Office of the General Counsel the More You Share

• Publication year: 2023
• Pages: 0048

Office of the General Counsel The More You Share ... Vol. 29 No. 1 Pg. 48 Georgia Bar Journal August, 2023

BY PAULA FREDERICK

"Get this!" your buddy shares, cracking up as he tells the story. "They say the video shows my client stuffing six turkeys into his ...".

"Wait a minute!" you interrupt. "I've heard this story before! Did this happen at GroceriesInc? They're clients of mine"” I think I'm on the other side of your case!"

You enjoy everything about your new co-working setup. The onsite staff provides you with IT services and admin help when you need it, and there are several other lawyers in the building who have become trusted advisors. Even though everyone has their own practice, you often share trial strategy, gossip and war stories over coffee in the living room.

But with a sinking feeling you realize that today's coffee break might just cost you a great client.

Can lawyers who share space and staff work on opposite sides of a case?

Formal Opinion 507 from the American Bar Association, "Office Sharing Arrangements with Other Lawyers," (issued July 12, 2023) provides guidance. The primary focus of the opinion is confidentiality, and the opinion warns against discussing cases in shared common spaces. It reminds the reader that "appropriate security measures, staff training and client disclosures" can help ensure that confidentiality...