3 min read
Lawyers: Don't Let Clients Make Assumptions About Your Role
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Nov 15, 2023
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Nov 15, 2023
3 min read
Why It’s Important to Have Attorney Accountability Built Into Your Firm’s Conflict Checking Process
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Oct 18, 2023
What happens in your firm if there’s a hit during a conflicts check? Hopefully, the conflict concern is immediately brought to the attention of the...
7 min read
Why the Use of an Engagement Letter Should Never Be Considered Optional
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Sep 20, 2023
Engagement letters seem to be one of those documents most lawyers intellectually appreciate the value of but often underutilize. This letter simply...
3 min read
How to Avoid Common Co-Counsel Relationship Missteps
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Sep 7, 2023
Co-counsel relationships are sometimes formed “on the fly,” meaning no thorough discussion as to who will be responsible for whatever occurs. This...
6 min read
How to Avoid Common Conflict of Interest Traps
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Aug 2, 2023
Particularly in the solo and small firm setting, conflict missteps are often not a “whoops, we missed that name” kind of thing. More often the...
3 min read
Why It’s Important to Document Scope of Representation
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Aug 1, 2023
I know lawyers get tired of hearing it and risk folk like me get tired of always having to say it; but there is real value in documenting scope of...
3 min read
What Non-Engagement Letters Really Do
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jul 31, 2023
Over the years I have found a real disparity among attorneys as to their willingness to write non-engagement letters. You know the one. It’s that...
3 min read
8 Safeguards to Ensure You Can Trust Your Law Firm Employees
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jun 28, 2023
I continue to be surprised at the number of times I learn that a law firm turned over complete oversight of client property to a non-attorney member...
4 min read
Solo Attorneys: Don't Wait to Figure Out Your Succession Plan
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jun 14, 2023
The two most common excuses I’ve heard over the years for not having a succession plan in place are these. It’s either “my plan is to die at my...
5 min read
7 Ways To Stay Out of Trust Account Trouble
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jun 7, 2023
Trust account problems remain one of the top reasons attorneys are disciplined here in the US. And while there have been and will continue to be...
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4 min read
When Sharing Office Space, Make Sure You Have Your Ducks in a Row
Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: May 24, 2023
I once came across a comment on a blog post about attorneys sharing office space that stated malpractice insurance companies and those who write our...