Lawyers care about bitcoin and blockchain technology for several reasons. First, bitcoin presents novel legal issues as it enables decentralized collaborative organizations and autonomous agents. Second, bitcoin can affect many areas of law like banking, finance, taxation, and more. Finally, bitcoin provides opportunities for lawyers today such as using its features for proof of existence, avoiding the need for IOLTA accounts, and enabling governance controls for client funds through multisignature transactions.

1. WHY LAWYERSCARE
ABOUT BITCOIN AND BLOCKCHAIN TECH
(AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED)
@pamelawjd
PAMELA MORGAN
FOUNDER: EMPOWERED LAW PLLC
CEO: THIRDKEY.SOLUTIONS
BOARD: CRYPTOCONSORTIUM.ORG
COLLABORATOR: COALA.GLOBAL

2. LAWYERS CARE BECAUSE
BITCOIN IS COOL
@pamelawjd
"INTERNET OF MONEY”
INVESTMENT DOLLARS POURING IN
SILICON VALLEY
WALL STREET

3. LAWYERS CARE BECAUSE
BITCOIN CHANGES TRUST
@pamelawjd
TRUST IN PUBLIC REPUTATION AND NETWORK
SYSTEMS NOT INSTITUTIONS
NO NEED FOR CUSTODIAL ACCOUNTS

4. LAWYERS CARE BECAUSE
BITCOIN SHIFTS POWER
@pamelawjd
TRULY GLOBAL SYSTEM
PROVIDES ALTERNATIVE TO CURRENT SYSTEMS
EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS

5. CHARITY & NGOS
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
GOVERNMENT POLICY
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
COPYRIGHT
EVIDENCE
ADR
LAWYERS CARE BECAUSE
BITCOIN MAY AFFECT…
@pamelawjd
BANKING, FINANCE, START-UPS
TAX, ESCROW
REAL PROPERTY
SECURED TRANSACTIONS
CONTRACTS
ESTATE PLANNING
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
INTERNATIONAL LAW
CORPORATE LAW
SECURITIES LAW
EQUITY CROWDFUNDING

6. LAWYERS CARE BECAUSE
BITCOIN PRESENTS NOVEL LEGAL ISSUES
@pamelawjd
DECENTRALIZED COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
AUTONOMOUS AGENTS

7. USING BITCOIN IN A LAW PRACTICE TODAY:
PROOF OF EXISTENCE
@pamelawjd

8. @pamelawjd
Proof of Existence: unalterable date and time stamp
for ANY finalized document - confidentiality maintained

9. USING BITCOIN IN A LAW PRACTICE TODAY:
NO NEED FOR IOLTA
@pamelawjd

10. @pamelawjd
Bitcoin’s Multisignature Feature provides
Security Without Custody
Typical Configuration: 2-of-3

11. @pamelawjd
Facilitates consumer protection through choice and reputation
Global marketplace for “arbitrators”

12. USING BITCOIN IN A LAW PRACTICE TODAY:
GOVERNANCE CONTROLS
@pamelawjd

13. @pamelawjd
Bitcoin’s Multisignature Feature provides
Accountability, Auditability, Separation of Duties
ANY configuration: X-of-15

14. USING BITCOIN IN PRACTICE TODAY AND TOMORROW:
SMART CONTRACTS
@pamelawjd

15. @pamelawjd
“A smart contract is a computerized transaction protocol
that executes the terms of a contract.
The general objectives of smart contract design are to satisfy
common contractual conditions (such as payment terms,
liens, confidentiality, and even enforcement), minimize
exceptions both malicious and accidental, and minimize the
need for trusted intermediaries.
Related economic goals include lowering fraud loss,
arbitration and enforcement costs, and other transaction
costs.”
Nick Szabo, Smart Contracts 1994

16. @pamelawjd

17. @pamelawjd

18. BITCOIN AND TRANSPARENCY
CHARITABLE DONATIONS
@pamelawjd

19. @pamelawjd

20. BITCOIN AND THE LAW
LEARN MORE
@pamelawjd

21. @pamelawjd
cryptoconsortium.org
@_CFour_

22. @pamelawjd
coincenter.org

23. @pamelawjd

24. @pamelawjd

25. BITCOIN AND THE LAW
WHAT’S NEXT?
@pamelawjd

26. @pamelawjd

27. QUESTIONS???
@pamelawjd
BANKING, FINANCE, START-UPS
TAX, ESCROW
REAL PROPERTY
SECURED TRANSACTIONS
SMART CONTRACTS
ESTATE PLANNING
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
INTERNATIONAL LAW
CORPORATE LAW
SECURITIES LAW
EQUITY CROWDFUNDING
CHARITY & NGOS
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
GOVERNMENT POLICY
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
COPYRIGHT
EVIDENCE
ADR
LEARN MORE:
COMMONACCORD.ORG
PROOFOFEXISTENCE.COM
BITRATED.COM
BITGIVEFOUNDATION.ORG
COINCENTER.ORG
BLOCKCHAINWORKSHOPS.ORG
CRYPTOCONSORTIUM.ORG