By now, most lawyers are familiar with phishing attacks. For those who are not, phishing is the attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an email. They take the form of a message, allegedly from your bank or an online retailer you… Read More »
Categories: 2016 January Indigenous, Articles, Cyber dangers, Fraud, Tech Tips
The determination and energy of hackers knows no bounds. They show remarkable imagination and ingenuity in coming up with ever more devious ways to steal trust funds by duping lawyers. As an example of this, we have recently seen several instances where a fraudster hacked into a client’s email with the intent to divert funds… Read More »
Categories: 2016 January Indigenous, Articles, Cyber dangers, Fraud, Tech Tips
The administrative dismissal of actions for delay has caught many lawyers by surprise, and has led to several hundred claims and almost $10 million in claims costs in just three and a half years. On January 1, 2015, a welcome amendment to the administrative dismissal rule – Rule 48 – came into force. The amended… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September - Insurance Issue 2016, Admin dismissals/Rule 48, Articles, Civil Litigation, Time Management
Standard insurance coverage The base program Eligibility: Required of all lawyers1 providing services in private practice.3 Coverage limit: $1 million per claim/$2 million in the aggregate (i.e., for all claims made in 2017), applicable to claim expenses, indemnity payments and/or costs of repairs together. Reminder – Cybercrime coverage sublimit: The 2016 insurance program includes a… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September - Insurance Issue 2016, Articles, Errors & Omissions
in-house corporate counsel government lawyers, educators and others not in active private practice retired lawyers, estate trustees, emeritus lawyers, judges and others no longer practising law legal aid clinic lawyers (not directly employed by Legal Aid Ontario) lawyers who engage in only occasional practice in Ontario and are resident in a Canadian jurisdiction other than… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September - Insurance Issue 2016, Articles, Errors & Omissions
A sole practitioner and single mom is locked in a room in her house. Her young autistic son, outside the room, has put a chair up against the door to prevent it from opening. There is a lot of yelling and screaming. She calls 911 and the police arrive. One of the constables happens to… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Legal Careers, Legal Technology, Wellness, Wellness
Lawyers are used to helping others with their problems. This can lead to viewing others – not ourselves – as the people with the problems. But lawyers are actually more likely than the population average to experience addiction or suffer from mental illness. Many worry that there is a potent stigma attached to being a… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Wellness, Wellness
Almost all lawyers experience stress, but unless it becomes toxic, there is little risk to the client. Occasionally things get truly out of control. That’s when important deadlines are missed, communication with the client diminishes (or ends), and files languish. In extreme cases, the lawyer ‘pretends’ to practice by misrepresenting to the client that work… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Communications Errors, Conflicts of Interest, Firm Management, Inadequate Investigation, Time Management, Wellness, Wellness
As adults in the workplace, we usually strive to respect our coworkers’ privacy and autonomy. But it’s important to understand the difference between being nosy and being responsive. The taboos that accompany mental illness, substance abuse and interpersonal problems can make it difficult for workers to seek help when they need it. By reacting sensitively… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Wellness, Wellness
Lawyering is stressful. Lawyers expect to handle the pressures of solving individuals’ high-stakes, emotionally charged problems. What lawyers don’t necessarily anticipate is that they may suffer stress from being stuck in a work situation that is not their first choice. Competition for jobs may mean that a lawyer needs to accept work outside his or… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Legal Careers, Wellness, WellnessLand 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.
