Feb. 1, 2012 – In addition to keeping up-to-date in the areas of law in which they practice, lawyers must stay current on the latest developments in legal ethics. Their very livelihood depends on it. There are quite a few websites that provide timely ethics updates and access to ethics advice and other related information.

Use the alert features of Fastcase, Westlaw, or Lexis

After running a fruitful ethics rules or case law search on Fastcase, Westlaw, or Lexis online services, use their recurring search or e-alert features to receive timely notifications of updates in relevant jurisdictions. For assistance with using them, contact the vendor’s customer service representative.

Keep current on law reviews and other periodicals

To receive notices of recently published law review articles relating to legal ethics, use the RSS or email alert features of legal periodical databases, such as LegalTrac, which is available for use at many law libraries. Wisconsin State Law Library registered cardholders can also access LegalTrac remotely, on any Internet-equipped device. Another option is the University of Washington Gallagher Law Library’s fee-based “SmartCILP” service. To keep up on the latest scholarly research in legal ethics, subscribe to various series of research papers available through the Social Science Research Network (SSRN).

Subscribe to blogs and other online legal news services

The Legal Profession Blog covers issues related to the practice of law, including frequent postings on legal ethics. Use Topical Archive along the right-hand sidebar for a quick search.

The Legalethics.com blog focuses specifically on the ethical issues associated with the use of technology by legal professionals. Postings are conveniently arranged by topics listed in the right-hand sidebar.

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s website provides several timely publications to keep members informed in all areas of the law and the practice of law, including a legal ethics column in Wisconsin Lawyer^™ magazine. The WisBar.org homepage includes continually updated legal news headlines, and the free weekly Caselaw Express service and biweekly InsideTrack electronic publication provide subscribers with the latest Wisconsin court opinions and legal news.

The ABA Center for Professional Responsibility offers a free biweekly email alert service to keep up with the latest developments in legal ethics issues.

The Marquette University Law School Faculty blog covers a wide variety of law-related topics, including legal ethics. Readers can pinpoint relevant postings by using the topical links in the left-hand sidebar.

Find legal ethics and professional conduct information online

On the WisBar.org homepage, click the Lawyer Regulation tab at the bottom of the page to access links to ethics advice and other related information. The ethics advice page in turn provides links to a plethora of additional legal ethics information sources, as well as information about the services offered by State Bar Ethics Counsel Timothy Pierce.

The Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation web page provides access to recent disciplinary cases, reinstatement hearings, pending public cases, and the Compendium of Professional Discipline. As of Jan. 12, 2012, the site includes a lawyer status and history search. Users can enter an attorney’s name or other information to learn about an attorney's pending public disciplinary cases (with a link to the case on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Access site) and public disciplinary history (with a link to the final disciplinary order).

The Wisconsin State Law Library’s “Legal Ethics & Professional Conduct” page provides links to model rules, codes, lawyer regulation agency web sites, recent law review articles, suggested library materials, and more.

The American Legal Ethics Library, a part of Cornell University Law School’s Legal Information Institute (LII), contains both the codes or rules setting standards for the professional conduct of lawyers and commentary on the law governing lawyers, organized state by state. ABA ethics materials are also included to facilitate comparison of ABA model provisions with the rules of a particular state. Narratives on the law of lawyering in selected states are also included.

Freivogel on Conflicts: A Guide to Conflicts of Interest for Lawyers is the product of William Freivogel, an experienced trial lawyer, independent consultant and frequent speaker on legal ethics issues. The “What’s New” link includes a “Ten Day Bulletin” and “Thirty Day Holding Area” of current cases and other news.

About the Author

Connie Von Der Heide is the director of Reference & Outreach Services for the Wisconsin State Law Library. Von Der Heide manages the library’s reference, document delivery and circulation services, coordinates outreach, marketing and promotional activities, edits the library’s newsletter, and presents library orientations and legal research classes for judges, attorneys, librarians and the general public.