Ethical Issues Relating to Smartphone Use

Smartphones are in reality powerful computers that store massive amounts of data, potentially including information that lawyers are required to keep confidential under the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct.

This one hour ethics CLE program will discuss the data stored by smartphones, and the dangers created by apps that can access information that is supposed to remain confidential, including names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and more.

The program will focus on how lawyers can protect confidential information and information about clients under Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6. In addition, attendees will learn how with a few easy steps they can secure their devices and deny access to apps that could improperly access and use the information stored on the phones.