Paralegal Power! Appropriate Delegation = Client Satisfaction
The practice of law is changing. In particular, as a result of modern technology, attorneys’ reliance upon support staff is not what it used to be. This has impacted the role of paralegals, members of...
View ArticleMy Colleague’s Keeper – Benefits & Pitfalls of Law Firm Structures
There are many benefits to working in a professional firm including the ability to collaborate and seek support from colleagues. Teamwork amongst colleagues may improve efficiency, innovation,...
View ArticleMy Colleague’s Keeper – Benefits & Pitfalls of Law Firm Structures (Part II)
Monitoring Matters: In the first portion of this series, we examined how a recent New Jersey case highlighted the benefits of the law firm structure. Next we explore the risks, and responsibilities, of...
View ArticleMy Colleague’s Keeper: Duties of Subordinate Attorneys
Our prior posts in this three-part series have explored the benefits of the law firm structure and the responsibilities of supervising attorneys at a firm. In the conclusion of this series, we turn to...
View ArticleAin’t Nothin’ But A “G”ift Thing – Ethics of Accepting Client Gifts
Rapper Dr. Dre recently made headlines when he gifted each member of his legal team a holiday “bonus,” in sums of $10,000 and up. While undoubtedly very generous, is such a grand gesture from a client...
View ArticleCase Analysis: Defamation and Blogs
In the age of lawyering we now live in, law firms frequently use blog posts, Twitter and newsletters as a marketing tool and to provide content of interest to clients or prospective clients. These...
View ArticleLess is More: Lengthy Pleadings Draw Judicial Ire
Federal rules require plaintiffs in a civil action to submit a short and plain statement of the claim showing that she is entitled to relief. Nevertheless, attorneys often feel compelled to develop...
View ArticleLiability for Delegated Tasks
We’ve previously touched on the risks of delegation. Although most of the LPL cases we discuss involve an attorney’s own, direct negligence, an attorney may be responsible for delegating tasks to...
View ArticleClient Communication: What’s Enough/Too Much?
The duty to communicate is essential to every aspect of the fiduciary duty a lawyer owes to the client. Proper communication ensures that we are identifying and serving our clients’ interests. It’s...
View ArticleConflict Check for Would-be Clients?
Attorneys put food on the table by converting would-be clients into actual clients. However, the astute attorney knows which engagements are not worth pursuing and when to decline representation. The...
View ArticleFired but Still on the Hook
Most attorneys don’t end their careers in the same place they started. Rather, many attorneys make a move or two which may require the transfer of files and clients. When an attorney transfers a file...
View ArticleThe Ethics of Professional Crowdfunding
Starting up a successful professional practice requires ingenuity, business acumen, and a passion for the profession, but it also requires cash. In order to overcome financial barriers, some...
View ArticleInitial Consult Fee ≠ A/C Relationship
We recently addressed the ethical implications of the initial, would-be client interview. As we discussed, the lawyer owes certain duties to a potential client and those duties vary from those owed to...
View ArticleProfessional Liability for Employee Misconduct
Professionals are often entrusted with access to personal and financial information from their clients. Professionals take great care to ensure that they protect this information from disclosure and...
View ArticleLawyer Sanctioned for Employee’s Misconduct
An attorney can’t be held accountable for her client’s breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct, right? Wrong. Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 provides that a lawyer cannot commingle a...
View ArticleGuilty by Law Office Association
It’s not uncommon for small or solo attorneys to join together with others to share in operating and overhead costs of running a law firm. Attorneys can sometimes share office space, personnel and...
View Article“Trust me, I’m a lawyer”
Attorneys are people too. In the midst of negotiating/litigating on behalf of clients, attorneys also manage their own day-to-day lives. Attorneys sign leases, enter into contracts, negotiate with...
View ArticleIs the Unfinished Business Doctrine Finished?
Many professionals do not end their careers where they started. Professionals are on the move. The vast majority of professionals are impacted by the transition of a colleague from one firm to another....
View ArticleNo Office? No Right to Practice
Many attorneys are licensed to practice in multiple states. By extending one’s practice across several jurisdictions, lawyers can expand the scope of services offered to their clients and increase...
View ArticleLawyers are Stressed Out
Running a professional practice can be stressful. To be successful, professionals often must work long hours, under tight time constraints, and respond to the needs of demanding clients, while...
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