Lawyers Mutual

Lawyers Mutual congratulates Clifton T. Barrett, Harry B. Crow, Jr., and Robert Wolf for receiving the John M. McMillan Distinguished Service Award. The award honors current and retired members of the North Carolina State Bar who have shown exemplary service to the profession. Mr. Wolf has been in private prac… Read More

Lawyers often confront legal issues for which they are unable to find a clear answer in statutory or common law. When this happens, we often turn to our colleagues for guidance. We might reach out to a lawyer we know to be an expert in the given practice area. Or we might post an inquiry on one of the many list… Read More

The American Bar Association reports that 4 out of 5 lawyers will receive a malpractice claim at some point during their career. Some practice areas such as residential real estate and personal injury have higher risks than other areas. However, every lawyer should implement risk management practices that reduc… Read More

Whether you are storing your clients’ files in digital format or paper, you have a duty to safeguard the file contents. This means storing the files in a safe location where they will not be damaged or destroyed and where confidentiality will be protected. Most law firms have moved to a paperless file man… Read More

For lawyers, representing friends can seem like a kind thing to do. However, mixing personal relationships with professional responsibilities can result in a variety of complications and ethical dilemmas. While the intention may be good, doing so can compromise your objectivity, professionalism, and even result… Read More

 The numbers are in. Missed deadlines in plaintiffs’ personal injury cases is the single largest cause of malpractice claims against lawyers. Interestingly, it is also one of the easiest claims to avoid. Avoidance, though, requires lawyers to implement a variety of risk management procedures. Because… Read More

The path to becoming a lawyer is often paved with high expectations and the promise of a lucrative career. However, the reality for many new associates is far from glamorous. The weight of substantial law school debt is a pervasive issue that casts a long shadow over the early years of legal practice. Accordin… Read More

An elderly client contacts you by telephone and asks you to do a codicil to her Will. She tells you that she wants to disinherit her two children and leave everything to a caretaker. The client shows up at your office with the caretaker. The caretaker insists on speaking for the client and does not want you t… Read More

Lawyers must be constantly vigilant to guard against fraud schemes being perpetrated by third party bad actors. Lawyers face a variety of threats, including counterfeit check scams, wire fraud, phishing scams to access confidential information, ransomware attacks, and real estate seller impersonation fraud. But… Read More

It is estimated that lawyers spend a little more than $1 billion a year on television advertising. That number seems low. According to data from Tunnl, a single law firm, Morgan & Morgan, spent nearly $240 million on television ads in 2023. I saw several of their ads on a recent weekend stay in South Caro… Read More

The origin of the word “vacation” comes from the Latin word vacare, which means “to be empty or free.” Some vacations that I have taken are consistent with this root word. When I travelled to the Everglades to camp on a deserted island, I certainly felt free of work obligations and the t… Read More

Drafting errors are one of the most common causes of legal malpractice claims. Every year, Lawyers Mutual receives multiple claims arising from lawyers’ drafting mistakes. Some of these claims could be described as minor claims, while others result in substantial damages. A minor typographical error can j… Read More

As with any new sweeping federal regulatory scheme, there are kinks to work out and questions which need clarification. This has certainly been true for the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury has cont… Read More

In the legal realm, grappling with complex matters is routine, whether it involves forecasting unexpected legal twists or devising strategies to outmaneuver adversaries. A prevalent tactic employed by management teams in tackling such complexities is tapping into the "wisdom of crowds" – soliciting divers… Read More

We have all been there. The firm has called a meeting or another lawyer in the firm wants to have a meeting with you. The content presented in the meeting could have easily been provided to you in an email. While you’re in the meeting, your email inbox grows and the pile of work on your desk continues to … Read More