Welcome to the March 2025 issue of Circuits! We’re kicking off the year with a mix of cutting-edge topics, practical insights, and thought-provoking discussions that section members should have on their radar.
Technology is advancing at breakneck speed, and the legal landscape is shifting just as quickly.
This issue covers some of the most pressing topics, including:
What Humans Can Learn from Conducting Discovery with Generative AI
The Intersection of Psychology and Cybersecurity: Understanding Human Factors in Social Engineering
Expansion and Retraction: Recent Developments in the Scope of Civil CFAA Litigation
The Tariff Man: What to Expect from Trump’s Second Term
Optimizing Sales and Onboarding: Maximizing Technology to Streamline Your Workflow
Authorities Cannot View Hash-Trapped Files Without a Warrant
Transfers of Sensitive Personal Data to China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela
NIST Framework Small Business Quick Start Guide Applied for Solos
Case Snippets
You can download a copy of this issue of Circuits here.
We’re particularly excited about the diverse perspectives and expertise featured in this issue. Whether you’re looking for strategic insights, legal analysis, or practical tech tips, there’s something here for you.
We’d love to hear from you! If you have an idea for an article or a topic you’d like to see covered, reach out and let’s keep the conversation going.
Enjoy the issue!
Please flip to the last page of the issue for information on the upcoming free online CLE: NAVIGATING THE FUTURE OF AI: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN AI REGULATION. We are excited to partner with the International Law Section to bring this CLE on March 21, 2025, from noon to 1 PM Central.
Katherine Stahl and Aaron Woo Co-Editors, Circuits Computer & Technology Section State Bar of Texas
8th Annual Technology and Justice for All CLE Friday, December 6, 2024 Texas Law Center | 1414 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas 78701 4.5 hours MCLE credit, including 1.25 hours ethics credit
Friday, December 1, 2023 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Texas Law Center 1414 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas 5.5 hours of MCLE credit, which includes 1.0 hours of ethics credit
Do you run your own office? Do you represent other businesses? Do you sometimes get frustrated with technology? Do you feel like you aren’t taking advantage of tech that could make your life easier and better? If any of these are true, this course can bring you up to speed in just one day! Don’t miss these great topics that wil improve your practice and improve your life! • Tech Bootcamp for the Practicing Atorney: Everything You Need to Know • 4th Amendment Case Law Update • A Judicial Perspective of Al • Practical and Ethical Uses of Al • Legal Technology from the Trenches • 30 Apps ni 30 Minutes: The Latest Legal Apps, Tech Tips, and Tech Laws Registration is only $125 for section members, $150 for non-section members, and free to legal aid attorneys for a full day of CLE and includes digital course materials, breakfast, and lunch.
I have the honor and privilege to serve as the 2023-24 Chair of the Computer and Technology Section (C&T) of the State Bar of Texas. The C&T Section’s membership is diverse and has members from solo practices to major law firms and lawyers from major technical industries and Fortune 500 companies. As I like to say about the C&T Section, when it comes to technology and the law “Our Bench is Deep”. As an example of our “bench” recently the State Bar created a Taskforce regarding AI and ChatGPT composed of seven lawyers, three of which were members of the C&T Section.
The C&T Section is rich in resources, no matter how small or large your firm and no matter what level of technical knowledge. We are here to help you. In this ever-changing world of legal technology like AI and ChatGPT, and our duty of technical proficiency, we are here to provide those resources for you.
7th Annual Tech and Justice for All CLE program December 1, 2023
Don’t forget to register for our upcoming 7th Annual Tech CLE program taking place in Austin on December 1, 2023. The full brochure and registration options information will be forthcoming, and your section membership will provide you with an immediate discount upon registering for this outstanding CLE.
Member Benefits As a member of the C&T Section, here are some of your immediate benefits:
Free CLEs For the price of just one CLE course, the C&T Section provides members with four quarterly free CLEs covering major issues at the intersection of technology and the law.
Our first CLE alone is worth the price of joining the section. On September 29, 2023, starting at noon, section member John Browning, Chair of the State Bar of Texas Taskforce regarding Ai/ChatGPT, will present “To ChatGPT, or not to ChatGPT, that is the question” and you don’t want to miss this benefit as a section member.
John’s recent ChatGPT presentation was just cited in an opinion by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Allen Michael Lee v. The State of Texas, case number 10-22-00281, in the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Judicial District.
Texas Bar Legal App Our Texas Bar Legal app is available to all members and provides Texas and Federal Codes, Rules, and Statutes. We support Apple and Android devices and even a weblink. More information regarding our app can be found here.
Circuits The C&T Section publishes the quarterly Circuits Newsletter covering a broad range of topics regarding technology and the law. Here you will find articles regarding such topics as current technology, practical applications and utilizing technology for your practice.
Covering the latest Legal Technology The ABA Tech Show is a must event for staying up to date with the latest legal technology and we annually send our members to cover and report on the seminars, lectures, updates and products for multiple speakers and vendors. This year’s review can be found here.
Need to Join or Renew Your Membership? Dues are still just $25
With all these benefits of a membership to the C&T Section, I encourage you to join or renew your membership now. If you haven’t already, please renew your membership with our Section by logging into your MyBarPage at the State Bar of Texas Website. We encourage you to join now and reach out to your fellow lawyers and friends. Let them know about the low annual membership fee of $25 in exchange for multiple valuable benefits!
I am excited for the new challenges of technology this year will bring, and promise our continued emphasis on delivering the best information and assistance for lawyers to you and our State Bar.
Finally, I would like to thank Pierre Grosdidier for his outstanding service as the Section Chair for the past year.
Warm regards,
Reginald A. Hirsch, Chair Computer and Technology Section State Bar of Texas
The Computer & Technology Section makes free CLE available to attorneys as a service of the Section and the Texas Bar. This CLE is entitled: “Space Law, AI, and Cybersecurity: Protecting the Security and Sustainability of the Next Frontier” Speaker: Charles Lee Mudd, Jr.
Course Number: 174195229 The recording will be available until 03/31/2024. MCLE Credit: 1 hour of participation with .25 hours of ethics.
