UPCOMING EVENTS

> Lunch CLE Webinar: From Paralegal to Partner - May 24, 2023, 12pm CT/11am MT
Go to our Store page to register!

> 2023 Annual Meeting and Seminar - June 23, 2023, 7:30am-4pm
Best Western Ramkota Hotel - Sioux Falls, SD
- Go to our Store page for session details and to register (in-person or virtual)!
- View the welcome message from our keynote speaker, Mark Ostach, here!
(All attendees will receive a digital copy of his book, "If You Really Knew Me." The first 50 people to register for in-person attendance will receive a gratitude notebook and free registration for his online course “Fostering Connection & Wellness!”)

> Annual Social - June 22, 2023 (location in Sioux Falls TBD, tentative 6-8pm)

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE BAR & ETHICS ARTICLES

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion, "“Reply All” in Electronic Communications" on November 2, 2022, about copying clients on emails. The opinion is available here.  The ABA's press release states: It’s not uncommon for attorneys (especially in transactional matters) to copy clients on emails to opposing counsel.  This opinion states that by doing so, the attorneys are giving implied consent for opposing counsel to ‘reply all’ (including to the clients) without violating Rule 4.2.  There’s also a risk that the clients might inadvertently “reply all” to the chain and potentially disclose a privileged response.  The opinion states that the best practice is to forward emails to the client after sending them to opposing counsel instead of copying them on the emails to avoid this scenario.

The Ethics Committee provided a supplement to the Bar's monthly newsletter, titled "COVID-19 Ethical Considerations."  It is available here.  The supplement addresses compliance with Rules 1.1 through 1.6 and Rules 5.1-5.3 in the era of COVID-19.

The Bar has provided insight regarding remotely-executed Wills under the South Dakota Supreme Court's April 14, 2020 Order Regarding Court Reports, Witnesses & Notarizations.  The article, titled "Remote Execution of Wills and Living Wills Under the Supreme Court's Emergency Order," is available here.  It provides suggestions on how to incorporate the provisions of the Order, along with a sample attestation that includes language specific to remote signatures and notarizations.

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The South Dakota Paralegal Association invites you to join us in our goals to give to our communities, grow in legal education, and mentor to students in our field. How do we do this? By working together! 

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