A lawyer called me wanting to discuss third-party payors because his representation of his client had just ended, and he didn’t know what to do with the excess funds that remained in trust. In light of that call, I thought it worthwhile to cover the basics because if one lawyer has taken the time to [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic forced most law firms to conduct business in ways they had not done before. Many firms were forced to transition to work from home on short notice and were required to make the transition without ample time to consider best cyber practices. This situation is not ideal for law firms as lawyers [...]
I suspect more than a few law firms, particularly in the solo/small firm space, have yet to take the necessary time to draft and write up a well-thought-out Electronic Document Retention and Destruction policy. It really is an easy task to overlook, if for no other reason than the low cost of digital storage space [...]
We’ve all had difficult clients. In the best of times, they can be a challenge but in the times we’re living in right now they can be even more unpleasant. Here are 3 suggestions for dealing with difficult clients in difficult times. Before speaking with them, have a plan. Know what you need to accomplish [...]
In many jurisdictions, commentary to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1 Competency states that lawyers are to keep abreast of the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology. With that language in mind, do you actually do so? I ask because in my world I often find that lawyers are pretty good at evaluating the benefits [...]
During the nation-wide stay at home directive to combat the spread of Covid-19, we’ve all missed some of the luxuries we are used to. One such luxury is the safe and secure offices we work in. At our offices, we have systems in place in order to ensure that all our client information stays safe [...]
WFH – Work From Home. Are you doing it? Do you love it or hate it? I’m doing it right now. Here are 3 suggestions for staying on track during this strange time. Make sure you and your assistant keep updated on the temporary procedures of the different jurisdictions in which you practice. It may [...]
Solo and small firm lawyers continue to occasionally call in wanting to discuss a business opportunity that has come to be known as a “license rental” business model. In short, these lawyers are being offered an opportunity to affiliate with an out-of-state law firm or occasionally a non-lawyer owned company, both of which are wanting [...]
During a recession, and for the three years following, there has historically been a huge spike in paid claims, which is a number that typically doesn’t return to a more normalized level until five years post-recession. In addition, and looking back at the events of 2008 specifically, legal malpractice insurers experienced a spike in paid [...]
While missed deadlines are always a risk management concern, the significant number of uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic only serves to underscore the importance of remaining ever diligent in one’s effort to never miss a critical deadline. The good news, however, is many courts and a few states have started making moves to [...]
