The Legal Tech Institute at the Harris County Law Library has released a new video CLE. Fulfilling Ethical Obligations with Legal Research is the latest additional to our Learn On-Demand CLE library that lets you earn CLE credit in Texas while staying up to date on legal tech. Visit the Law Library's Legal Tech Institute page for more legal tech learning opportunities.
Latest & Greatest – Blockchain for Business Lawyers
Edited by James A. Cox and Mark W. Rasmussen
Published by American Bar Association. Section of Science & Technology Law
KF 1030 .E4 C69 2018
You’ve probably heard the term “blockchain” before. You also probably know that it is one of the newer and constantly evolving technologies that can change the way business is conducted. But, do you really know what it is and what it can do for you and your law practice? Co-editors James A. Cox and Mark W. Rasmussen have teamed up with a host of experts to explain and (hopefully) demystify this innovative technology in their new book, Blockchain for Business Lawyers.
To do this, the authors begin with an introduction to blockchain technology, discussing its origin, its implications, and its advantages and disadvantages for business. Succeeding chapters define cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings, describe some other financial blockchain applications, and discuss smart contracts, their ramifications and their enforceability. From a legal perspective, the authors examine securities and commodities laws and regulations, antitrust regulation and key antitrust issues, federal and state regulation of money transmitters, state laws addressing blockchain technology, and the means of resolving disputes arising from use of blockchain. No discussion of technology would ever be complete without an explanation of data security and privacy.
So, if you want to know what all the buzz is about blockchain, be sure to have a look at Blockchain for Business Lawyers. Find it in our Legal Tech Collection.
December is Self-Help Resource Month at the Harris County Law Library
Throughout the month of December, the Law Library will feature a number of self-help resources for pro se litigants. Handbooks, research guides, and concise legal treatises, including those in the Nutshell series from West Academic Publishing, will be on display in the library. We will also feature a number of do-it-yourself websites, including TexasLawHelp.org, on our blog.
As always, the Law Library staff is happy to help you identify resources from our collection that will meet your legal needs. Please stop by the reference desk for assistance. You may also consult our Community Legal Resources guide where we've provided contact information for a variety of legal assistance organizations in the greater Houston area.
Practical Cybersecurity for Lawyers
On December 13, 2018, the Harris County Law Library’s Legal Tech Institute will host the next installment in our LTI lecture series, Practical Cybersecurity for Lawyers, presented by guest speaker, Dustin Sachs, Senior Forensic Consultant at D4. Dustin’s presentation will focus on common attacks facing law firms and tips to prevent exposure of client data. Please join us!
In preparation for our December 13th CLE, today’s blog post will feature resources that define computer crimes, such as phishing, denial of service attacks, unauthorized access, and computer trespass, as well as the legal consequences of engaging in these types of activities.
Phishing: Deceptively obtaining sensitive information, including credentials, for personal online accounts
Denial of service attacks: Intentional cyberattack on a machine, website, or resource network that restricts users’ access
Unauthorized access: Illegitimate access to a website, program, server, or other system — or some part thereof — using another individual’s credentials
Computer trespass: Unauthorized access to a computer, computer service, or resource network to obtain privileged information or commit a criminal act
Additional examples of computer crimes can be found here and here (Texas). The National Conference of State Legislatures provides information about computer crime statutes in all 50 states. Finally, the DOJ Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) links to several resources including policies, manuals, guides, reports, speeches, and white papers on the criminal activity involving computers and other technology.
