We use cookies or similar technologies to improve user experience, analyze website traffic, enable and maintain log-in and personalization settings, connections with selected partners and for marketing purposes (managing advertising space and recommend products of interest to you). You can block or adjust saving cookies at any time, by changing the settings of your web browser. By continuing to use this website without disabling cookies in your web browser you ‘ACCEPT’ saving cookies. Learn more in our Privacy Policy.

The Proverbial Hot Potato: What Does the Lawyer Do When Coming into Inadvertent Possession of CSAM? 2025

Product ID: CA3906D
Presented By: State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE

CSAM obligations clarified

A discovery upload, a client’s phone, a mislabeled drive. Each could contain something no lawyer ever wants to see. Yet, when child sexual abuse material (CSAM) surfaces unexpectedly, you face an ethical emergency and possible criminal consequences. Possession itself can be a crime, but privilege and confidentiality rules limit what you can disclose.

The Proverbial Hot Potato: What Does the Lawyer Do When Coming into Inadvertent Possession of CSAM? clarifies what you must do immediately, what you must not do, and how to protect clients, staff, and your law license if you find CSAM on your screen or in your office. 

Read More ↓

Interested in sponsoring this program? Find out more.

Select a Format

Webcast seminar
OnDemand seminar

Pricing

Member $119.00

Non-Member $169.00

Credits

1 CLE

Upon purchase, this OnDemand program is available to view for 90 days.

Quantity:
Maximum quantity must be less than or equal to 1.

CSAM obligations clarified

A discovery upload, a client’s phone, a mislabeled drive. Each could contain something no lawyer ever wants to see. Yet, when child sexual abuse material (CSAM) surfaces unexpectedly, you face an ethical emergency and possible criminal consequences. Possession itself can be a crime, but privilege and confidentiality rules limit what you can disclose.

The Proverbial Hot Potato: What Does the Lawyer Do When Coming into Inadvertent Possession of CSAM? clarifies what you must do immediately, what you must not do, and how to protect clients, staff, and your law license if you find CSAM on your screen or in your office. 

Read More ↓

Sean L. Harrington, Taft Law School 2014, is the proprietor of Adamant Digital Forensics in Prescott, Wisconsin, a company he originally founded in Minnesota in 2007. He is admitted to the state bars of Wisconsin and California. Attorney Harrington serves as a volunteer investigator for both an ethics committee of the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility and the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Special Investigative Panel (Office of Lawyer Regulation). He also holds certifications in network engineering, digital forensics, ethical hacking, governance and compliance, and privacy.

  • Implement firm-wide incident prevention steps to lower the chance of accidental acquisition
  • Reduce criminal exposure risk by adopting clear response protocols for CSAM incidents
  • Protect privilege and confidentiality while avoiding unlawful possession or replication by you or your agents
  • Align outside examiners and investigators with your obligation using contract clauses and step-by-step workflows
  • Preserve credibility with courts and law enforcement through careful documentation and chain-of-custody practices
  • Receive sample policy and fee agreement language for high-risk practices you can adapt and use in your practice
  • Family lawyers
  • Guardians ad litem for adults and minors
  • Criminal law practitioners
  • Government lawyers
  • Health lawyers
  • Insurance lawyers
  • Estate planning lawyers
0 Customer Reviews
5 star
0%
4 star
0%
3 star
0%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%

Customer Reviews

Share your thoughts with other customers by being the first to review this product and or seminar.