California Attorney Web Sites Legal Ethics MCLE Quiz

Online, participatory ethics MCLE credit for California Attorneys

INSTRUCTIONS: Click here to read the California State Bar Standing Committee on Professional Responsibilty & Conduct's Formal Opinion No. 2001-155 and here for an article discussing the opinion and its relation to attorneys' online activities. Then read and answer the following 10 questions for 1 hour of participatory MCLE ethics credit. Answers to all questions (with the exception of number 10) are found in the formal opinion. Click here to read the opinion. After reading these two items answer the questions below.

Quiz Registration

Name: *

Your full name.

E-Mail: *

Your email address..

State of Bar Membership:

2 Letter State

Bar ID Number:

Paralegals should leave this blank.

Title:

Company:

Address:

For greater security, no identifying information is carried over from your credit card payment to this form.

Phone Number:

California Attorney Web Sites Legal Ethics MCLE Quiz

Question 1 According to Formal Opinion 2001-155, does an attorney web site constitute a "communication" as defined under rule 1-400(A) of the Rules of Professional Conduct? Select One:

Yes

Question 2 According to Formal Opinion 2001-155, does an attorney web site constitute an "advertisement" as defined under Business and Professions Code sections 6157 to 6158.3? Select One:

Yes

Question 3 According to Formal Opinion 2001-155, does an attorney web site constitute a "solicitation" as defined under rule 1-400(B) of the Rules of Professional Conduct? Select One:

Yes

Question 4 Formal Opinion 2001-155 cites rule 1-400(F) of the Rules of Professional Conduct to instruct attorneys that they should keep copies of each page of their web site for how long? Select One:

60 days

90 days

One Year

Two Years

Question 5 Formal Opinion 2001-155 instructs that it is permissable for an attorney web site to present a "guaranty [sic] of outcome" as part of its message if the site also "provides a method for prospective clients to contact the attorney for clarification regarding such guaranty [sic]." Select One:

True

False

Question 6 Formal Opinion 2001-155 also states that "[because] e-mail is transmitted via telephone lines, it is to be treated as any other phone communication as defined under rule 1-400(B) [of the Rules of Professional Conduct]." Select One:

True

False

Question 7 Unlike a local newspaper or local Yellow Pages ad, a California attorney's web site can very likely be seen outside of California. Formal Opinion 2001-155 cites Rules of Professional Conduct 1-100(D)(1) and 1-300(B) to address attorney's responsibilities in other jurisdictions.

To avoid the appearance of (the web site as an indication of) practicing law in jurisdictions where an attorney is not licensed to do so, the Formal Opinion suggests a number of strategies. One of the following is NOT suggested in the Formal Opinion. Select the one that is NOT mentioned in the Opinion:

an explanation of where the attorney is licensed to practice law

a description of where the attorney maintains law offices and actually practices law

a copy of the attorneys license to practice law

an explanation of any limitation on the courts in which the attorney is willing to appear

a statement that the attorney does not seek to represent anyone based solely on a visit to the attorney's web site

Question 8 Formal Opinion 2001-155 recognizes that its suggestions may not meet the requirements set out by authorities regulating the practice of law in other jurisdictions. The Formal opinion, however, counsels that attorneys licensed only in California should not concern themselves with the requirements of any other jurisdictions since only an "entity that has physically issued a license to a specific attorney (to practice law) shall have any jurisdiction over that attorney's actions." Select One:

True

False

Question 9 Formal Opinion 2001-155 is binding on all members of the California State Bar and enforceable by the courts. Select One:

True

False

Question 10 Don' t let these numerous ethical rules keep you from developing your own web site, however. The State Bar of California offers an "Ethics Hotline" (http://www.calbar.org/2pub/3eth/3ethndx.htm) to "assist attorneys with questions relating to their ethical responsibilities." This service is available between the hours 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays.

The "Ethics Hotline" is available via a toll-free "800" number. The correct phone number is:

800-LAW-ETHC

800-CA-ETHIC

800-2-ETHICS

800-867-5309

Any other copywritten material or brands contained herein are the properties of their respective owners.

Justia Legal WebSite Design

Search

California Attorney Web Sites Legal Ethics MCLE Quiz

Closure links