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Joseph F. Rice School of Law

  • UofSC School of Law and South Carolina Council on Competitiveness

TechinLaw Legaltech Seminar Series

The Joseph F. Rice School of Law’s Academic Technology department, along with Joseph F. Rice School of Law student organizations and the Student Bar Association (SBA) present a regularly scheduled 8 – 9 a.m. seminar series on how technology affects the law.  Featuring guest lecturers who are experts in various legal technology fields, these one-hour, CLE seminars are virtual and free to University of South Carolina faculty, staff, and students, as well as to South Carolina state government employees.

USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law TechInLaw Legaltech Seminar Series

The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, in partnership with the Richland County Bar, the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness and the School of Law's Technology Law Students Association (TLSA), will present the Summer/Fall 2024  TechInLaw LegalTech Seminar Series.   A dynamic group of presenters from the legal elite, industry experts and innovators, and legal and technical academic minds are being assembled to provide valuable insight into innovation and technical advancements taking place in South Carolina and the effects this progress has on the law. You will not want to miss this!

With some in-person exceptions, these one-hour CLE seminars will be held online on selected Wednesday or Thursday mornings  from 8 – 9 a.m.  The cost of each online seminar will be $35 for attorneys attending for CLE credit, but are free to University of South Carolina faculty, staff, and students, as well as to South Carolina state and Federal government employees, as well as non-profit organizations (this includes CLE credit).  Users can select ticket options when registering.

Summer/Fall 2024 Seminars

July 18, 2024 @ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Online via Zoom
CLE Credit Pending
Register Here for the Seminar

In the digital age, Business Email Compromise (BEC) has emerged as a sophisticated threat that can lead to significant financial losses for organizations of all sizes.  Law firms, especially those that deal with real estate transactions, are increasingly becoming targets of BECs.

Tom Scott, a seasoned cybersecurity expert with over three decades of experience, offers a deep dive into the dynamics of BEC and its implications for businesses, including law firms. Drawing from a notable incident managed during his tenure as Chief Information Security Officer, Scott outlines the sophisticated methods employed by cybercriminals to manipulate internal communications and authorize fraudulent transactions.

In his presentation, Scott will dissect a BEC scenario that targeted his organization, detailing the initial detection, rapid response, and the critical steps taken to prevent financial loss. He emphasizes the importance of multi-factor authentication, real-time monitoring, and the need for continuous employee education to recognize and respond to phishing attempts. Through his comprehensive analysis, Scott will provide actionable strategies to enhance email security protocols, implement effective preventative measures, and develop a structured rapid response plan for cybersecurity threats.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into best practices for safeguarding against BEC, enhancing their understanding of both technological and procedural defenses. Scott’s session is designed to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to fortify their organizations against the ever-evolving landscape of email-based threats.

Faculty

  • Tom Scott, CEO and Founder of CyberSherpas and Executive Director of the South Carolina Cybersecurity Association and Foundation (CyberSC).

Faculty Bios

Tom Scott   - Thomas Scott (Tom) is the CEO and Founder of CyberSherpas, a virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) cybersecurity consulting firm.  He currently serves as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Cybersecurity Association and Foundation. As the inaugural Director of the SC Cyber Consortium, he has been a key leader in the cyber education, cyber workforce development, and cyber protection efforts in both South Carolina and across the Nation. He is the CEO of CyberSherpas, a premier cybersecurity consulting firm.

With over 30 years of cybersecurity experience in both Florida and South Carolina, Tom has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience in protecting critical infrastructure and cyber assets.  He currently holds certifications in information security, information auditing, security leadership, critical infrastructure protection, and project management – he is also recognized a FEMA Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) Practitioner.\

Tom is a member of the FBI’s InfraGard program and serves as an advisory board member for the Dutch Fork High School Cyber program. He has actively participated as a member of the MS-ISAC’s Executive Committee as well as the USC School of Law Cybersecurity Task Force. Tom currently serves the academic community through board service to the Industry Advisory Board for the USC Integrated IT program, and at Florence-Darlington Tech and Aiken Tech.

July 25, 2024 @ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

In-person, Karen J. Williams Courtroom, USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law and Online via Zoom
In Person - 1 Hour Ethics/LEPR Credit 245678
Online - 1 Hour Ethics/ LEPR Credit 245679ADO

Register here for the Seminar

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence ("AI") tools and, particularly Generative AI, has raised numerous questions that impact lawyers and their clients. Several state bars have issued ethics opinions and other guidance addressing Generative AI. This CLE will discuss official and practical ways lawyers can deal with obligations of competence, confidentiality, and avoiding conflicts of interest, when facing challenges presented by Generative AI.

Faculty

  • David Sella-Villa, Associate Professor of Law, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Faculty Bios

David Sella-Villa  - David Sella Villa is an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law who specializes in teaching Data Privacy Law and Cybersecurity. He was formerly the Chief Privacy Officer for the State of South Carolina and headed the state’s Enterprise Privacy Office.

David was also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he taught Data Privacy Law.  He holds several privacy certifications. David is also a member of the SC Interagency Drone Users Consortium and the Sedona Conference.  David is also the author of law review articles dealing with privacy and emerging technologies.

Prior to being Chief Privacy Officer for the State of South Carolina, David was Assistant General Counsel for the South Carolina Department of Administration.  Prior to that, David worked as General Counsel for a private aviation company.  He earned his law degree from the College of William & Mary, where he continues to serve as Adjunct Faculty.  He also has degrees from the London School of Economics and West Virginia University.

September 17, 2024, 5:00 PM
USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law, Room 397
One Hour FREE SC CLE Credit In Person Only
Streaming Version Free Non CLE Credit Available
Register Here

Presented by the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law Family and Small Business Program in Conjunction with the Technology, Innovation and Law Collaborative (TechInLaw) at the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law

A panel discussion about the importance of cybersecurity with Chase Oil partner Charles Howard, Nissan North America Special Privacy Counsel, Colton Driver,  Joseph F. Rice Assistant Dean for Academic Technology and TechInLaw Executive Director, Gary Moore and David Sella-Villa, Assistant Professor of Law, University of South Carolina, Joseph F. Rice School of Law.

One Hour SC CLE Credit 246916

Faculty Bios


Charles Howard, Sr
– Charles serves as President of Chase Oil Company, which has been family owned since 1946 by Maitland Chase. The company traces its roots to the supply of fuel to farms, service stations, and home heating customers. In the early 80’s, the company began to grow by building convenience stores. Over a period of 15 years the company constructed and operated 9 convenience stores while at the same time growing their dealer supply business. Now in its 71st year of operation, the company supplies 35 sites under the brands of BP, Amoco, Shell and 76.


In addition to serving the community as a fuel distributor, the company operates a chain of car washes. The car washes are comprised of automatic and express tunnels which operate under the brand name Scrubby’s, a division of Chase Oil Company. One of Chase Oil’s core values is community involvement. Sharing success with the community is important to the family. Chase Oil and Scrubby’s Car Washes support local communities through sponsorships, civic groups, and community organizations.

Colton Driver – Colton Driver CIPP/E is Special Privacy Counsel at Nissan North America Inc. He is a privacy attorney possessing real experience helping clients establish data privacy and security compliance programs, draft and negotiate data related contracts, work through regulatory hurdles or inquiries, proactively contemplate incident response strategies, or address data collection and production strategies in complex e-discovery litigation.

Colton is also the Vice Chair, Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Committee for DRI. DRI is an international organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. DRI provides numerous educational and informational resources to DRI members and offers many opportunities for liaison among defense trial lawyers, Corporate America, and state and local defense organizations. DRI also has an international presence, seeking to enhance understanding of the law among members of the defense community who have reason to be concerned with the expanding globalization of litigation defense.

Gary Moore -
Gary Moore has been with the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law since August 2012. He is responsible for establishing the School of Law’s academic technology strategy and implementing technologies that enhance teaching, learning, and scholarship within the law school. Gary also oversees information technology systems, equipment, and services for the Joseph F. Rice School of Law. He is also the executive director of TechInLaw, the Technology, Innovation and Law Collaborative. Gary oversees TechInLaw's programming, including TechInLaw's Symposia, and administrates the School of Law’s TechInLaw LegalTech Seminar Series, which started in the fall of 2015. The series features prominent guest speakers discussing how technology and innovation affect the law and legal services.

He is also a member of several University of South Carolina committees and working groups. Gary is a past chair and current member of the University’s unITe working group, a collaborative effort comprised of a broad cross-section of senior academic and administrative IT Directors from across the institution. He is also a member of the University Division of IT's Technical Review Board (TRB) and is also currently co-chair of the University's Information Technology Community (ITC).

Gary is a member of IEEE and IAPP. Over the years, he has given several presentations for the annual conference of the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI). The Joseph F. Rice School of Law hosted the annual CALI conference in the summer of 2019. Gary has also presented for CLE programs for the South Carolina Bar, as well as the New York State Unified Court System. He also recently was panelist on an AI and Elections Panel for the South Carolina League of Women Voters.

Gary was previously the Assistant Dean for Information Technology at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. He has over 30 years of experience implementing academic technology strategies and technologies that enhance teaching, learning, and scholarship in a law school environment.

David Sella-Villa (Moderator) - David Sella Villa is an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law who specializes in teaching Data Privacy Law and Cybersecurity. He was formerly the Chief Privacy Officer for the State of South Carolina and headed the state’s Enterprise Privacy Office.

David was also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he taught Data Privacy Law.  He holds several privacy certifications. David is also a member of the SC Interagency Drone Users Consortium and the Sedona Conference.  David is also the author of law review articles dealing with privacy and emerging technologies.

Prior to being Chief Privacy Officer for the State of South Carolina, David was Assistant General Counsel for the South Carolina Department of Administration.  Prior to that, David worked as General Counsel for a private aviation company.  He earned his law degree from the College of William & Mary, where he continues to serve as Adjunct Faculty.  He also has degrees from the London School of Economics and West Virginia University.

September 25, 2024, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Online Via Zoom ONLY
One Hour Ethics CLE Credit 
Register Here

  • Fostering an Effective Cyber Strategy: When Cyber Attacks Can Erode Your Reputation & Client Trust
  • Cyberattacks Target Attorneys: Common Threats Inside & Out
  • 2024 NIST 2.0 framework: Legal & Ethical ramifications for non-compliance.

Cyber-criminals disrupt the operations of an organization. In the wake of cyber-attacks, business and individual reputations can be compromised, and as a result, client trust is soon to follow. With the current status of cybercrime reaching a global economy of $10.5 trillion, cyber strategies are essential to keeping everything protected, from data and people to reputation and client trust. Cyberattacks can come in many forms and understanding where you might be vulnerable can help you maintain operational resilience.

Attorneys have ethical and common law duties to take competent and reasonable measures to safeguard information relating to clients and often have contractual and regulatory duties to protect confidential information. Several of the ABA Model Rules are particular in application to the protection of client information, including competence (Model Rule 1.1), communication (Model Rule 1.4), the confidentiality of information (Model Rule 1.6), safeguarding property (Model Rule 1.15), and supervision (Model Rules 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3). The implantation and adherence to cyber security frameworks and compliance regulations, such as those found in the new FTC Safeguards Act or NIST framework, can help to better solidify client trust and build reputation. In addition, we will discuss how recent case studies have shown that there can also be legal ramifications by not having these security frameworks in place should a breach occur. We will review in detail the framework elements and how they work to protect the organization.

Faculty

  • Matthew Jay, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, PC Techware
  • Jennifer Pendley, Customer Success Manager, PC Techware

Faculty Bios

Matthew Jay - Matthew is the Chief Operating Officer at PC Techware Inc. with a background in driving scalability and leadership development. He is a seasoned executive with 20 years of progressive responsibility in Leadership, Sales, Operations, Marketing and e-Commerce.  With previous experience at Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division as a Digital Sales Manager and a Technology/Workflow Product Specialist, Matthew has excelled in aligning enterprise-grade solutions with client needs. Prior roles at Growll.com and The R.L. Bryan Company showcase their expertise in business development, operations, and customer solutions. Matthew holds a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Communications from Clemson University.

October 2, 2024 8:00 - 9:00 AM
In-Person ONLY
Karen J. Williams Courtroom, USC Rice School of Law
One Hour of SC CLE Credit  Pending
Register Here

This program is intended to equip attorneys with an overview of the legal issues involved in tech and IP licensing transactions as well as insight into - and lessons learned from - practice in the field of video game law. 

Faculty 

  • Brandon Huffman, Founding Attorney, Odin Law and Media

Faculty Bios

Brandon Huffman - Brandon is an attorney focused on representing technology and media clients in business, intellectual property, content clearance, privacy, commercial contracts, employment and internet regulatory matters. Why? Because of a passion for creativity and technology. Brandon is a so-so visual artist, a lousy programmer and a pretty-okay film editor, but he is a great lawyer. He keeps an old comic by Barbara Smaller that features a little boy in a cowboy outfit telling his father “Well if I can’t be a cowboy, I’ll be a lawyer for cowboys.” The creative and innovative clients Brandon serves are his cowboys.

Brandon volunteers as general counsel to the International Game Developers’ Association, the largest trade organization focused on supporting individual game developers. In early 2017, he was awarded the IGDA’s MVP award.

When he is not working, Brandon spends time with his wife, kids and their dogs. He also accompanies his wife on her pilgrimages to Walt Disney World, attends various digital media user groups and industry events, draws, paints and tinkers in the family garage. Oh, and sometimes there is time leftover to play a video game or two.

October 23, 2024, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
In-Person ONLY
Karen J. Williams Courtroom, USC Rice School of Law
One Hour of SC CLE Credit 
Register Here

Over the past 50 years, the video game industry has created an art form that has consistently pushed the boundaries of intellectual property law. The presentation will walk through the industry’s historical push for IP protections with an overview of the precedential video game cases expanding the law and conclude with a summary of the current unanswered legal questions facing the industry as it continues to revolutionize entertainment technology.  

Faculty

  • Jessica Harrison, Counsel, Stern Kessler Goldstein and Fox

Faculty Bios

Jessica Harrison - Jessica is counsel in Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group. Jessica brings over three decades of patent practice experience and broad technical aptitude to her clients after spending 25 years at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), many as a Supervisor including in the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU), and nearly a decade in private practice, most recently as a firm co-founder. Jessica currently serves as an adjunct faculty professor at University of New Hampshire’s Franklin Pierce School of Law where she teaches Patent Practice and Procedures courses and a Video Gaming and IP course.

Prior to attending law school, Jessica served 25 years at the USPTO. She started as an associate and primary Examiner examining patent applications in a variety of electrical and computer arts including electronic games and amusement devices, electronic education devices, computer based training systems, electrical exercising devices, and electrical medical instrumentation including cardiac pacing devices, catheters, and endoscopic devices. Later, Jessica served in a wide variety of USPTO management roles: a Supervisory Patent Examiner (SPE) and a Special Programs Examiner (SPRE) in Technology Center 3700 and an SPE in the CRU. In these roles, Jessica gained both legal and subject-matter expert status in multiple areas of technology and multiple complex legal issues including petitions, reissue applications, reexamination proceedings and interference proceedings.

Jessica received her law degree from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law where she received a Certificate in Intellectual Property and was named Franklin Pierce Intellectual Property Scholar. Jessica received a Masters and Bachelor degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of South Carolina, where her Master’s Thesis was titled “Measurement of Field Effect Transistor Parameters for SPICE Simulations.”

Jessica is an active member of the Pauline Newman IP American Inn of Court where she recently served as Inn Liaison Chair to the Linn Inn Alliance of the American Inns of Court.

Spring 2024 Seminars

Register for the Seminar
1 Hour MCLE Credit 242635ADO

We stand at the precipice of a societal evolution so significant everything is about to change. But how will it change and what  new technologies are facilitating this change? What the legal, ethical, and social questions do we need to start asking and answering? Is there a way to future proof your legal career?

Faculty

  • Adam Scott Wandt, Associate Professor of Public Policy, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Faculty Bio

Adam Scott Wandt - Adam Scott Wandt is a tenured Associate Professor of Public Policy and Vice Chair for Technology of the Department of Public Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a member of the graduate faculty in the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Digital Forensics and Cyber Security programs.

Professor Wandt is a practicing Attorney and Counselor-at-Law (New York) and is Co-Chair of the New York City Bar Association's committee on Technology, Cyber, and Privacy Law. He has worked on sponsored research for, or in partnership with, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Justice, the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics, Interpol, the United Nations, Sprint, Blackboard, as well as law enforcement and educational institutions from around the world.

His primary research and consulting interests include technology law and policy, information security, investigative/surveillance technology, OSINT, cryptocurrency, darknet markets, social engineering, and UCR crime data. He has over two decades of experience developing custom investigative, forensic, educational, and data management solutions for federal, state and local government agencies. In 2020 along with two co-principal investigators, he was awarded a three-year, $600,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice to study fentanyl sales on the dark web and provide software solutions to the Department of Justice to combat the opioid epidemic.

In 2022 and 2023, as a co-principal investigator, he was awarded two grants from the United States Department of Justice, providing approximately $3,400,000 in funding to educate and train US law enforcement personnel in cyber related issues and provide tools to enable advanced cyber forensic investigations.

Appointed as an Instructor by the Association of Inspectors’ General in 2012, Professor Wandt is responsible for the curriculum and certification in digital evidence and social media investigations for the Certified Inspector General (CIG) institute. He is also responsible for the curriculum and certification in digital evidence, digital forensics, social media investigations, mobile device investigations, data interception, and cloud forensics in the Certified Inspector General Investigator (CIGI) institute.

He is a member of the Association of Inspectors' General, the New York City Bar, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the American Society for Criminology, the American Society for Public Administration, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A portal to most of his work is available at https://wandt.us.

In-Person Only
Karen J. Williams Courtroom
University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Register for the Seminar
1 Hour MCLE 243166

Join us for an engaging 60-minute program tailored for attorneys and law students seeking to enhance their advocacy skills. Justin S. Kahn will delve into the dynamic intersection of persuasion, technology, and litigation, offering insights and practical strategies for success in today's legal landscape.

Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will learn how to leverage cutting-edge technology tools to bolster their persuasive abilities in the courtroom and beyond. From utilizing multimedia presentations to crafting compelling narratives, this session will empower participants to effectively communicate their arguments and sway judges, juries, and mediators.

Whether you're a seasoned attorney looking to refine your advocacy techniques or a law student eager to gain a competitive edge, this program promises to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the ever-evolving realm of legal practice. Don't miss this opportunity to sharpen your advocacy toolkit and elevate your professional capabilities.

Faculty

  • Justin Kahn Esq., Attorney, Kahn Law Firm

Faculty Bio

Justin Kahn  - Justin is a civil litigator with Kahn Law Firm, LLP in Charleston, S.C. He handles a variety of cases including professional liability and personal injury. He has written, lectured, and taught throughout the country on advocacy, procedure, evidence, ethics, technology, and persuasion.

He is triple board certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in medical malpractice by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial advocate and in civil pretrial practice advocacy. Justin is currently president of ABPLA and is on the board of NBTA. He is a diplomate with the National College of Advocacy of the American Association of Justice.

He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a civil circuit court mediator.

As an adjunct professor at the Charleston School of Law, Justin teaches civil pretrial practice and deposition skills.

For over 30 years, he has authored the South Carolina Rules Annotated and the South Carolina Rules of Evidence Annotated used by judges and attorneys throughout South Carolina.

He is a member of various professional organizations including the American Association for Justice, South Carolina Association for Justice, South Carolina Bar Association, American Bar Association, permanent member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, MENSA and the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

He has practiced in state and federal courts throughout the country. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Court of Federal Claims, United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and the South Carolina Supreme Court.

He has argued appellate cases before the South Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, as well as Fourth and Second Circuit Courts of Appeal.

He received a Bachelor of Science from Tulane University in Psychology as well as in Communication in 1988.

He received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1992.

Register for the Seminar
1 Hour Ethics (LEPR) CLE Credit 242636ADO

Generative AI is rapidly transforming the legal landscape, offering unprecedented capabilities for drafting documents, conducting research, and even predicting legal outcomes. However, harnessing this power responsibly requires a nuanced understanding of its inherent risks. This one-hour presentation will delve into the dual nature of generative AI: its potential to revolutionize legal practice while introducing new ethical and practical challenges.

This presentation will explore the following key areas:

1) Assessing the Risks: I will identify the potential pitfalls of using generative AI, such as bias, inaccuracy, and lack of transparency. Participants will gain knowledge of how best to assess such risks.

2) Identifying the Right Tools for the Job: I will demystify the diverse AI tools available and break down their strengths and limitations in specific legal tasks. This will empower participants to make informed decisions about when and how to leverage generative AI for optimal results.

By the end of this session, participants will be equipped with a baseline understanding of generative AI's potential and limitations within the legal domain. 

Faculty

  • Colin Levy, Lawyer and Legal Technologist , Director of Legal and Evangelist, Malbek

Faculty Bio

Colin Levy  - Colin S. Levy is a lawyer, author of The Legal Tech Ecosystem, and a prolific writer and speaker. Throughout his career, Colin has seen technology as a key driver in improving how legal services are performed. Because his career has spanned industries, he witnessed a myriad of issues from lack of due diligence and systems to underutilized technologies, to generalized fear or overwhelm around technology. Colin's mission is to bridge the gap between the tech world and the legal world by being a guide to the world of legal tech and advocating for the ways technology should be another set of tools in the lawyer's toolbelt.


Legaltech Seminars Archive

Learn about past seminars by visiting the past seminars archive.


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