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I have a family, but I'm young, I have nothing complex in terms of assets. I can hire an attorney in a decade when I have more to think about. In the meantime, is it unethical or would my firm be unhappy if I were to take my firm's estate planning forms and use them for myself? I dabbled in estate planning before picking my current practice area, so I would have no problem adapting the forms for my situation.

Yes

You could probably find some adequate stuff on practical law

nah, i say go for it

I have done this. Not that big of a deal i don't think.

Do it.

Yes, 100%

Partner: "How dare you use our forms! We plagiarized those from a very reliable law firm, who in turn plagiarized them from another reputable law firm! You're fired!"

You're technically taking your firms IP. And I'm guessing there is a provision in your associate handbook that says you can't use the firm's forms or documents for non-client related use.

So the right answer is "no."

Why not just ask a partner? If they say no, you'll be glad you checked, and if they say yes, you've covered your ass if there's a problem in the future.

I don't understand how they would even find out? If your will was probated?

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:I don't understand how they would even find out? If your will was probated?

But if you spouse is attempting to further your earnings in a weekend at Bernie's type scenario and the firm sees in probate that you had used their forms your spouse might not get your annual bonus for your corpse's hard work.

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:I don't understand how they would even find out? If your will was probated?

I thought firm software shows who accesses the files.

Some firms have a "perk" where the firm's T&E department will plan your estate for free (and the associates who work on the matter will get billable credit). May not be the case for you but definitely something at my shop that not everyone knows about. Also lol @ calling the firm's forms the firm's "IP". Maybe, maybe not.

Npret wrote:

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:I don't understand how they would even find out? If your will was probated?

I thought firm software shows who accesses the files.

I guess but even then I know I scour my firm's system for examples of things all the time.

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:

Npret wrote:

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:I don't understand how they would even find out? If your will was probated?

I thought firm software shows who accesses the files.

I guess but even then I know I scour my firm's system for examples of things all the time.

Yes OP should check. My firm did estate planning for me. It shouldn't be an issue.

Martin Brody wrote:Partner: "How dare you use our forms! We plagiarized those from a very reliable law firm, who in turn plagiarized them from another reputable law firm! You're fired!"

Lol, so true.

Npret wrote:

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:I don't understand how they would even find out? If your will was probated?

I thought firm software shows who accesses the files.

Absolutely -- any application of this ilk keeps track of who and when a document was viewed, opened, edited, duped, etc. That's how a lot of lawyers go to jail for insider trading . . . The trick is to just preview . . . . at least back in the day. lol

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