There is simply no doubt about it: making an error or having an action commenced against you is stressful, even for the most successful lawyers. And because almost half of Ontario lawyers in private practice will face a malpractice claim at least once in their career, at some point this stress will be a reality… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Wellness, Wellness
You can apply for Exemption ‘C’ under the LAWPRO Program if you are taking a temporary leave of absence from practice. The leave may be up to five years for family reasons or illness and two years for other reasons. This exemption is for a temporary leave of absence only, meaning you must intend to… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Checklist, FAQs, LAWPRO policy
While “law firm” once conjured an image either of a sole practitioner with a small storefront office or a multi-generational law firm with clearly defined partners and associates, many other firm structures now exist as lawyers opt to work from their homes, from virtual offices, and from shared accommodations. The work lawyers choose to do… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Excess, LAWPRO policy
Even when a case falls into an area of law in which a lawyer is experienced, a new or unfamiliar administrative regime can present risks for lawyers not prepared for the particular statutory framework. Importantly, missing key details and requirements can lead to malpractice claims from inadequate investigation or communication failures with clients. The following… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Could This Happen to You?, Inadequate Investigation, Personal injury
When lawyers retire, get appointed to the bench, go in-house or otherwise claim exemption from maintaining LAWPRO insurance, they commonly ask LAWPRO two questions: 1. Do they still need to pay for insurance? 2. What sort of services are they still allowed to perform? When you leave private practice you are not “off the hook”… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Errors & Omissions, LAWPRO policy
In light of the commonly held view that real estate is a safe investment, many individuals use mortgage investments to supplement income or as a means of saving for retirement. Unfortunately, a reality of the current real estate landscape is that private lenders are often the target of identity frauds. A title insurance policy generally… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Practice Tips, Real Estate, Title insurance
We have previously written about the dangers associated with email spoofing and phishing schemes, where fraudsters will send fabricated emails purporting to be from a trusted colleague or third party in an effort to trick a lawyer or staff member into clicking on a dangerous link or downloading a dangerous attachment. These fraudulent schemes continue… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Cyber dangers, Tech Tips
A successful real estate practice needs a variety of tools and resources. Here are four great resources that are a good starting place to find the right tool for whatever issues come to your practice. Real estate file management checklist: Real estate continues to be LAWPRO’s second largest claims area by count and cost, and… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Real Estate
“If I had to pick the most common malady affecting lawyers, it would be alcoholism.” This is according to Don Carroll, former director of the North Carolina Lawyer’s Assistance Program and author of A Lawyer’s Guide to Healing: Solutions for Addiction and Depression. In the book, he examines how addiction and depression manifest in the… Read More »
Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Book Review, Content Type, Wellness
With housing prices on the rise, more rigorous mortgage rules, and the resulting difficulty for some Ontarians to purchase property, real estate lawyers should be mindful of fraud for shelter. Fraud for shelter differs from traditional real estate frauds. Usually in a real estate fraud, the goal is to fraudulently sell the property or to… Read More »
Categories: Fraud, Online Only, Real EstateLand 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.
