New California Bar Ethics opinion on whether an attorney violates rules of confidentiality by performing client work on an open wireless network. The opinion makes clear that if the attorney has their own firewall and security loaded on their laptop, then performing this work may not be an issue.
What is less clear is whether the opinion is talking about wireless networks without any security or if the coffee shop requires a password, that would pass muster. My guess is it would not because if the same password is available to all those working in the coffee, then this isn’t confidential.