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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 11 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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<img style="max-width: 100%;height: auto;max-width: 100%;height: auto" loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5405" src="https://www.thelawforlawyerstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/754/2021/02/Kitty-filter-300x139.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="139">By now, you&rsquo;re probably one of the 3.7 million people who&rsquo;ve seen the video of a virtual court hearing in Texas that went terribly wrong for the county attorney.&nbsp; (If not, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxlPGPupdd8&amp;feature=youtu.be">here</a> it is on YouTube.)&nbsp; &nbsp;As depicted for all to see, the hapless lawyer appears on-screen as a fluffy white cat, complete with moving kitty lips as he plaintively explains to the judge that it&rsquo;s a filter, and &ldquo;I&rsquo;m here live &mdash; I&rsquo;m not a cat.&rdquo;
Ethics lessons from this excruciating situation?&nbsp; You&rsquo;ve come to the right place!
<ul>
<li>Technological competence.&nbsp; We&rsquo;ve pointed out many times that <a href="https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_1_1_competence/">Model Rule 1.1</a> <a href="https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_1_1_competence/comment_on_rule_1_1/">cmt. [8]</a> calls on lawyers to keep abreast of changes in the law, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.&nbsp; We&rsquo;ve been Zooming for a year now.&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t let this happen to you.&nbsp; Get help with any tech you aren&rsquo;t comfortable with &mdash; before the hearing.</li>
<li>Professionalism.&nbsp; I was struck by the poker faces of the kitty-lawyer&rsquo;s opposing counsel.&nbsp; They keep their composure throughout rather than dissolving in helpless laughter at the situation.&nbsp; (One comes close to losing it, but still manages to keep it together.)&nbsp; And the judge is extremely patient.&nbsp; His voice never rises as he tries to walk the lawyer through how to take off the filter that has turned him into a fluffy feline.&nbsp; In any court disaster it&rsquo;s worth remembering &mdash; there but for the grace of God go you.</li>
<li>Cats and dogs.&nbsp; Last, if you have to have a Zoom filter on &mdash; make it a dog, for heaven&rsquo;s sake.</li>
</ul>

core/freeform

Ethics

Legal Ethics, Professional Responsibility and the Business of Law

Of cats and competence:  legal ethics lesson from the trenches