About Tim Lemieux
Tim Lemieux is the CPSR and Claims Analyst at LAWPRO. He investigates TitlePLUS title insurance claims, and analyses LAWPRO claims data to aid in the creation of the practicePRO initiative risk management presentations, articles and web content for lawyers.
Tim Lemieux's Posts
Beware heavy-handed collection calls by fraudsters impersonating Ontario lawyers
An Ontario lawyer has reported to us that fraudsters have impersonated his firm in order to make threatening collection phone calls to members of the public on behalf of a loan company. The name of the fake firm closely resembles the real firm name, and the callers make reference to the town the real firm… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionpracticePRO Resourec: Managing the Lawyer/Client Relationship
Lawyer/client communication-related errors are the biggest cause of malpractice claims. By cost and count, more than one-third of LAWPRO claims involved this type of error. Most claims arise out of fundamental failures in the lawyer/client relationship – failures such as inadequate client-case screening, poor communication and insufficient systems, trails and record-keeping. The Managing the Lawyer/Client… Read More »
Categories: Biggest Claims RisksCommercial debt collection scam using the name Takashi Fujiyama
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Takashi Fujiyama looking to retain them with regards to a commercial debt collection. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be duped into wiring real funds… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Warnings, Debt Collection FraudpracticePRO Resource: Google Maps – Can Your Clients Find You There?
Every day millions of Canadians go to Google to look things up. In many cases people don’t even bother with the yellow pages any more – they go straight to Google. Some of those people are looking for legal information or a lawyer. For this reason, it is important to increase your visibility in the… Read More »
Categories: TechnologyCyber crime example of the importance of reconciling your trust accounts each month
This article appeared in the September 2013 issue of TitleNews. An escrow company holds real estate closing funds in trust in the same way a law firm in Ontario would. Cyber Criminals Steal More Than $1.5 million from California Escrow Company. California-based Efficient Services Escrow Group was shut down by the state after cyber criminals… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionpracticePRO Resource: Managing the Practice of Investing in Clients booklet
The practice of lawyers investing in clients’ businesses is current and growing. Historically, this type of business transaction found some application in the real estate and mining industries. Inevitably, tha practice resulted from time to time in claims against lawyers. Today, we see the practice being undertaken in the high tech sector whose fast pace… Read More »
Categories: Conflicts of Interest, Law Practice ManagementNew practicePRO resource: Annual Legal Health Check-up
Clients don’t always appreciate how lawyers can help on other legal issues they may encounter as they go through life. Just as booking an appointment with a doctor or financial advisor offers an opportunity to identify issues and gauge your health (physical and financial), checking in with their lawyer can ensure your client’s legal health is… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementTitlePLUS Resource: Tools to Help You Get Legal Work From Local Lenders
Want more business from local lenders? Talk to them; make yourself more visible. To help you strengthen your position in your community, the TitlePLUS program created a resource “Tools to help You get Legal Work from Local Lenders.” This is a step-by-step guide, which includes instructions and precedents that you can use to promote your… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate