36th Environmental Permitting Summer School

Join us for a panel discussion on ethics and technology for the modern environmental professional! Even before the pandemic, engineers, lawyers, consultants, and other professionals were adapting their practices to be able to work outside the office with the same levels of efficiency and security as if they were sitting at a desk. The pandemic accelerated the need to be able to work from anywhere and the practical, ethical, and technological aspects of professional performance had to evolve nearly overnight to accommodate this reality. Many skilled practitioners now treat modern tools as mobile offices, and many of the changes brought about by the pandemic will remain an integral part of professional performance. In this discussion, panelists will offer practical advice to help professionals become more organized and effective by using these tools to their full capabilities, while upholding ethical standards and maintaining client privacy in more vulnerable settings.
The first half of the session will start with a discussion of the various ethical requirements for attorneys, engineers, and other environmental professionals, and will transition into a discussion about how those ethical requirements interplay with the increasing use of technology, including a discussion of public records issues.  The panelists will discuss how to use technology to maintain privacy and ethical requirements. Part I of the session will finish with a discussion of practical pointers on how to make the most efficient and effective use of the various tools and technologies professionals have come to rely on. 
After the break, the second half of the session will focus on the online technology tools created by environmental agencies and local governments that environmental professionals can use to find answers to client questions and research queries. Part II will explore a variety of database tools to find information such as property ownership, permit status, water quality data, contamination information, and other public records.   The panel will feature agency personnel, software developers and experienced users to learn the latest tips and tricks to make online information searches yield the best results.  This will be an interactive experience and dialogue to explore and hone the skills environmental professionals need to effectively use these online resources.  
The session is designed to educate both the novice and the experienced technology user and is expected to generate Florida Bar CLE credits for ethics and technology. 
BYOD - Bring Your Own Device and Follow Along!