Digital Practice, Done Right: Regulatory Compliance, Data Sovereignty, and Professional Duties

Question: How can attending the CPD program enhance my legal practice's technology integration and compliance?

Answer: This CPD program provides valuable insights into essential technology practices and regulatory compliance, empowering participants to enhance their legal services and business operations while ensuring adherence to laws like the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA, [SO 2005, c 11]) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA, [SC 2000, c 5]).

CPD: Professionalism 1.5 Hours and Substantive Law 1.5 Hours

This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program offers a unique two-part learning opportunity, combining both Professionalism and Substantive Law components.

Session One: Technology Practice TipsIndependent | L.S.O.  Audio Podcasts

Session One: Up to ninety minutes of Law Society of Ontario accredited Professionalism Content.  Participants independently view a curated series of brief podcasts developed by the Law Society, addressing essential technology topics relevant to legal practice.  These byte-sized discussions provide critical insights into email and file management, cloud computing, social media use, data protection, cybersecurity risks, and related best practices identified by the Law Society.  This independent session enhances understanding of ethical and competent technology integration within legal practice management and prepares participants for the real-world legal operations discussions involving Substantive Law topics in Session Two. 

Session Two: Substantive Law in Modern Digital Practice

Session Two: Ninety minutes of Substantive Law content presented in a hybrid format.  This session addresses modern best practices in legal practice management while examining key issues such as artificial intelligence (A.I.) concerns, regulatory compliance obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), digital torts, copyright considerations, social media governance, PIPEDA compliance, data sovereignty, jurisdictional challenges, digital regulatory compliance requirements for legal business operations, conflict checking, and marketing compliance obligations.  Participants benefit from objective analysis and peer discussion of real-world digital assets brought forward during the session.  The information provides significant value to those seeking to strengthen their entrepreneurial business operations as well as to those focused on enhancing their legal services acumen.The total fee/cost of this CPD is specific to Session Two.

Key Topics Covered

1.  Intellectual Property and Branding in the Digital Space

• Intellectual Property: Copyrights, trademarks, and domains.
• Trademarks: Mitigating infringement risks in digital marketplaces.
• Tort of Passing-Off: Understanding liability risks from online representations.
• A.I.  and Copyright Infringement: Managing risks in web platforms.

2.  Regulatory Compliance for Online Operations

• Marketing Compliance: Competition Act and Law Society obligations when using client testimonials and online reviews.
• AODA Compliance: Ensuring law firm websites meet accessibility standards.
• PIPEDA Compliance: Privacy law considerations and cross-border data concerns.
• Data Sovereignty: Client information retention on Canadian soil.
• Security Obligations: Data duties under Ontario and federal legislation.

3.  Technology Contracts and Ethical Considerations

• Contra Proferentem Rule: Applying the principle in technology and service agreements.
• Outsourcing Ethics: Managing ethical and contractual obligations in digital services.
• A.I.  in Legal Services: Duties associated with the use of artificial intelligence tools.
• Ownership of A.I.  Content: Copyright and ethical considerations surrounding A.I.-generated outputs.

4.  Litigation, Evidence, and Cross-Border Challenges

• Electronic Evidence: Standards for authentication and admissibility.
• Internet Defamation: Cross-jurisdictional issues arising from online harms.
• Wrongful Interference: Duty not to impair consumer and business relations.

Location

Participation is now available via VIDEO ARCHIVE only. A limited number of registrants may RSVP to attend in-person at the Courtyard Marriott on Bloor Street East in Oshawa.  In-person attendees will benefit from a sandwich buffet, snacks, beverages, and a peer-to-peer networking opportunity before and after Session Two.

Cost

The cost for this CPD event is $75 ($0 with purchase of any other CPD) per person and includes up to $500 in value of special perks made available from various sponsors.  Further, this includes food and soft drinks for those whom are confirmed for the in-person attendance participation.  In-person spots are limited.

Additional Benefits

• Certificate of Participation: Issued upon completion, and syndicated automatically to the participant’s Profile page throughout the Success.Legal ecosystem.
• Multilingual support: Post-event questions and discussions are also available in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish within 30 days of the live event.
• Gifts for in-person participants.