Risk Management & Claims Prevention
The day-to-day stresses and challenges of being a lawyer
A sole practitioner and single mom is locked in a room in her house. Her young autistic son, outside the room, has put a chair up against the door to prevent it from opening. There is a lot of yelling and screaming. She calls 911 and the police arrive. One of the constables happens to… Read More »
Categories: Wellness and BalanceTexas lawyer arrested in relation to email frauds targeting law firms
The ABA Journal has reported that a Texas lawyer was arrested in relation to email debt collection frauds that have been plaguing law firms in recent years. The lawyer appears to have been running the fraud as part of an international criminal gang targeting lawyers in several countries, which matches information we’ve seen from a… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionFive Questions to Ask a New Client
Claims resulting from miscommunication or breakdowns in the lawyer/client relationship can often be traced back to the early stages of the retainer. Did the lawyer truly understand what the client wanted? Were the clients expectations reasonable? Merrilyn Astin Tarlton, writing in the Attorney At Work blog, gives five questions for new clients that lawyers should… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsAre you putting your clients’ data at risk?
Sam Glover in The Lawyerist blog asks whether lawyers are making reasonable efforts to protect confidential client data his column 4 Ways Your Are Putting Your Client’s Information at Risk. What are reasonable efforts? Here are the four moderately easy steps lawyers can take to secure the information that has been entrusted to them (for… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention, TechnologyRespecting clients’ schedules and language needs
Mary Lokensgard has previously written (for Attorney at Work) about accommodating clients with special needs. In a new post she has expanded that idea to include client’s scheduling problems and language barriers as needs to be addressed as well. She has a number of easy to implement suggestions to make your office more accommodating to… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsAccommodating The Needs of Older Clients/Clients With Disabilities
Lawyers understand the need to ensure that clients have a good experience at their office, in terms of finding a welcoming environment and being able to understand how their matter is being handled. However older clients or clients with physical disabilities may require that more care be taken to identify and assist with their particular… Read More »
Categories: Communication Errors, Law Practice ManagementpracticePRO Resource: checklist for engagement/retainer letter
Once you have decided that you are prepared to represent a client in a particular matter, you are ready to begin building a relationship with that client. Even if you already have a relationship with the client, but are taking on a new case, it is essential that you communicate with him or her to… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsListen to an Ontario lawyer’s recorded conversation with a fraudster
Ottawa lawyer J.L. Lee Mullowney informed us that he was contacted by the purported Thomas Moss looking to retain him with regards to a breach of a business loan agreement. Well aware that he was being targeted for a fraud, Mr Mullowney called the fraudster up to challenge him on a number of incongruities on… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention