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.
When you’re working on the marketing plan for your law practice, here’s a number to keep in mind: 1.88 billion. That’s the number of daily Facebook users worldwide. And here’s a percentage to ponder as well: studies show that people retain 50 percent more when they see and hear somet… Read More
Eighty-seven (87) percent of consumers read and rely on online recommendations when choosing a local business or professional service – up from 81 percent a year ago. Half of them say they wouldn’t use a business that gets less than four stars. Those findings are from the latest Local Consumer R… Read More
If you think billing a client is merely a way to get paid, think again. Your bill is also a tool to attract new business, market additional services, and create loyal clients who will keep coming back. Start by detailing exactly what you did for the client and why. Go light on legal jargon. Instead of simpl… Read More
When bar examiners across the nation began pivoting to remote testing because of COVID, some hiccups were expected. But nobody was prepared for the avalanche of glitches that plagued the online administration of the July 2021 bar exam. At the center of the swirl of controversy is software provider ExamS… Read More
Turning a good attorney bio into a great one might be as easy as pie. Literally. Let’s say you love baking, and you’re good at it. In fact, you’re so good your recipe for pecan pie has won acclaim from the likes of Betty Crocker herself. That’s a tasty tidbit you should i… Read More
Congratulations to the six North Carolina attorneys who have been honored by the State Bar for their years of service to the legal profession and the state in general. In its July quarterly meeting, the bar gave the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award to the following lawyers: Victor J. Boone of … Read More
A former client blasts you in a Yelp review, slams you on AVVO, or posts something unflattering on Facebook. You have a choice: you can either ignore the unfavorable feedback or respond. But if you choose to respond, what should you say and how should you say it? Can you disclose specific details about the c… Read More
Better think twice before clicking on one of those fun little Facebook quizzes that reveal your superpower or tell you which Disney character you most resemble. Before you can say “Frozen,” you might discover that your most sensitive personal data has been scraped, stolen and sold. “… Read More
If you’re thinking of signing up for an online advertising service where you pay to get client leads, better read this proposed NC Bar opinion before you do. Under Proposed 2021 Formal Ethics Opinion 5, lawyers can’t ethically participate in a pay-per-lead program if the vendor records communicat… Read More
Here’s a risk management tip: if your law firm is compared to the film “Weekend at Bernie’s,” it’s not a compliment. Yet that’s what happened in bankruptcy litigation involving the now-defunct LeClairRyan law firm, formerly based in Virginia. “The Chapte… Read More
Here is a little story about how not to treat your clients. This tale is true, though the names have been changed to protect the ridiculous. For anonymity’s sake, the two main characters will be referred to merely as “I” and “Some Sales Guy for a Telecommunications Company That Might or… Read More
Fall is back-to-school time, which is a great opportunity to catch up on your reading. And Lawyers Mutual is making it easy for you to compile your reading list. Below are some top titles of special interest to lawyers, legal professionals and law students. You’ll find works of fiction, non-fiction, a… Read More
Work-life balance is the key to happiness for midlevel associates at large firms, with 60 percent of them saying they’d leave their current job for one that offered more balance. By contrast, only 27 percent said they’d jump ship for a job that offered more money. Those findings are from a Midle… Read More
A new program launched by Campbell’s law school will focus on ethics and innovation in advanced technologies. The Campbell Law Innovation Institute (CLII) is using education and research to address how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and quantum computing impac… Read More
Raise your hand if you don’t know much about blockchain or how it can affect your practice. Okay, hands down. Now raise your hand if you’d like to learn the basics of blockchain so that you’re not totally clueless. Great! Just keep reading. Blockchain, which started out as a digital … 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.