Jay Reeves practiced law in North Carolina and South Carolina. He was Legal Editor at Lawyers Weekly and Risk Manager at Lawyers Mutual. He is the author of The Most Powerful Attorney in the World, a collection of short stories from a law life well-lived, which as the seasons pass becomes less about law and liability and more about loss, love, longing, laughter and life's lasting luminescence.
It’s time to report your 2021 Continuing Legal Education hours to the NC State Bar. If you didn’t earn enough credit hours in 2021, you have a grace period until February 28, 2022 to do so. For lawyers in North Carolina, the CLE compliance year runs from January 1 to December 31. Below are 10 th… Read More
Even though you might be burned out on Zoom, your clients love being able to meet with you virtually. And if you don’t offer them that option, they’ll go looking for a lawyer who does. Another tip: reply promptly when a client or prospect sends you an email. Waiting an hour – or even minutes… Read More
One healthcare provider in Florida suffered a data breach in late 2021 that compromised the confidential records of more than a million people. Weeks later, another Florida provider thwarted a cyber-attack that could have been even more devastating. The difference: in the latter case, the provider acted… Read More
As the challenge of COVID enters its third year, law firms are turning to tech to stay safe and successful. Among the hottest trends: billing and accounting software, beefed-up cybersecurity, and giving clients a range of communication options from Zoom chats to text messaging. “With increas… Read More
There’s never been a better time to consider hiring a paralegal or legal assistant for your law practice. The benefits – from costs savings to improved client service – are manifold. That’s especially true for solo practitioners and small firm lawyers. “Really good paralegals a… Read More
First, the bad news: 25 percent of law firms say they’ve experienced a data breach. Now the good news: only seven percent say the breach resulted in unauthorized access to sensitive client data. Those are two key findings from the ABA 2021 Legal Technology Survey. “Law firms are an attractive t… Read More
If you’re applying for a law job and have a video interview scheduled, be sure to have a hard copy of your resume at your fingertips when the interview starts. Scrambling on your laptop to find the latest version of your resume – or, even worse, not being able to find it – could… Read More
When it comes to marketing your law firm in 2022, keep the word “video” top of mind. Pictures – especially the moving kind – are not just worth a thousand words. They might also be worth a million bucks. “A video not only attracts attention but also adds a lighthearted or… Read More
Here’s a tip for a terrific Law Life: make room for a little astonishment each day. You may find it’s easier said than done. Nothing surprises us anymore. We’ve seen and heard it all. We can stream any movie ever made, listen to any song ever recorded, google the answer to any question ever asked. Read More
Does your law firm have a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan? If not, how will you know what to do – and who to call – in the event of a cyber attack? “If you have no IRP, you are asking for a catastrophe – and one likely to make the headlines,” according to this post at Abov… Read More
Don’t give up, don’t ever give up. That was one of the memorable lines from a 1993 speech filled with memorable lines. The speaker was former N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano, who was accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the inaugural ESPYS on March 4, 1993. &… Read More
One consequence of the pandemic that has drawn little attention is the negative impact it has had on law firm mergers. In 2021, there were 41 reported mergers, with only five occurring in the last quarter of the year, a time when activity is usually brisk. That’s a 25 percent dip from the nati… Read More
The Supreme Court of North Carolina has issued an administrative order regarding motions for the disqualification or recusal of supreme court justices. According to the order, the Supreme Court shall assign the motion to the justice who is the subject of the motion for their determination. “… Read More
COVID has disrupted everyone’s life, but for law students it’s been a nightmare. From cancelled graduation ceremonies to online bar exams, students have had to deal with one challenge after another – and it has taken a toll. A recent study from Canada found that students are facing acute m… Read More
If you’re looking to land a job as an in-house lawyer, you might improve your chances by mastering a new language or taking up a new hobby Being able to step outside your comfort zone and learn something new will serve you well in this age of corporate anxiety and uncertainty Another tip: … Read More
For lawyers handling real estate closings, it’s important to know that seller fraud continues to rise, especially with the upcoming holiday season when distractions are high, and fraudsters are active.
Lawyers Mutual has published previous alerts regarding the new filing requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) that went into effect January 1, 2024. After reviewing additional resources, we want to emphasize concerns that we have about the risks and increased potential liability for lawyers undertaking the reporting requirements. This is especially true for the continuing reporting requirements after entity formation and initial reporting.