Defining Disaster:  For anyone, planning for the possibility of a large natural disaster—such as a hurricane, tornado, or flooding—is prudent. But many events that are not disasters to the community at large can be a disaster for an attorney: the sudden death or disability of a key individual to a firm, disbarment or suspension, an office fire, a breach of cyber security, or even simply spilling coffee on an office computer.

Disaster and Professionalism:  While the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct set forth the regulations under which attorneys practice, these rules do not excuse a failure to comply based on the occurrence of a disaster. If an attorney has knowledge that a disaster could occur, they are potentially subject to ethical violations and legal malpractice claims if they fail to plan for it. 

Being Prepared: This course is designed to help you think about how vulnerable you or your firm are to disaster and then how to prepare. What resources are available? How will a particular disaster affect my clients/co-workers/family? Periodic evaluation and subsequent updating of resource identification, specific emergency plans and financial support are critical to the ethical and professional practice of law.