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Florida Opens the Door for New Tech CLE

books_and_gavel_thumbIn a unanimous opinion last week, the Supreme Court of Florida became the first state to respond to technological changes in the legal profession by updating their mandatory CLE requirements, ushering in a brave new world of technology CLE.

The new rule, which goes into effect on January 1, 2017, requires Florida attorneys to complete three hours of technology-related CLE every reporting period. Although the ABA has included a duty to keep abreast of “the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology” as part of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct since 2012 (and this language has been adopted by 25 states), the new Florida rule is the first to include the mandate in their CLE requirements.

Additionally, the Court’s new commentary on the competence rule makes it clear that an attorney can maintain technological competence by associating with or retaining a non-lawyer advisor with established competence in the field, a change that speaks to the difficulty in staying up-to-date on current technology risks and rewards.

As an online CLE provider, Lawline has been at the forefront of providing tech-related CLE for years, and we welcome Florida’s new challenge to keep it fresh. Stay tuned for programs that will fulfill the new requirements for Florida attorneys!

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