Important CLE Resources for Attorneys on Data Privacy

Important CLE Resources, There is data everywhere. And as it keeps expanding in our increasingly digital environment, there is a greater chance that it will end up in the wrong hands.

According to the ABA’s 2021 Legal Technology Survey Report, 25% of law firms claimed that their company had had a security breach at some point. This suggests that dangers to the security of data appear to be at an all-time high.

Important CLE Resources, Lawyers have an ethical duty to protect client information, which is why it’s so important to constantly stay up to date on data privacy. Data privacy is more than just a business concern.

In addition to assisting you in meeting professional development requirements, continuing legal education (CLE) courses on data privacy teach you about pertinent subjects and the several precautions you may take to protect your law business. Security is not just a “set it and forgets it” type of endeavor; it is a continuous process.

Important CLE Resources, Why data privacy is crucial for attorneys

Today, an increasing number of legal firms use technology to operate more safely and productively. Legal technology benefits all law firms, from more efficient case management to day-to-day operations and online document storage.

All sizes of legal companies are at risk from data breaches because:

• Sensitive data access without authorization.
• Missing data.
• Downtime and lost billable time.
• Repair costs or hardware replacement.
  Customers entrust you with their most private information, and numerous ethics rules mandate that lawyers keep up with technological advancements in order to safeguard their clients’ data. As a result, every legal firm places a high focus on data privacy.

Important CLE Resources, the positive news There are many strategies to protect your business and its data. Having the most current, pertinent knowledge on data privacy rules is one of the greatest places to start. Because of this, CLEs are very useful.

CLE materials for lawyers on data privacy

After being admitted to the bar, attorneys continue their professional development through CLEs. Legal training offered by seasoned attorneys must be completed to get CLE credits.

Important CLE Resources, In the US, there is no uniform standard for continuing legal education requirements; rather, each jurisdiction is free to decide how to regulate lawyers. Lawyers must fulfill a specific amount of CLE requirements in order to keep their licenses to practice law. For instance, New York just became the first state to mandate that lawyers complete an hour of training in data protection, cybersecurity, and privacy.

With how quickly cyberattacks change, it’s critical to educate yourself on data privacy regulations so you can reduce risk and safeguard your clients’ information. To assist you with getting started, we’ve put together a list of resources.

Important CLE Resources, United States Bar Association

The largest voluntary organization of attorneys in the world is the American Bar Association (ABA). It was established in 1878 and is regarded as the national representative of the legal profession. It offers model ethical codes, accreditation for law schools, and other useful tools for legal practitioners.

There are 350 live in-person events and more than 1,500 online CLE programs, the majority of which are on-demand. On-demand CLE materials on data privacy include the following:

Managing the Digital Universe in a Post-Pandemic World: Data Privacy
Understanding Data Security and Handling Cyber and Privacy Issues is Important for Business Attorneys.

CLE programs normally cost $150, but ABA members receive a discount.

Important CLE Resources, Lawline

Lawline is another another excellent source for CLEs on data privacy law. For lawyers looking for interesting, pertinent CLE and professional growth content, they provide online CLE classes.

There are more than 1,700 CLE courses available online, many of them are on-demand. For CLE-eligible courses, you can filter by state, and rates range from $99 to $199.

We went ahead and looked for the CLE-eligible courses in cybersecurity and privacy, some of which include:

• Cyber Risk Protection
• Data Security Incident Response
• Using Emerging Technology in the Legal Sector
• Associations of state bars

State bar associations

Important CLE Resources, Also, state bar associations provide CLEs; to learn more about what is offered, we strongly advise browsing through their program catalogs.

Great data security resources are available from many bar associations, and they are also CLE-eligible. Here are a few illustrations:

Is Your Company Safe? – Cybersecurity for Lawyers: A webcast from the New York Bar Association about cybersecurity
Client Contracts and Cybersecurity Conflicts On-demand: a Texas Bar CLE on-demand webinar
An on-demand webcast from the Washington State Bar Association about digital security and ethics.

Read More: Data Privacy Certification for Attorneys

Technical legal conferences

Important CLE Resources, Another option to fulfill your professional development duties and gain knowledge on pertinent subjects is to attend a legal conference.

The top legal conferences offer professionals the chance to stay current on the most recent legal developments and rules while earning CLE credits and developing their professional abilities.

For instance, the Clio Cloud Conference seeks CLE accreditation for a number of its lectures and workshops for lawyers who are admitted to practice in the US and Canada each year. It’s the largest legal conference in the world, gathering tens of thousands of like-minded individuals, and a fascinating choice for anyone considering legal CLE conferences.

Nevertheless, there is still time to register and participate virtually.

Important CLE Resources, Other CLE-eligible tasks

You can also be qualified for a CLE credit for data privacy activities depending on your state bar.

Additional actions that qualify as CLEs for data privacy include:

• Study group about data security at your law practice
• Taking data security courses in law school or at the graduate level
• Pursuing credentials in data privacy

Again, your state bar will determine whether or not these materials are CLE-eligible. Before you take any more action, be sure to ask them for further details.

Further reading on data privacy for law firms

Important CLE Resources, The ABA requires that reasonable steps be made to safeguard the data that belongs to your law practice. The simplest thing for you to do is to keep some of these readings about the criteria for data privacy close at hand:

• ABA Cybersecurity Report for 2021
• HIPAA compliance for law firms
• How to Keep Your Law Company Safe
• Compliance with PCI for Law Firms

This webinar on law firm security including our Lawyer in Residence, Joshua Lennon, Steven W. Teppler of the ABA’s Information Security Committee, and Tom Brennan, who heads the US branch of CREST International, is another excellent resource but does not qualify for CLE credit.

Use CLEs for data privacy right away.

Important CLE Resources, Data privacy is evolving quickly, and new regulations are continually being passed. The risk of data breaches can be reduced by being aware of your obligations and best practices. Continuing legal education programs (CLEs) assist attorneys in staying current on issues that are important to their clients, businesses, and profession. You can further protect your data privacy and boost the productivity of your business when you pair legal technology with security that is industry-leading.