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Factsheets

Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention Tips

Phishing attacks and other forms of cyberfraud are an increasingly common source of loss for lawyers. Our constantly changing technology, and the changing tactics used by fraudsters, require constant vigilance and adaptation. Here are a few tips to keep your and your clients’ information secure and prevent fraud.

Categories: Cyber dangers, Factsheets

Communication Tips

The #1 cause of claims in almost every area of practice is communication breakdown. Implement the following actions to help avoid communication problems in your practice.

Categories: Communications Errors, Factsheets

Tips for Managing Deadlines

Missed deadlines are a major source of malpractice claims. Lawyers sometimes fail to determine the limitation period on a matter or fail to properly calendar it, miss other deadlines or fail to act when they arise. Here are tips to avoid these claims.

Categories: Factsheets, Time Management

Tips to Avoid Conflict of Interest Claims

A conflict of interest happens when there is a substantial risk that a lawyer’s duties to a client will be compromised by the lawyer’s own interest or the lawyer’s duties to another client, former client, or another third person.

Categories: Conflicts of Interest, Factsheets

Tips for Keeping Up With the Law

A claim from a failure to know or apply the law arises when a lawyer does not have sufficient or current knowledge of the relevant law on the matter on which he or she is working. While not as common a claims cause as people think, it is still important to make sure you have… Read More »

Categories: Factsheets, Failure to Know The Law

Tips to Avoid Inadequate Investigation Claims

We often see claims related to lawyers who have not uncovered all the facts or developed a sufficient understanding of a client’s matter. These claims go to the very core of what lawyers are supposed to do for their clients – give legal advice based on the client’s specific situation – and involve the lawyer… Read More »

Categories: Factsheets, Inadequate Investigation

Employment Law Malpractice Claims Fact Sheet

Labour and employment law claims have remained steady in count and cost over the past decade, consistently costing LAWPRO about $1 million dollars each year. These claims are notable for having errors of law claims that are costly in relation to their numbers. Furthermore, the emotional toll of a job loss and resulting legal fight… Read More »

Categories: Areas of Law, Content Type, Factsheets

Franchise Law Malpractice Claims Fact Sheet

woman in coffee shop

Acting on franchise matters can be particularly risky for lawyers. While some franchisors are large multinationals, many are small, relatively unsophisticated businesses. They are running a “mom-and-pop-style” family business; they are usually financially (and more importantly, emotionally) invested in the business, and they have scraped together their life savings to open the franchise. These characteristics… Read More »

Categories: Factsheets, Franchise

IP Malpractice Claims Fact Sheet

lightbulb drawing

Clerical errors are the most common cause of IP claims, representing one third of the claims in this area of law. Missed deadlines are also a very common cause of claims. However, the actual costs of these errors is relatively low as they can sometimes be repaired or there are no damages. The more costly… Read More »

Categories: Factsheets, Intellectual Property

Corporate/Commercial Malpractice Claims Fact Sheet

While the number of LAWPRO claims involving corporate and commercial law has declined in recent years, the average cost for this type of claim remains the highest of all areas of law. The most common source of corporate/commercial claims are lawyer/client communication issues. Claims occur because there are misunderstandings or when the client’s instructions are… Read More »

Categories: Corporate Law, Factsheets

Land Acknowledgement

The offices of LAWPRO are located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. LAWPRO respects and acknowledges the histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit nations.

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