FTC Rule on Identity Theft Draws Strong Criticism From Bar Groups

The New York State Bar Association on Monday became the latest bar group to protest new Federal Trade Commission rules requiring lawyers to become involved in preventing identity theft, calling the move unauthorized, unnecessary and destructive to the attorney-client relationship. The State Bar's objections follow those submitted last week by the ABA and the New York County Lawyers' Association. The ABA denounced the rules as imposing "an undue burden on law firms, especially solo practitioners."