Articles
Questions and answers about the changing practice of wills & estates law
The number of seniors aged 75 and over in Ontario is projected to double by 2046 to 2.6 million from 1.3 million in 2023, suggesting an unprecedented impending wealth transfer in the province. Wills and estates law is already growing and will be even more in-demand in the years to come. We want to give… Read More »
Categories: 2024 June - Time for Tomorrow, Articles, Wills & EstatesWhy have claims from inadequate investigation risen almost 300% since 1998?
The devil is in the details, and it’s the details that appear to be creating issues for lawyers when it comes to the underlying causes of many claims. Back in 1998, “inadequate discovery of fact or inadequate investigation” was the fifth most common cause of a claim (178 claims or 9%) when we looked at… Read More »
Categories: 2024 June - Time for Tomorrow, Articles, Inadequate InvestigationRetirement, succession, and planning for the unplanned exit
Running your own law firm or sole practice can be stressful, but stopping can be even harder. Thinking of stepping away from your practice can create an overwhelming tide of questions and unknowns. It becomes even more complicated when lawyers consider they may not be able to choose the timing of their own departure. A… Read More »
Categories: 2024 June - Time for Tomorrow, Articles, Firm Management, Succession PlanningFacing stress with mindfulness and being in the moment
Whether it’s a big move across the county, receiving an unexpected medical diagnosis, being awarded a promotion at the firm or something else – it’s likely you’ve faced moments of substantial change in your life. When these changes occur, regardless of if they’re planned or a surprise, they can lead us to feel stressed, overwhelmed,… Read More »
Categories: 2024 June - Time for Tomorrow, Articles, WellnessThe case of the delayed will
In the legal profession, time management is a critical component of risk management. Effectively managing time, from handling daily tasks to progressing case files, can greatly impact the quality of legal services provided. Yet, achieving effective time management is often easier said than done, given the pressures of a packed schedule, unexpectedurgent matters, and the… Read More »
Categories: 2024 June - Time for Tomorrow, Articles, Time Management, Wills & EstatesCalled to the Bar? Time to think about insurance
LAWPRO’s Kim Barbosa hears lots of questions from friends and colleagues about LAWPRO insurance and the responsibilities of a new lawyer. Kim articled at LAWPRO and will rejoin the company as Associate Claims Counsel following her upcoming call to the bar. Below she puts some of these questions and concerns to LAWPRO Unit Director and… Read More »
Categories: 2024 June - Time for Tomorrow, ArticlesExcess: No time like the present
Over time, you may find your practice has changed enough that you want to consider higher E&O limits. Below, are some of the most common ways the effect of time has encouraged law firms to apply for LAWPRO Excess coverage, which currently offers limits of $1M/$2M/$3M/$4M and $9M beyond the base $1M per claim and… Read More »
Categories: 2024 June - Time for Tomorrow, Articles, ExcessTitlePLUS: If you have a claim reporting it quickly makes a real difference
The key reason for prompt reporting of a claim is to keep options open to look for ways to resolve the claim, and not have our position prejudiced by delay or actions taken by the policyholder before the claims examiner has had a chance to complete their investigation. This is especially important in claims that… Read More »
Categories: 2024 June - Time for Tomorrow, Articles, Real Estate, TitlePLUSThe confidence client: Survival tips to prevent fraud
In the nineteenth century, American journalists and law enforcement coined the term “confidence artist” to describe a form of fraud that preys on the trust and credulity of its target. The form these frauds took was always changing but relied on the good faith of the target and either a promise of profit or a… Read More »
Categories: 2024 March - The Confidence Client, Articles, Cyber dangers, FraudOne click and you are out $1 million
Could it happen to you? If you have a trust account, then you’re at risk. We are seeing a sharp increase in social engineering fraud against law firms and their clients, where the goal is to divert funds to fraudsters’ accounts. When money gets diverted, the lawyer and/or the client is out of funds. For… Read More »
Categories: 2024 March - The Confidence Client, Articles, Cyber dangers, Fraud