Comments on: Louisiana lawyers prohibited from blogging and other online activities

By: quixtarisacult

quixtarisacult — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:29:51 +0000

Tracy…

Aren’t most politicians lawyers? Barack Obama is a lawyer, so is the first lady. To prevent a lawyer from blogging and expressing their views through some shortsighted law works to retard the democratic process, not further it. What is next, shutting down the Internet for politicians? Might a politician who doesn’t happen to be a lawyer, have a distinct advantage over a one who happens to practice law, at least in Louisiana?

By: Tracy Coenen

Tracy Coenen — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:35:14 +0000

I think that the laws simply aren’t keeping up with the times. Ask any older attorney, and I bet they will say that blogging and Web 2.0 are stupid. (And that they know next to nothing about them.) But they are savvy enough to know that those things might give another attorney a competitive advantage, so let’s outlaw it. (Never mind that the competitive advantage is well-deserved if the attorney is putting out good content.)

By: Doug Cornelius

Doug Cornelius — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:47:45 +0000

I don’t think the new rules prohibit blogging. I saw the Wolfe release and was concerned as well.

http://www.lsba.org/2007InsideLSBA/documents/ethics/ProposedLARules7-1_12-2006.pdf

It looks like 7.8(g) exempts an internet presence under 7.6(b). You just need to disclose the jurisdiction where you are licensed to practice and a bona-fide office location.

That seems pretty ease to do with a blog, twitter, Avvo and other online activity.

By: Chad Bordeaux

Chad Bordeaux — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:33:43 +0000

This is stupid. What are these laws supposed to protect from? Why can he get behind a podium and speak, but he can’t blog the same thing?

There have been stupid laws regarding CPA for years. For instance, are moving into a new office early next year. On the front of the building, we are alotted X amount of space for signage based on the building, our association, etc. The CPA board REQUIRES that the only name that we may display is the EXACT legal name of our firm, which turns out to be Bordeaux & Bordeaux, CPAs, PA. There is absolutely no way to fit it on the sign.