The Use of Web-Based Applications Developed on Cloud Infrastructures – Juridical Implications for The Juridical Professions

Abstract

The following compendium is designed to present the advantages of the new and innovative step in how juridical professionals use the internet – through cloudcomputing services, all the while also pointing to a few legally and ethically problematic implications for lawyers and magistrates.

The structure of the paper is as follows:

1. An explanatory note on cloud-computing; 2. Virtual law practice – a reality; 3. The judicial system in the clouds.

The first section may seem too technical for legal practitioners but it tries to explain in easy-to-understand terms and examples what is cloud-computing, its delivery models, service types, role and best uses. The second section is a manifest towards an increase in incorporating cloudcomputing services in legal practice, underlining its benefits in matters of cost efficiency and publicity; here is also where sensitive issues arising from non-compliance with certain legal or Code of conduct obligations will be discussed. Lastly, certain implications for the magistrates will be discussed: the analysis shall focus on subjects like Romania’s strategy for the computerization of its judicial system; the digitization in the cloud of the files registered by the courts and password - based access to them; the ethics of magistrates’ conduct.

Note: by “e-thics” I mean for it to be understood as the application of a Code of conduct to Internet related activities) on certain social networks, which are cloud services.

Keywords: Cloud-computing, IT, legal practice, lawyers, magistrates, code of conduct