On October 24, 2017, the Colorado Supreme Court launched an online platform aimed at helping Colorado lawyers to practice ethically, avoid disciplinary actions, and reduce stress when dealing with rules of professional conduct.
The new Colorado Lawyer Self-Assessment Program is the first online self-assessment program launched by a state for its lawyers, but Illinois will soon follow with its own similar same initiative.
A subcommittee of the Colorado Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee initiated the self-assessment tool, and a group of Colorado lawyers, professionals, and professors assisted in its development. The self-assessment program addresses 10 important areas-including conflicts, confidentiality, and fees-in which lawyers encounter common ethical obstacles when practicing law. Every area contains a list of objectives, requirements, and the best practices to follow. Then, the program asks the lawyer performing the assessment if he or she is following those guidelines and, if the answer is negative, the program provides ethics opinions and articles that explain the risks involved. Lawyers who complete the entire program also receive CLE credit.
Colorado lawyers are responding positively to the self-assessment program and the Colorado Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee expects to improve it considerably based on the assessment reports submitted.
View the Colorado Lawyer Self-Assessment Program here.
