA September 2019

Pro Bono

Two law firms, three individuals honored for their pro bono efforts

The American Bar Association presented awards to three individual lawyers and two law firms for demonstrating outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged at its Annual Meeting in August in San Francisco.

Client Protection

What to do when your client lies

by Dennis A. Rendleman, ABA Ethics Counsel

Imagine, if you will, a client that is a large entity. It has been factually documented that the chief executive of the client entity has publicly lied over 10,000 times since he became chief executive two years ago. Your argument on the key issue that you presented as factual is discovered to be false or, at a minimum, “appears to have been contrived.” Regardless, the chief executive insists you continue the representation. What is your ethical responsibility?

Disability

Why your company needs compliance training in 2019

by Valerie Charles

In April, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released an updated version of its guidance document on the “evaluation of corporate compliance programs.” The document was not revolutionary, just longer and more detailed.

Cybersecurity

Veteran advocates continue to sound alarm on cyberattack vulnerability of law firms

Jill Rhodes and Ruth Hill Bro could be considered warriors in the battle to raise awareness among lawyers and law firms about the threats of cybersecurity breaches and the need to take necessary steps before an attack.

Courts & Judiciary

Judges answer questions, and their responses might surprise you

Even though judges routinely in civil and criminal matters admonish jurors not to read or discuss anything about the case before them, if necessary, do judges use outside internet research to educate themselves on issues raised by the case? Most do.

Diversity & Inclusion

Study confirms pervasive bias – and offers tools to address problem

Despite years of well-intentioned training on diversity, the legal profession is still not reflective of the pool of talented and qualified women and minorities, according to panelists on the showcase program “Interrupting Bias: The Key to Doing Diversity Right in the Workplace” presented on Aug. 10 during the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Women's Rights

#MeToo: Its impact and what’s happening now

The #MeToo movement has become an avenue for harassment survivors to speak out, demonstrate resistance and heal – and demand change, said Lisa Banks, a partner with Katz Marshall & Banks LLP in Washington, D.C., who was among panelists of “The #MeToo Reckoning: How Far We’ve Come & Where We Go from Here,” at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Attorneys of Color

Why women of color want to leave law – and how firms can keep them

When ABA Past President Hilarie Bass sponsored an initiative on Achieving Long-Term Careers for Women in Law in 2017-18 to study why women left the practice of law as they approached their 50s, in what should be the prime of their careers, the question inevitably arose: is the career trajectory different for women of color?