Risk Management & Claims Prevention
Respecting 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 PreventionCommunications breakdown: When a lawyer uses jargon
“We’re [McLeish , Orlando LLP] in the process of retaining an ad agency for some of our marketing,” says Dale Orlando. “And it’s really frustrating when they use acronyms we don’t understand. You don’t want to ask because it seems like everybody else in the room knows what that means, so maybe I should. “One… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsNeed something to read to avoid doing that other thing?
When tracking the causes of claims, we at LAWPRO classify certain claims as relating to problems with “time management”. These claims include losses caused by lawyer procrastination: a specific cause of loss at the root of four percent of claims (by both count and cost) over the past ten years. Would you like to be… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice Management, Wellness and BalanceParadoxically, pessimism leads to happiness
Can pessimism lead to happiness? Conventional wisdom says no: “Research shows that an optimistic outlook is good for your mental health,” said Patricia Spataro, director of the New York State Lawyer Assistance Program, a resource for attorneys with mental health concerns. “But lawyers are trained to always look for the worst-case scenario. They benefit more… Read More »
Categories: Career Management, Law Practice Management, Risk Management Strategies, Wellness and BalanceCommunications breakdowns: When a lawyer has no sense of time
In 2014 the broad category of communications accounted for about almost a third of claims reported and claims costs. We asked some lawyers to give their opinions on the various ways lawyer-client communications can break down, such as when lawyers fail to share information. A few years ago, Judith Huddart, collaborative family lawyer at Dranoff… Read More »
Categories: Communication Errors