Catherine Lanctot examines the issue of “lawyerlayperson communications in cyberspace.” Existing case law indicates that online communications of specific legal advice are likely to be viewed as creating attorney-client relationships, despite any purported disclaimers. Lanctot’s survey of case law and prior research elucidates the bar’s penchant for viewing most particularized communications as creating attorney-client relationships, as well as the bar’s distaste for non-traditional legal advisement. Finally, Lanctot concludes that lawyers should exercise great caution when attempting to provide legal advice by novel means.
Catherine Lanctot, Attorney-Client Relationships in Cyberspace: The Peril and The Promise, Duke Law Journal, Vol. 47 , P. 147 (1999).
