This program is eligible for 3 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states. In 50-minute states, this program is eligible for 3.6 hours of CLE credit. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.
Overview
Because every area of practice involves technology, lawyers must stay informed and understand basic technology. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Technology Committee, this three-hour program, with one hour of integrated ethics, will address key areas impacting the legal profession, including:
- Cybersecurity 101: Learn best practices for safeguarding client data, preventing cyber-attacks, and complying with legal and ethical obligations.
- Using ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence as Research & Writing Tools: Learn about artificial intelligence and how to use its power to perform legal research and prepare documents.
- Social Media 101: Clients and lawyers use social media, and its use has implications in legal proceedings. This session will explore the basics of social media and help lawyers understand how to harness its power.
- Desktop and other searches: Electronic data is only helpful if you can find it. This session will discuss desktop and other search tools to help lawyers find the information and files they need.
Recorded in February 2024.
Faculty
Samuel G. Encarnacion, Esq.
Samuel G. Encarnacion is the First Assistant Public Defender of Lancaster County. He has a long-standing career with the Lancaster County Public Defender’s Office, representing clients in criminal cases. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he is originally from the Dominican Republic, grew up in Puerto Rico,and moved to Texas in 1980. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and obtained his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. He was also a partner with Spahn & Encarnacion and represented injured plaintiffs with Haggerty & Silverman. In addition to his legal practice, he has actively participated in various legal committees, including the Pennsylvania Bar Association Minority Bar Committee. He served as an at-large minority governor on the PBA Board of Governors. Furthermore, Sam chaired the PBA Insurance Fund and Trust for and for its tenure as Chair received the PBA Special Achievement Award. He was also a member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Committee on Rules of Evidence and served as its chair. Recently, he was appointed as co-vice chair of the newly formed Technology Committee.
David Ries Esq.
David G. Ries is of counsel in the Pittsburgh, PA office of Clark Hill PLC, where he practices in the firm’s Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Privacy Group. He has devoted his legal career to helping organizations traverse complex environmental, technology, and data protection challenges. He has used computers in his practice since the early 1980s and since then has strongly encouraged attorneys to embrace technology – in appropriate and secure ways. Dave frequently speaks and writes nationally on legal ethics, technology, and cybersecurity topics. He is the Editor of e-Discovery 4th Edition (PBI Press 2017), a coauthor of Locked Down: Practical Information Security for Lawyers, Second Ed. (American Bar Association 2016) and Encryption Made Simple for Lawyers (American Bar Association 2015), and a contributing author to Information Security and Privacy: A Legal, Business and Technical Handbook, Second Edition (American Bar Association 2011). He served on the ABA Cybersecurity Legal Task Force and the ABA TECHSHOW Planning Board and is a member of InfraGard’s Legal Cross-Sector Council and ILTA’s LegalSEC Initiative. Dave received his J.D. from Boston College Law School. He can be contacted at dries@clarkhill.com or 412-394-7787.
Ellen Freedman, CLM
Ellen serves as the Law Practice Management Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Bar Association. In that capacity she assists PBA’s members with management issues and decisions on the business side of their practice, including areas like technology, financial management and profitability, human resources, marketing, risk management, setting up a practice and so forth. PBA members are encouraged to contact Ellen through the 800 “Hot Line” at PBA headquarters, (800-932-0311 x2228) or through email (lawpractice@pabar.org). Ellen is founder and President of Freedman Consulting, which assists PA law firms with a full range of issues and projects on the business side of the practice. More information about Ellen and her law practice management services may be obtained at http:www.FreedmanLPM.com. Ellen holds the designation of Certified Legal Manager through the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), the credentialing body for the CLM degree. Of the 11,000+ members of the ALA, approximately 300 are certified legal managers. Ellen was one of the first 20 in the nation to have achieved this designation. She holds a Certification in Computer Programming from Maxwell Institute, and a Certification in Web Site Design and a B.A. from Temple University. Ellen was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management in October 2020. Membership in the College is by invitation only. Eligible nominees include those who have made significant contributions to the field of law practice management for over ten years. Since its establishment over twenty years ago, nearly 300 practitioners from 5 different countries have become Fellows of the College. Ellen managed inside law firms for twenty years. Most of that time was spent in a midsize (35+ attorney) firm environment. She launched her consulting practice in 1998 and joined the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 1999. She was a member of the Association of Legal Administrators for over 20 years and founded the Independence Chapter. She is a frequent author and speaker on law firm management issues on a national level.
Daniel J. Siegel, Esq.
Attorney Daniel J. Siegel is a nationally recognized authority on ethics, technology, data protection and business workflow management, and the principal of both the Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel, LLC and Integrated Technology Services, LLC. Dan provides techno-ethics counsel to solo, small and mid-sized law firms on cybersecurity, technology and other related issues. His practice includes representing of attorneys in disciplinary matters; providing professional responsibility guidance to attorneys and firms; serving as appellate counsel; and representing individuals in workers’ compensation and personal injury matters. Dan also consults with law firms and businesses on workflow management, implementation of paperless offices, and other productivity matters. Attorney Siegel is a prolific speaker and author, and serves as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and Past-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Professional Development Board Chair. The author of 15 books, Dan is a columnist and frequent lecturer on a wide range of topics, including ethics, technology, substantive law, appellate law, and professional responsibility matters. You can reach Dan at dan@danieljsiegel.com.
Jennifer L. Ellis, Esq.
Jennifer Ellis is a legal ethics attorney in Pennsylvania. She owns the consulting/law firm marketing company Jennifer Ellis, JD, LLC, through which she assists attorneys with issues such as electronic discovery, practice management, and online presence. Previously, Jennifer worked with a Philadelphia area personal injury firm, where she practiced legal ethics, managed the firm’s online presence, and oversaw its IT and security consultants. Jennifer also served as the Associate Director of Media Technology with the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, where she organized and presented courses on numerous issues, including law practice management, technology, and ethics. Jennifer speaks and writes throughout Pennsylvania and nationally on issues relating to law practice management, technology, ethics, marketing, and more. Find her online at jlellis.net.

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