Ethical Walls

Index

• Part 1 Overview of Ethical Walls
• Part 2 Building an Ethical Wall
• Part 3 Setting Default Viewing Privileges for Ethical Walls
• Part 4 Setting Ethical Wall Viewing Privileges at the Individual Matter Level

Part 1 Overview of Ethical Walls

An ethical wall is a screening mechanism that protects clients from a conflict of interest by preventing one or more attorneys from participating in any matters for which they have a conflict. Once a matter is blocked, all the matter's linked notes, documents, and emails will also be blocked.

Ethical walls can operate in two different security modes. In one mode, default viewing privileges are set for all new matters by attorney and/or by matter case code and can be changed/overridden at the individual matter level optionally. In the other mode, viewing privileges can be set at the individual matter level only.

NOTE: Default viewing privileges will only apply to new matters. Viewing privileges for existing matters must be set at the individual matter level.

It is important for all database users to have system passwords in order for the Ethical Wall feature to be fully effective.

For a video demonstration of this feature, see https://youtu.be/uR4DLnwWBBE and https://youtu.be/wq4Ql1c9BYg.

Do any of the following to build and customize your firm's ethical wall:

1. Build an ethical wall
2. Set default viewing privileges for high security ethical walls
3. Set ethical wall viewing privileges at the individual matter level

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Part 2 Building an Ethical Wall

1. Select File > Setup > System Options to open the System Options window.
2. Click Advanced Settings and then click Ethical Wall. The Building Your Ethical Wall window appears.
   
   
   
   
3. Check Enable Ethical Wall. Note that the Ethical Wall feature will not be available to you unless this option is checked.
4. Select the mode of security you want for your ethical wall:
   • Select Mandatory viewing privileges if you want to set default viewing privileges for all new matters by attorney and/or by matter case code. Note that viewing privileges can be changed/overridden later at the individual matter level. If you selected Mandatory viewing privileges, the Set Default Viewing Privileges button is enabled. Click this button to set the default viewing privileges for matters.
   • Select Viewing privileges optional if you want to set the default viewing privileges for matters at the individual matter level only.
5. Click Done.
6. If any Abacus users do not have a password to log in to Abacus, they will be listed in a pop-up window. It is important for all database users to have system passwords in order for the Ethical Wall feature to be fully effective. Click Yes to complete the ethical wall or click No to cancel the procedure.
   
   
   

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Part 3 Setting Default Viewing Privileges for Ethical Walls

You can set default viewing privileges for matters by attorney and/or by matter case code.

NOTE: Default viewing privileges will only apply to new matters. Viewing privileges for existing matters must be set at the individual matter level.

1. When building an ethical wall, click the Set Default Viewing Privileges button. The Ethical Wall Viewing Privileges window appears.
   
   
   
   
2. If you want to set default viewing privileges for matters with assigned attorney, then under Set Viewing Privileges by Attorney, select the matter attorney in the Cannot View Matter box. Then, highlight the AbacusLaw users you want to have access to matters assigned to the selected attorney and click the single right arrow ( —>) button. Note that you can click the double right arrow (—>>) button to select all users. Any users in the Can View Matter box will be able to view matters assigned to the selected attorney.
3. If you want to set default viewing privileges for matters by matter case code, then under Set Viewing Privileges by Matter Case Code, select the matter case code in the Cannot View Matter box. Then, highlight the Abacus users you want to have access to matters with the selected case code and click the single right arrow ( —>) button. Note that you can click the double right arrow (—>>) button to select all users. Any users in the Can View Matter box will be able to view matters with the selected case code.
4. Click Done to save your changes and close the window.

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Part 4 Setting Ethical Wall Viewing Privileges at the Individual Matter Level

The Viewing Privileges button on the Matter window lets you set ethical wall viewing privileges at the individual matter level. Note that the button shows an unlocked lock when there are no viewing privileges set for the matter, but a locked lock when there are viewing privileges set.

Follow these steps to set or change ethical wall viewing privileges for a matter:

1. Open the matter in the Matter window and click the Viewing Privileges button. The Viewing Privileges window appears.
   
   
   
   
2. In the Cannot View Matter box, highlight the users you want to be able to view the matter and click the single right arrow ( —>) button. Note that you can click the double right arrow (—>>) button to select all users. Any users in the Can View Matter box will be able to view the selected matter.
3. In the Can View Matter box, highlight the users you do NOT want to be able to view the matter and click the single left arrow ( —) button. Note that you can click the double left arrow (—) button to select all users. Any users in the Cannot View Matter box will NOT be able to view the selected matter.
4. Click Done to save your changes and close the window.

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