Ethics of the Legal Profession in the Digital Era

The Society 5.0 era brings profound technological disruption, creating new ethical challenges for the legal profession. This article analyzes the complexity of legal professional ethics in the digital era using a normative juridical and philosophical approach. The research findings identify three critical areas: first, serious threats to the principle of confidentiality due to electronic communication, cloud storage, and digital footprints. Second, the widespread violation of ethics in the marketing and offering of legal services on social media, such as misleading advertisements and the exploitation of potential clients' emotions. Third, the emergence of dilemmas concerning professional responsibility and accountability in the use of artificial intelligence (AI), including the risks of algorithmic bias and the delegation of legal judgment duties. A critical analysis of the existing ethical regulatory framework, such as the Advocates' Code of Ethics, shows that these norms are too generic and not prospective, thus creating a regulatory gap in responding to digital dynamics. This article concludes that the adaptation of legal professional ethics requires a paradigm reconstruction, from a technology- neutral to a technology-specific approach. Key recommendations include the development of technical ethical guidelines, the strengthening of digital literacy obligations as part of professional competence, and the establishment of responsive oversight mechanisms. Thus, the integrity, public trust, and role of the legal profession as a pillar of justice can be maintained amid the acceleration of digital transformation.