There are multiple scenarios whereby fraudsters will attempt to have you wire funds to a different account than the one that you had intended to fund. Unfortunately, some of those attempts are successful. LAWPRO has received such claims and heard of many others. Here are some tips to assist you if such a fraud happens… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionA skeptical lawyer is a good lawyer. He scrutinizes every line in a contract. He questions the opposing party’s arguments. He looks for hidden motives. He looks at the law with a critical eye. His legal decisions are guided by a healthy pessimism, which helps him guard against mistakes. At the same time, a skeptical… Read More »
Categories: Career Management, Diversity, Fraud Prevention, Law Practice Management, Practice Aids, Wellness and BalanceAccording to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners companies lose 5% of their annual revenues to fraud, with a median loss amount of $145,000. And law firms are not immune to this. The Lawyers Mutual of North Carolina blog has posted a “profile of a fraudster“, that can help firms learn to spot the red… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionA substantial proportion of professional liability claims against criminal defence counsel are based on allegations of “ineffective assistance”. The jurisprudence makes it clear that poor lawyer-client communication is at the root of many of these claims. Allegations of ineffective assistance are usually first tested in the context of the appeal of a conviction. Few of… Read More »
Categories: Criminal LawGabriel Chong at the Attorney At Work blog has four useful lessons for lawyers trying to incorporate social media into their practices. Lawyers are…well, lawyers, and not necessarily social media experts so these are some important things to keep in mind (here is the full blog entry) 1. Do only what you’re comfortable doing 2…. Read More »
Categories: TechnologyA well-written fee agreement encompasses more than your hourly, flat or contingent fee; it should define the parameters of the work to be completed, and address your obligations to the client, and the client’s obligations to you. It should also address your rights (e.g., to seek withdrawal) and your client’s rights (e.g., to terminate representation)…. Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementThis article is by Nora Rock, corporate writer/policy analyst at LAWPRO. You’ve tried clarification, reminders, warnings, patience and tolerance, maybe even retraining. But it isn’t working, and you both know it. Firing employees is not likely a task you took into consideration when you thought about becoming a lawyer; but here you are, an employer,… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementOccasionally LAWPRO gets asked to give an opinion on the effectiveness or legitimacy of the various lawyer referral services that try to get people to sign up. All we can really say is we aren’t aware of any problems relating to them, and it’s up to individual lawyers to decide whether its a good use… Read More »
Categories: Career ManagementI believe that poor decision making is one of the biggest problems we face as a profession, and as a society. And that it is eminently improvable. Marc Lauritsen at Attorney At Work asks us to think about choice. Lawyers face daily choices in the practice of law and in the running of their office…. Read More »
Categories: Career Management, Law Practice Management, Legal TechnologyLand Acknowledgement
The offices of LAWPRO are located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. LAWPRO respects and acknowledges the histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit nations.
