The Bar Plan Foundation is excited to announce the addition of its newest Foundation Board Member, Keith Birkes. Mr. Birkes has been the Executive Director of The Missouri Bar since 1985, but has worked in various capacities with The Missouri Bar since 1975.

Christina Lewis Abate, Risk Manager for The Bar Plan Foundation in St. Louis, Missouri, was recently appointed to serve as Chair of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Ethics and Professionalism Committee. Her year-long appointment begins on August 1, 2010.

Chris Stiegemeyer, Director of Risk Management was recently interviewed by Missouri Lawyers Weekly regarding past-due client bills for services rendered by a law firm. The article includes tips to handle the problem of delinquent payments. 

Karen McCarthy, President and CEO of The Bar Plan, was featured in the January 2010 issue of IN Magazine, a publication published by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) for property/casualty insurers. The article focuses on the rise and success of women in the insurance industry.

Chris Stiegemeyer recently authored an article in the Association of Corporate Counsel newsletter regarding the importance of part-time coverage for in-house counsel.

The economic downturn has caused many law firms to look for ways to cut their budgets. But for certain expenditures, firms need to look beyond the initial outlay. Choosing a malpractice carrier to protect your professional reputation is one such expense that should not be based on price alone. The policy that seems like a deal today may end up costing lawyers much more in the long-term.

Chris Stiegemeyer, Director of Risk Management recently authored an article in the ABA Journal regarding Estate Planning and the importance of drafting an effective closing letter, protecting both the attorneys’ and the clients’ interests, at the end of the representation.

The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company is now providing Alabama attorneys the option to purchase court bonds. Kimberly Edgar, Vice President of Surety Underwriting, said “In conducting our research, Alabama seemed to have a need for additional buying options for court bonds, and we are happy to meet that demand.”

The way in which time is calculated for the federal courts will be better defined as of December 1, 2009. For instance: when is 10 days really 14 days? For the federal courts, when weekends or a holiday intervenes. This has been a source of confusion for litigants, lawyers, court staff, and even judges. The time-computation rules amendments are at www.uscourts.gov/rules. A presentation explaining the amended rules and their operation in court proceedings is available at www.uscourts.gov/rules/presentations.html.
 

The Bar Plan recently announced a new service available to Missouri attorneys: a Practice Management Program.

Law firms continue to seek strategies that position themselves to better serve existing and potential clients. The Practice Management Program will assist lawyers in identifying and implementing processes that will improve the quality of service they seek to provide, while reducing the risks associated with the practice of law.

Chris Stiegemeyer, Director of Risk Management at The Bar Plan, is leading the Practice Management Program.

Chris Stiegemeyer, Director of Risk Management was recently interviewed by Missouri Lawyers Weekly regarding tips for lawyers considering starting their own practices.

Christina Lewis, a Risk Manager at The Bar Plan, was recently appointed to serve as the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Ethics & Professionalism Vice-Chair. The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, composed of approximately 153,500 members, is the home for young lawyers. The division is committed to ensuring it is best able to represent the profession. To read the full press release, click here.

Karen McCarthy, President and CEO of The Bar Plan, was recently interviewed by LawyersUSA about the effects of the economy on legal malpractice claims. The article explores why malpractice claims increase in a down economy, what areas of practice are being hit hardest at this time, and provides tips on how to manage risk. Karen explained that there is a lag time between an economic downturn and claims filings. To read the full article, log-on to your account at www.lawyersusaonline.com.

Steve Couch, Vice President - Claims, was recently interviewed by Missouri Lawyers Weekly regarding the trend of rising malpractice claims in a down economy. The article discusses one tactic that many attorneys consider to increase revenue, but can increase their risk of being sued for malpractice. "There's an inclination by law firms in tough economic times to take on a case that they might not ordinarily take," said Couch. "You'll frequently see lawyers making mistakes in those areas." To read the full article, log-on to http://molawyersmedia.com/blog/2009/03/17/watch-out-for-the-legal-malpractice-claim/.
 

Steve Couch, Vice President - Claims, recently had an article featured in ESQ., the weekly email newsletter from The Missouri Bar. Entitled, "Dispelling Myths - The Likelihood and True Costs of a Malpractice Claim", Steve explores the actual cost of a malpractice claim in comparison to the cost of an annual premium. Steve emphasizes that attorneys understand the policy and coverage issues, which can vary significantly from carrier to carrier, to ensure they are properly protected in the event of a claim. 
 

Lawyers need to be aware of a scam that has bilked banks and attorneys in this region out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and is apparently working its way across the United States.

The rip-off works like this: