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Category: LAWPRO Magazine

Emotional contagion and the civil lawyer

Charles Dickens’ 1853 novel Bleak House begins with an account of Jarndyce and Jarndyce, an endless legal case mired in the “mud and fog” of the English Chancery courts. As told by Dickens, Jarndyce was “about a will and the trusts under a will—or it was once. It’s about nothing but costs now…” The goals… Read More »

Categories: 2025 Feb - Emotional Contagion, Articles, Communications Errors

Managing a better professional services firm

Managing a better professional services firm requires that you excel at providing superlative client service. Good technical skills and quality legal advice met the grade in the past but times have changed. The legal services marketplace is now more competitive than ever, and the competitors are not just other lawyers. Clients have become more demanding… Read More »

Categories: 2025 Feb - Emotional Contagion, Articles, Communications Errors, Firm Management

Law firm Q&A with marketing professionals

Guest speakers Mark Hunter, Principal Consultant with Glen Maple Group and Mara Da Camara, presented a succinct overview of the steps law firms can take to improve their marketing activities as part of LAWPRO’s What They Didn’t Teach You In Law School: Marketing, Management, and Mentorship online seminar. Their presentation demonstrated the key to marketing… Read More »

Categories: 2025 Feb - Emotional Contagion, Articles, Marketing

Navigating NOSIs and PPSA: A practical approach for real estate lawyers

An expired or deemed expired Notice of Security Interest (NOSI) does not affect title; however, the underlying contractual and financial obligations remain outstanding and must be addressed by payout or assumption. Read below for tips on avoiding unsatisfied clients and finding information about claims a secured party may have against goods and fixtures registered against… Read More »

Categories: 2025 Feb - Emotional Contagion, Articles, Real Estate

Ask again and you’ll learn more: A tale about using artificial intelligence

artificial intelligence

We’ve all heard the buzz about generative AI: a clever tool that can draft contracts, summarize long documents, draft replies to emails, and even answer niche questions about practice areas. But with great power comes cautionary tales. Let me walk you through a curious (and cautionary) experience I had with AI. Spoiler alert: the truth… Read More »

Categories: 2025 Feb - Emotional Contagion, Articles, Legal Technology

Establish your legal community

Whether you are a new lawyer braving your first contract review or a seasoned practitioner handling a complex file, having mentors and knowledgeable colleagues is invaluable. Equally, the opportunity to mentor others enriches your practice and the profession at large. Here’s a guide to building your professional network and paying it forward. Learn from those… Read More »

Categories: 2025 Feb - Emotional Contagion, Articles, Law students/new lawyers, Mentoring

Six ways to protect your client’s property title

Identifying title risks, advising clients, and diligently documenting steps can save clients and lawyers from costly claims. Despite best efforts, issues may arise, and title insurance offers some protection for both clients and lawyers. Understanding the nuances of title insurance policies, including their coverage, exclusions, and how they interact with legal due diligence, is vital…. Read More »

Categories: 2025 Feb - Emotional Contagion, Articles, Real Estate, Title insurance, TitlePLUS

Too quick on the buzzer: Default judgment and the potential consequences of engaging in sharp practice

Would-be lawyers learn the importance of professionalism and civility as outlined in the Law Society’s Rules of Professional Conduct and The Advocates’ Society Principles of Civility. However, in practice, a grey area can sometimes develop between fiercely advocating for a client and engaging in sharp practice. At LAWPRO, we’ve seen many claims relating to lawyers… Read More »

Categories: 2025 Feb - Emotional Contagion, Articles, Civil Litigation

Your 2025 program: More options means a policy tailored to you

Updated renewal process for 2025 Your LAWPRO insurance will not automatically renew for 2025 but our aim for the new “simplified renewal” process is to gather the necessary underwriting details and keep it as fast and efficient as possible. To start, log in to your MyLAWPRO account and follow the renewal instructions. Why is there… Read More »

Categories: 2024 Insurance Isssue 2025

What should I do to avoid social engineering claims and prevent the associated sublimit?

1. Include written instructions in a retainer or other agreement for the receipt, release, and transfer of any funds or assets. 2. Advise in the written retainer or other agreement that the client or another party to which you owe a duty of care should not ordinarily expect to receive any revised instructions from you… Read More »

Categories: 2024 Insurance Isssue 2025

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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