Recorded Webinar: 3 CPD Compulsory Topics for Lawyers – a national webinar for lawyers

This webinar comprises 3 one-hour sessions covering each of the compulsory CPD subjects for lawyers for the CPD year ending 31 March 2021.

Session 1: Practice Management Business Skills

Cybersecurity: Protecting your Connections

Securing IT systems and data is a huge challenge for law firms amongst others, and recent ransomware attacks have highlighted the strategic importance of having robust security mechanisms in place. In this session we will examine types of attacks and what steps can be taken to minimise the risks, including:

• Unpacking the scams – what are they?

• ransomware
• fraudulent emails concerning fund redirection: Deligiannidou v Sundarjee [2020] NSWSC 437
• phishing emails leading to the release of sensitive and confidential information
• hacking and manipulation of databases
• release of viruses and malware

• The legal, reputational, social and financial consequences of cyber attacks
• Essential steps for securing your network, including managing external access

• The potential impact of BYO devices on your network and how to manage them
• Cybersecurity and IT policies and controls as risk minimisation tools – what you need to have in place

Session 2: Professional Skills

Client Communications: Taking Instructions in a Digital World

The importance of getting clear and concise instructions from a client cannot be underestimated, and doing so remotely is an added complexity that comes with some risk. This session will explore what measures need to be put in place and how to spot any warning flags, to ensure both client and practitioner are protected from interference or abuse, including:

• What are the options for remotely taking instructions?

• Have the conduct rules and legislation kept up with changing times?

• Identifying your client – what information do you need? How can it be verified?
• Using teleconferencing – an adequate substitute for face to face interactions?
• Who else is in the room? Can you ensure confidentiality and non-interference?
• Where is the correspondence originating? Spotting fraud and undue influence
• Tips for minimising risk

Session 3: Legal Ethics

Ethical Challenges, Duty of Care and Professional Misconduct

Professional misconduct claims continue to occur, with practitioners falling foul of their ethical obligations. In this practical session, hear directly from LawCover on the lessons we can learn from recent professional misconduct cases and how practitioners can ensure they properly discharge their ethical obligations. It covers:

• Identifying key ethical challenges that arise in practice
• Understanding appropriate standards of ethical behaviour
• The interplay with professional misconduct - The causal symptoms and contributory factors of claims
• Claims prevention and risk management – best practice guidelines and emerging practice risks, traps and tips
• Lessons from recent reported and unreported decisions