This is especially important in the legal community, where the need to quickly get information between attorney and client in a cost-effective and confidential manner is key.
Law firms are like any other business when it comes to computers, e-mail and the Internet.
In today's technical world, the basic concept of attorney-client confidentiality may be threatened when it comes to security. The increasing reliance of sending e-mail over the 'Net leaves attorneys and clients vulnerable to theft or invasion, unless proper steps are taken to ensure that information is seen by only those intended to see it. This covers everyone from an attorney wishing to share information with a fellow counselor, to companies trusted to print prospectuses and other documents. The worst thing that can happen is for a client's information to fall into the wrong hands while their case is in litigation. Congress and President Clinton added the weight of the federal government to the process by enacting the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, which threatens criminal liability on someone who intentionally steals a trade secret or other sensitive document.