Part of a presentation at LawTechCamp on May 12, 2012 at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law by Omar Ha-Redeye and Bob Tarantino

1. Bob Tarantino, Heenan Blaikie
Omar Ha-Redeye, Fleet Street Law

2. Important Notes
 This is just an overview
 There are many Rules and examples that have been
omitted
 Adapted from Internet and E-Commerce Law in
Canada, “Overview: The Rules of Professional
Conduct and their Application the Legal Profession
Online (And Off),” March 2012

3. Rule 6.01
6.01 (1) A lawyer shall conduct himself or herself in such
a way as to maintain the integrity of the profession…

4. Rule 2.03
2.03 (1) A lawyer at all times shall hold in strict
confidence all information concerning the business
and affairs of the client acquired in the course of the
professional relationship and shall not divulge any
such information unless expressly or impliedly
authorized by the client or required by law to do so.
2.03 (6) If a lawyer engages in literary works, such as
a memoir or an autobiography, the lawyer shall not
disclose confidential information without the
client’s or former client’s consent.

5. Rule 3.01(2)
3.01(2) In offering legal services, a lawyer shall not use means
(a) that are false or misleading,
(b) that amount to coercion, duress, or harassment,
(c) that take advantage of a person who is vulnerable or who has suffered a
traumatic experience and has not yet had a chance to recover,
(d) that are intended to influence a person who has retained another lawyer for a
particular matter to change his or her lawyer for that matter, unless the change
is initiated by the person or the other lawyer, or
(e) that otherwise bring the profession or the administration of justice into
disrepute.

6. Rule 3.02(1)
3.02 (1) In this Rule, “marketing” includes advertisements and other
similar communications in various media as well as firm names
(including trade names), letterhead, business cards and logos.
(2) A lawyer may market legal services if the marketing
(a) is demonstrably true, accurate and verifiable,
(b) is neither misleading, confusing, or deceptive, nor likely to mislead,
confuse or deceive, and
(c) is in the best interests of the public and is consistent with a high
standard of professionalism.

7. Rule 3.03(1)
3.03 (1) A lawyer may advertise that the lawyer is a
specialist in a specified field only if the lawyer has been
so certified by the Society.

8. Rule 4.05
4.05 (1) When acting as an advocate, before the trial of a case, a lawyer shall not
communicate with or cause another to communicate with anyone that the
lawyer knows to be a member of the jury panel for that trial.
(2) When acting as an advocate, a lawyer shall disclose to the judge and opposing
counsel any information of which the lawyer is aware that a juror or prospective
juror
(a) has or may have an interest, direct or indirect, in the outcome of the case,
(b) is acquainted with or connected in any manner with the presiding judge, any
counsel or any litigant, or
(c) is acquainted with or connected in any manner with any person who has
appeared or who is expected to appear as a witness,
unless the judge and opposing counsel have previously been made aware of the
information.

9. Rule 4.05
(3) A lawyer should promptly disclose to the court any
information that the lawyer has about improper conduct by
a member of a jury panel or by a juror toward another
member of the jury panel, another juror, or to the members
of a juror’s family
(4) Except as permitted by law, when acting as an advocate,
a lawyer shall not during a trial of a case communicate with
or cause another to communicate with any member of the
jury.
(5) A lawyer who is not connected with a case before the
court shall not communicate with or cause another to
communicate with any member of the jury about the case.

10. Rule 4.06
4.06 (1) A lawyer shall encourage public respect for and try
to improve the administration of justice.
(2) A lawyer who seeks legislative or administrative changes
shall disclose the interest being advanced, whether the
lawyer's interest, the client’s interest, or the public interest.
(3) A lawyer who has reasonable grounds for believing that a
dangerous situation is likely to develop at a court facility
shall inform the local police force and give particulars.

11. Rule 6.03
6.03 (1) A lawyer shall be courteous, civil, and act in good faith with all
persons with whom the lawyer has dealings in the course of his or her
practice. …
(4) A lawyer shall not use a tape recorder or other device to record a
conversation between the lawyer and a client or another legal
practitioner, even if lawful, without first informing the other person of
the intention to do so. …
(5) A lawyer shall not in the course of professional practice send
correspondence or otherwise communicate to a client, another legal
practitioner, or any other person in a manner that is abusive, offensive,
or otherwise inconsistent with the proper tone of a professional
communication from a lawyer.

12. Rule 6.03
(6) A lawyer shall answer with reasonable promptness all professional
letters and communications from other legal practitioners that require
an answer, and a lawyer shall be punctual in fulfilling all commitments.
(7) Subject to subrule (8), if a person is represented by a legal
practitioner in respect of a matter, a lawyer shall not, except through or
with the consent of the legal practitioner,
(a) approach or communicate or deal with the person on the matter, or
(b) attempt to negotiate or compromise the matter directly with the
person.
(8) A lawyer who is not otherwise interested in a matter may give a
second opinion to a person who is represented by a legal practitioner
with respect to that matter.

13. Rule 6.06
6.06 (1) Provided that there is no infringement of the
lawyer’s obligations to the client, the profession, the courts,
or the administration of justice, a lawyer may communicate
information to the media and may make public appearances
and statements.
(2) A lawyer shall not communicate information to the
media or make public statements about a matter before a
tribunal if the lawyer knows or ought to know that the
information or statement will have a substantial likelihood
of materially prejudicing a party’s right to a fair trial or
hearing.

14. For More Information
 Bob Tarantino
 http://www.heenan.ca/en/ourTeam/bio?id=1602
 @BobTarantino
 btarantino@heenan.ca
 Omar Ha-Redeye
 http://omarha-redeye.com
 @OmarHaRedeye
 Omar@FleetStreetLaw.com