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.
ABA Tech Report - Social Media Eighty percent of law firms have a social media presence – with LinkedIn and Facebook being the favored platforms – but fewer than half of them have a formal social media policy. The rest are winging it, with no coherent plan for how much they spend on social media… Read More
Lawyer’s Conduct at Deposition Leads To Ethics Complaint Here’s a lesson from Risk Management 101: being polite and professional isn’t just a nice idea – it might keep you from getting reported to the bar. A corollary: avoid the urge to threaten to have opposing counsel’s… Read More
If you’re ready to get started on your holiday shopping, better make sure your Internet connection is reliable. That’s because a whopping 67 percent of consumers say they intend to do much or all of their gift-buying online this year. Only three percent say they plan to hit the malls. And you&rs… Read More
You probably know that eye contact enhances trust and empathy when you’re talking with someone, but did you know you don’t have to actually look into their eyes to get the desired effect? Looking at their mouth, nose or ears works just as well. “People don’t need to mindfully look at… Read More
Even though the ABA says the legal profession has a quality of life crisis, law students remain wary of getting help for mental health or substance use problems. The reason: they worry that doing so will hurt their job and career prospects. Consider these numbers: 42 percent of law students said they though… Read More
If your office is a disorganized mess, you’re not only running a risk of malpractice, but you’re also losing billable time by having to constantly search for files and documents. Oh, and it’s also detrimental to your mental health. But don’t try to turn things around immediately. Get… Read More
Camille’s Favorite Podcasts Ever wondered what podcasts a pioneering law firm consultant listens to? Turns out she loves shows about business startups – especially entrepreneurial ventures that haven’t been tried before. In fact, listening to stories of startup success – and failure… Read More
Only 17 percent of solo firms nationally have a marketing budget, with email marketing comprising the bulk of their spending. Their next-biggest marketing spends are for Facebook and Avvo. Meanwhile, 94 percent of large firms have a formal marketing budget, and almost two-thirds of midsize firms have … Read More
Large sections of North Carolina are legal deserts, where the number of lawyers is far below the national average. In South Carolina, the disparity is even greater. The result: in many counties in the Carolinas, people’s legal needs – whether it’s having a will prepared or getting a … Read More
It took only days for Rocket Lawyer to fly into the wild blue yonder that opened up when the Utah Supreme Court allowed nontraditional legal service providers to operate in the state. Rocket Lawyer, an online platform where consumers can create legal documents and connect with a network of independent attorn… Read More
A Pennsylvania lawyer has been suspended for three years for settling auto accident cases without telling his client. He also failed to inform his client (an insurance company) about key developments in the cases, including default judgments and arbitration hearings. The lawyer entered into a consent order … Read More
There was once a lawyer who had a habit of starting sentences with, “I hope this doesn’t offend you, but ….” Read More
In a time of social distancing, your firm’s online visibility and accessibility are absolutely crucial. Start beefing yours up by boosting your Google search rankings. There’s no one, simple way to do that. But with a broad-based, strategic approach, you can get in front of countless potent… Read More
It’s not just bankruptcy lawyers whose practices are booming these days. Lawyers in areas ranging from healthcare to helping employers reconfigure their offices are also in high demand. “From advising employers how to respond when an employee tests positive for coronavirus to counseling employee… Read More
Here’s a Risk Management 101 lesson: don’t lie that you’re seriously ill in order to get a discovery deadline extended. It could lead to a suspension of your law license. That’s the possible penalty an Illinois lawyer is facing after he made false statements to opposing counsel about… 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.