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Insurance Glossary

The world of insurance for law firms can be confusing, and difficult to navigate. We've created this glossary because these common insurance terms should be easy to understand.

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Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Esq., serves as Risk Manager at ALPS, a leading provider of insurance and risk management solutions for law firms. Since joining ALPS in 1998, Mark has worked with more than 1200 law firms nationwide, helping attorneys identify vulnerabilities, strengthen firm operations, and reduce professional liability risks. He has presented over 700 continuing legal education (CLE) seminars across the United States and written extensively on the topics of risk management, legal ethics, and cyber security. A trusted voice in the legal community, Mark is a member of the State Bar of Montana and the American Bar Association and holds a J.D. from Drake University Law School. His mission is to help attorneys build safer, more resilient practices in a rapidly evolving legal environment.

5 min read

Why All Lawyers (Even Solos) Need to Take Deepfakes Seriously - and What You Can Do About Them

Let’s start by defining the word deepfake. A deepfake is a hyper-realistic image, video, or audio forgery that was edited or generated using artificial intelligence. These synthetic media can convincingly mimic real people saying or doing things...

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3 min read

Why You Need to Use Two-Factor Authentication (and Why It’s Not Enough on Its Own)

Let me be clear, cybersecurity isn’t just a “big firm” problem. Solo and small firm lawyers are targeted by bad actors because they know that smaller...

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4 min read

Lawyer Civility in Digital Communications: A Cornerstone of Professionalism

For lawyers in practice today, convenient digital communication tools such as email, text messaging, instant messaging apps, social platforms (e.g.,...

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4 min read

Don’t Fall for the Call: What Lawyers Need to Know About Vishing Scams

For years, criminals have been using phones to try to scam people out of money or into disclosing personal information and they have tended to find...

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Insurance coverage questions

3 min read

Insurance Coverage Issues for Lawyers in the Era of Generative AI

I am one who can admit when I’m wrong. A few years ago, I was convinced the Metaverse was going to be a big deal, eventually even significantly...

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A defining moment

4 min read

The Defining Moment of a Malpractice Misstep

Over the past 27 years as a risk manager here at ALPS, I’ve had more conversations with attorneys and discussed more concerns than I will ever be...

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4 min read

How to Manage the Risks Associated with Substantive Malpractice Missteps

A report entitled “Profile of Legal Malpractice Claims 2020-2023,” published in 2024 by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Lawyers’...

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Tail illusion

5 min read

True Stories & Tips for Law Firm Splits, Dissolutions, and Attorney Departures

I have three stories to share, but first a reminder of what tail coverage is and isn’t. Sometimes after hearing good things about ALPS, a lawyer will...

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5 min read

Relief Isn’t Always Spelled R-O-L-A-I-D-S. Sometimes, It’s Spelled D-E-L-E-G-A-T-E!

Years ago, an extended family member didn’t file his personal tax return yet again. Don’t misunderstand me, every year a tax return is prepared. He...

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Attorney enjoying winter

4 min read

How to Overcome the Winter Blues and Find Wellness

Being an attorney is hard enough; but for some, it’s even harder during the winter months. In part this can be due to the reduced daylight, colder...

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Episode 87 - ft Jeff Brandt: If Video Killed the Radio Star, Will AI Kill the Studio Star?

20 min read

Episode 87 - ft Jeff Brandt: If Video Killed the Radio Star, Will AI Kill the Studio Star?

In this episode of ALPS In Brief, our Risk Manager Mark Bassingthwaighte sits down with University of Montana Professor Jeff Brandt to talk about...

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A procrastinator's To Do list

4 min read

Procrastination’s Dark Side

I have a confession to make. I am a procrastinator. If there is a Procrastinator’s Anonymous, I’m pretty sure they would accept me as a card-carrying...

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word cloud of common words lawyers used to describe their feelings about AI

3 min read

AI in the Legal Industry: How Do Lawyers Feel?

ALPS recently surveyed legal industry professionals to learn more about how solo and small firm lawyers feel about the use of generative AI in the...

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