« Return to LAWPRO Magazine
LAWPRO Magazine: 2012 December Resolutions
In This Issue of LAWPRO Magazine
New Year’s resolutions for a healthier law practice and a new you
The start of a new year is a time for self-reflection and self-improvement. Many of you will think about making changes in your personal and work lives. But while you all have good intentions, it can be difficult to break old habits, especially when you are running hard on the treadmill of a busy life… Read More »
Need some 2013 resolutions for your law practice? We have some!
As you’ll learn in these pages, lasting positive change is less likely to come from radical self reinvention than from the slow and steady accretion of many positive “baby steps”. Would you like your practice to be more efficient, more profitable, more claim-proof, and more personally rewarding? Who wouldn’t? But who has the time to… Read More »
E&O and R&R: Insurance planning for retirement
When looking forward to your retirement it’s important to have an idea of what liabilities and activities from your practice will follow you. It’s false comfort to think that just because a claim wasn’t brought prior to retirement means one won’t appear in the future or that you can rely on the coverage that was… Read More »
How the real estate bar entered the insurance business, or what happens when a lawyer is also an insurance intermediary
Many of us deal with licensed insurance agents or registered brokers every year to purchase coverage, whether life, auto or home policies. When someone in Ontario wishes to obtain title insurance, the real estate lawyer effectively functions as insurance intermediary (although not technically an agent or a broker). Lest anyone think there is anything improper… Read More »
Insurance matters: Innocent party coverage
What is it? Innocent Party coverage protects you against the dishonest, fraudulent, criminal or malicious acts or omissions of present or former partners, associates, and employed lawyers in your firm. Is this coverage mandatory? Minimum level Innocent Party coverage (sublimit coverage of $250,000 per claim/ aggregate) is required for all partners practising in association, partnership… Read More »
Insurance matters: Temporary leave of absence
LAWPRO understands that there may be circumstances in which a lawyer may have to take some time away from the private practice of law due to illness, family issues or other circumstances. Lawyers who temporarily leave the practice of law and do not take any alternate employment may be eligible to apply for exemption from… Read More »
TitlePLUS program celebrates its 15th anniversary; now on Facebook
On September 25, 2012, the TitlePLUS program reached its 15th anniversary. LAWPRO staff marked the event with an afternoon celebration. TitlePLUS title insurance was created in 1997 to provide the market with a Canadian based title insurance product designed to be purchased with the advice and assistance of real estate lawyers. TitlePLUS title insurance is… Read More »
Applying for TitlePLUS coverage simplified effective Aug 15
Fifteen years of experience in the title insurance business have led to ongoing refinements to the titlePLUs program. this year was no exception. Read on to learn about the changes that took effect on August 15, 2012.< Underwriting streamlined for mortgage lenders For residential transactions up to $1 million, the underwriting requirements have been simplified.... Read More »
Don’t be trapped by old habits of thought – The limitation period for equitable claims is now two years
It is difficult to let go of fundamental principles. Many generations of Ontario lawyers were taught that equitable claims are not subject to any limitation period. These lawyers were correct, until the Limitations Act, 2002 came into force. Limitation periods are creatures of statute. The Limitations Act, R.S.O 1990, c.L.15 and its predecessors had no… Read More »
Lawyers’ negligence actions: experts and pleadings
Ribeiro v. Van Moorlehem1: A modest dollar, successfully defended malpractice action highlights issues surrounding pleadings, expert reports, amendments and partners’ liability. In 1994 the plaintiff became partners with two brothers. Each of the three partners invested $45,000 into a business and each held one third of the shares. No sooner was the venture started, however,… Read More »
Avoiding communication-based claims: some tips for litigators
Claims against litigation lawyers often involve allegations of communication errors. In this article, we consider steps that lawyers can take to avoid such claims right out of the gate – at the outset of their retainers. When we attribute a claim to a communication problem, what exactly do we mean? Here are some examples: a)… Read More »
How to untag yourself on Facebook (and why you might want to)
Have you ever been tagged in a picture or post on Facebook? If you have a Facebook account, the answer to this question is likely yes. And don’t feel comforted if you aren’t on Facebook: Anyone can be tagged in a photo, even someone who doesn’t have a Facebook account. Given the nature of Facebook,… Read More »
LAWPRO gets social
Not a day goes by without someone mentioning social media. Clients, lawyers, law firms and other businesses are all getting social with these new communication tools: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, Flickr, Pinterest and others. LAWPRO joined the conversation early on, starting with practicePRO’s AvoidAClaim blog and @practicePRO on Twitter. We believe social media offer us… Read More »