Malpractice Errors
Keeping your passwords strong and secure
Computer passwords are the keys that “unlock” our computer and network systems. We all have more passwords than we can remember. This tends to make us a bit lazy. We use obvious and easy-to-remember passwords – even the word “password” itself. Or worse: we don’t use them at all. Bad password habits are often one… Read More »
Categories: 2013 December Cybercrime, Articles, Cyber dangers, Fraud, Legal Technology, Tech TipsDraw clients a roadmap to avoid communication claims
Our readers should now be well aware that problems with lawyer-client communication are the number one cause of malpractice claims. Managing communication takes patience and effort: at one extreme of the spectrum, responding to calls and messages from clients who want constant contact can be frustrating; while at the other end, trying to get absentee… Read More »
Categories: 2013 December Cybercrime, Articles, Communications Errors, Practice TipsCybercrime and law firms: The risks and dangers are real
Historians may well look back and call 2013 “The year of the hacker.” There have been numerous high-profile data breaches involving major corporations and online services: Facebook, Apple, Twitter, Adobe, NASDAQ, The New York Times and LexisNexis, to name just a few. Everyone reading this article likely has information stored by at least one, if… Read More »
Categories: 2013 December Cybercrime, Articles, Cyber dangers, Features, FraudCould this happen to you? Getting duped on a bad cheque scam
In our newest effort to help Ontario lawyers appreciate where claims happen – and how to avoid them – we are pleased to introduce a new column to LAWPRO Magazine: “Could this happen to you?” Lawyers have told us they like to hear about real scenarios and circumstances that resulted in malpractice claims. They say… Read More »
Categories: 2013 September practicePRO 15th, Articles, Could This Happen to You?, Cyber dangers, FraudKnow how administrative dismissal claims happen, and take 8 steps to immunize yourself against them
Rule 48 claims arise when it is alleged that the dismissal of a claim was due to the lawyer’s negligence with respect to either a defended (Rule 48.14) or an undefended (48.15) action. Many of these claims have been very costly for LAWPRO. While certain Rule 48 claims can be repaired by speaking with opposing… Read More »
Categories: 2013 September practicePRO 15th, Admin dismissals/Rule 48, Articles, Civil Litigation, Limitation Periods15 tips for preventing identity theft and online fraud
Cyber criminals and identity thieves want to steal your personal information to commit fraud. They may try to get a credit card in your name or to access funds in your bank account. On top of directly losing money, your credit status can be damaged and it can take a great deal of time and… Read More »
Categories: 2013 September practicePRO 15th, Articles, Cyber dangers, Fraud, Tech TipsSteer clear of real estate claims by asking these five questions on every deal
The real estate lawyer’s job is more than just conveying title, and not every matter will be straightforward. Communication errors and inadequate investigation are the biggest causes of real estate claims at LAWPRO, respectively 41 per cent and 26 per cent of claims reported between 2001 and 2011. Busy, high-volume practices often lead to situations… Read More »
Categories: 2013 September practicePRO 15th, Articles, Communications Errors, Inadequate Investigation, Real EstateKnowing when to take a stand: LAWPRO defends its insureds in 2012
LAWPRO pays an indemnity to resolve a claim only in a minority of cases. In the years 2008-2012, LAWPRO made an indemnity payment in just 14.5 per cent of files, on average. However, many claims must be actively defended: over that same period, over 42 per cent of claims required the expenditure of external defence… Read More »
Categories: 2013 May - Year in Review 2012, Articles, Casebook, Civil Litigation, Limitation Periods, Personal injury, Tax, Wills & EstatesAvoiding the unintentional expansion of retainers
Here’s the scenario: A lawyer is retained to assist a client with a tort claim and an accident benefits claim. The client, meanwhile, has been informed that the long-term disability (LTD) benefits provided by her employer’s group plan are about to be terminated. In an effort to forestall the termination of benefits, she asks the… Read More »
Categories: 2013 May - Year in Review 2012, Articles, Communications Errors, Practice TipsNew 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 »
Categories: 2012 December Resolutions, Articles, Civil Litigation, Corporate Law, Criminal Law, Family, Features, Finances, Legal Technology, Marketing, Practice Tips, Real Estate, Time Management, Wellness, Wills & Estates