Popularity of Venmo, Other Apps Prompt Questions for Lawyer Use

PayPal Holdings Inc.’s Venmo and other payment apps are becoming a feature of business for small firm and solo practice lawyers, raising ethical questions around confidentiality obligations and secure records management.

So far, only South Carolina has issued any advice on payment app adoption but there’s a proposed bar opinion in Florida open for comments until June 1 that could prove to be an important source of legal guidance.

The popularity of payment apps is the latest example of pandemic-driven changes in consumer behavior that could alter how the change-averse legal industry operates.

“People are increasingly using these apps, and ...