Communications Errors
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 ErrorsManaging 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 ManagementCommon practice pitfalls: And how to avoid them
Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO) was created to insure lawyers against legal malpractice claims. Most claims are brought by a lawyer’s own client and include an allegation that the lawyer made a mistake or did not meet the standard of care expected of him or her when delivering legal services. Our records suggest that almost… Read More »
Categories: Articles, Communications Errors, Inadequate Investigation, New Lawyer Issue, Student, Time ManagementTips for Successfully Building Access to Justice into your Law Practice (2021)
This program was part of Access to Justice Week 2021. Join LAWPRO, The Action Group on Access to Justice (TAG) and Toronto Lawyers Association to explore how legal professionals can structure their practices to better facilitate access to justice. Participants will hear from a panel of legal professionals from across the province and various areas… Read More »
Categories: Access to Justice, Communications Errors, Conflicts of Interest, CPD, Firm ManagementCommunication 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, FactsheetsDiversity, Inclusion and Cultural Competence to Reduce Risk (2020)
Learn about the importance of diversity, inclusion and cultural competence for the legal profession, and how issues related to a lack of cultural competency can contribute to a claim
Categories: Communications Errors, CPD, DiversityCommon claims and how to avoid them (2020)
Understand the leading common claims and when they occur, with examples of specific different risks by areas of practice.
Categories: Clerical / Delegation, Communications Errors, Conflicts of Interest, CPD, Dabbling, Failure to Know The Law, Inadequate Investigation, Time ManagementCommunicating like its 1876: The continuing importance of telephone skills for lawyers
When the Western Union Telegraph Co. famously declined to purchase the telephone patent from Alexander Graham Bell, it was allegedly because they wondered why anyone would want to use such a frivolous and impractical device when a clear and concise written message could just as easily be sent by telegraph. This assessment seems less absurd… Read More »
Categories: Articles, Communications Errors, Content Type, Features, Law students/new lawyers, New Lawyer IssueLandmines for Lawyers When Drafting Wills
When it comes to mistakes and claims, the Achilles heel for lawyers in the wills and estates area is drafting wills: Making will-drafting errors – either because of poor communication, inadequate discovery or errors in law – is the single most common issue in claims reported in this area of law. In many cases, the… Read More »
Categories: Articles, Communications Errors, Failure to Know The Law, Inadequate Investigation, Wills & EstatesAfter the event (ATE) insurance: what you need to know
After the event (ATE) insurance (a type of legal expense insurance) can help lessen the financial blow of a lost case for both the client and lawyer. Generally, the insurer will pay some amount of costs, fees, and/or disbursements if the client is unsuccessful. It is important to understand the specific policies and contracts involved… Read More »
Categories: Areas of Law, Civil Litigation, Communications Errors, Conflicts of Interest, Malpractice Errors, Topics