risk management
Tips for Responding to a State Bar Grievance
Few things are more unsettling to a lawyer than receiving a letter from the North Carolina State Bar notifying you of a grievance. Even when you know you have done nothing wrong, a letter from the State Bar can be disconcerting. But take heart. Receiving a grievance does not mean you’ve done anything wrong. In…
Read MoreThe Scope of Confidentiality: Key Insights from Rule 1.6 of the NC Rules of Professional Conduct
Confidentiality is critical to the attorney-client relationship. Clients depend on lawyers to maintain confidentiality, often in matters that are deeply personal or critical to the client’s interests. While all lawyers are generally aware of the duty of confidentiality, many do not understand the full scope of the duty. Rule 1.6 of the North Carolina Rules…
Read MoreSafeguarding Tangible Personal Property
Recently, I had a conversation with a lawyer who thought he had lost tangible personal property he was holding in an estate he was representing. The items were valuable to the heirs of the estate. For weeks, the lawyer had been under the growing anxiety that the property was lost or possibly stolen. Fortunately, after…
Read MoreThe Dangers of Dabbling: Knowing Your Limits
We frequently receive reports of malpractice claims against lawyers who decided to handle a legal matter for which they lacked the necessary skill or expertise. We call this dabbling. In today’s competitive legal environment, it can be tempting to say “yes” when a potential client knocks on your door—even if their matter falls outside your…
Read More Did You Know?
Did you know that Lawyers Mutual has a staff of 7 claims attorneys who are available to assist you in a variety of ways. Sure, we handle legal malpractice claims against our insureds. But we do so much more. We provide guidance to our insureds in the areas of risk management, legal malpractice, substantive practice questions,…
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