Ethics of Attorney-Client Privilege in Client Communication (2024 Edition)

Ryan Duffy
Ryan Duffy | Fellers Snider Law Firm

Ryan is an attorney at the Fellers Snider Law Firm in downtown Oklahoma City. He primarily practices in the areas of corporate organization, transactional law, real estate, oil and gas, energy, estate planning and administration, federal and state taxation, securities, and commercial litigation.

On-Demand: June 18, 2024

2 hour CLE

Tuition: $195.00
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Program Summary

Maintaining confidentiality in communications with your clients is of the upmost importance. Running afoul of the ethics rules related to such communication can have consequences ranging from a bar complaint to severely damaging your client’s stance, or the very least compromising your client’s confidence in working with you. Whether it be in communication with your client’s other professionals, family, opposition, or associates, great care should be taken to protect privileged information. We will discuss all manner of communication from email to phone to paper and all things in between.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Privilege in email communication
  • Pitfalls of “Reply All”
  • Forwarding client emails
  • Forwarding outside emails to client
  • Data encryption
  • Communication clarity in legal v. business advice

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Ryan Duffy_myLawCLERyan Duffy | Fellers Snider Law Firm

Ryan is an attorney at the Fellers Snider Law Firm in downtown Oklahoma City. He primarily practices in the areas of corporate organization, transactional law, real estate, oil and gas, energy, estate planning and administration, federal and state taxation, securities, and commercial litigation. Ryan has presented seminars for the Oklahoma Society of CPAs, the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Meritas Law Firms Worldwide, and the National Business Institution various topics including state and federal tax practice, business organization, estate planning, finance, succession planning, business valuations, and ethics. Ryan had his article entitled, “Tax Considerations for Trusts and Estates”, published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal, Volume 92, No. 9, November 2021. He also had his article entitled, “Simple Estate Planning for your Client’s Children,” published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal, Volume 81, No. 27, October 9, 2010.

He has been admitted to practice in the Oklahoma Supreme Court and all Oklahoma District Courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma and the United States Tax Court. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Oklahoma County Bar Association. He has served as chairman of the Oklahoma Bar Association Tax section and is also a member of the Estate Planning section. Mr. Duffy is an active member of the Executive Council for the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, currently serving on its Board of Trustees, as well as its Honors Committee and Jim Thorpe Award Committee. Ryan has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in the area of taxation.

Raised in Guymon, Oklahoma, Ryan graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, with a major in Accounting. He received his Juris Doctorate degree in 2006 from the University of Oklahoma College Of Law.

Ryan and his wife, Erin, enjoy spending their time with their two children. His family arrived in Oklahoma for the Land Run of 1889 and his family still proudly owns the original claim.

Agenda

I. Privilege in email communication | 11:00am – 11:20am

II. Pitfalls of “Reply All” | 11:20am – 11:40am

III. Forwarding client emails | 11:40am – 12:00pm

Break | 12:00pm – 12:10pm

IV. Forwarding outside emails to client | 12:10pm – 12:30pm

V. Data encryption | 12:30pm – 12:50pm

VI. Communication clarity in legal v. business advice | 12:50pm – 1:10pm

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska's recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Arkansas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Arkansas's recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

California

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Colorado

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
2 General Hours

Delaware

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Florida

Reciprocity
2.5 Ethics Hours

Receive CLE credit in Florida via reciprocity
Georgia

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Iowa

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Idaho

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Illinois

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Indiana

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Kansas

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

Kentucky

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
2 General Hours

Maryland

No MCLE Required
2 General Hours

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Ethics credits can ONLY be earned through Live-Webcast programs, the Maine Board of Bar Examiners does not approve Ethics through On-Demand sessions.
Michigan

No MCLE Required
2 General Hours

Minnesota

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Missouri

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Mississippi

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Montana

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

North Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney's behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
120 Ethics minutes

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey's recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Nevada

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 Practice Management

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “A”.
Ohio

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Oklahoma

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 Ethics

Oregon

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Pennsylvania

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Rhode Island

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2.5 Ethics

South Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
2 General Hours

Tennessee

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Dual

Texas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Virginia

Not Eligible
2 General Hours Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
2 Ethics Hours

For CLE course attendance credit, Washington state attorneys must self-apply to the Washington State Bar. myLawCLE will supply Washington state attorneys with the self-application package and instructions on how to gain credit.
Wisconsin

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Ethics credits can ONLY be earned through Live-Webcast programs, the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners does not approve Ethics through On-Demand sessions.
West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Wyoming

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

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