blog risk management
The Danger of Familiar Cases
The case looked like hundreds of other cases the lawyer had handled before. The new client had been injured in a car accident. The facts felt familiar. It was a rear-end collision with soft tissue injuries and clear liability. He opened the file and got to work the way he always did. He ordered the…
Read MoreSame Story, Different File: Common Paths to Malpractice Claims
After 25 years of handling legal malpractice claims, I have started to notice common patterns and scenarios that often lead to errors and claims. The details and facts may vary slightly, but the underlying story shows up again and again. And the hard truth is that most of these situations are not caused by a…
Read MoreConfidentiality Doesn’t Disappear in the Cloud
Cloud-based software services and AI tools have become routine in modern law practice. Lawyers use them to draft documents, send and receive communications, manage cases, store files, and analyze information. Lawyers often use these tools without giving much thought to what happens to confidential client data once it leaves the lawyer’s computer. Do third parties…
Read MoreMistakes as Opportunities
When disaster strikes a law firm, whether it’s a fraud attempt on a trust account, the sudden loss of a key employee, or a cybersecurity scare, the first reaction is often panic. But as a recent post on the ABA’s website pointed out, these painful moments can become unlikely turning points. Each setback carries with…
Read MoreWhen Saying “No” is the Best Legal Advice
As lawyers, we often feel a strong pull to help everyone who walks through our doors. After all, we are trained to solve problems, advocate for clients, and defend clients’ interests. But sometimes, the best advice we can give a prospective client is to walk away. Consider this scenario: A prospective client contacts a lawyer…
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