This unprecedented pandemic has caused many lawyers to rethink the way they conduct business. We have been monitoring the guidance from the CDC, the Bar Associations and other legal industry leaders and have developed this COVID-19 response section to help lawyers during these uncertain times. Due to the pandemic, our 2020 Ethics CLE series is FREE; click here to register.
Various states have taken affirmative actions to ensure that business can continue to notarize documents in remote environments. What follows is a discussion of notarization requirements of the states in which The Bar Plan serves lawyers.
Read MoreShould the current pandemic evolve into a global economic crisis, we will surely see some increase in the frequency and severity of professional malpractice suits. Understanding the potential causes of increased risk can help attorneys prepare for what may come next.
Read MoreEven in times of disaster or emergency, managing and supervisory lawyers are required to make reasonable efforts to make certain that all attorneys and office staff also comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct while working remote.
Read MoreHistorically, during times of economic downturns, malpractice claims rise. When deciding upon policy limits for malpractice insurance, consider potential exposure, cost of defense, jurisdiction and the nature and extent of both business and personal assets.
Read MoreSuing a non-paying client is likely to result in a default judgment against a judgment-proof client or a counterclaim against the suing attorney for legal malpractice. From a risk management perspective, it can be unwise for law firms to sue for unpaid legal fees.
Read MoreMany videoconferencing options pose risks to the security of client confidential information. This article reviews the issues law firms should consider and the policies to implement to make videoconferences secure and effective.
Read More“Of Counsel” has become a catch-all term applied across the profession to various types of relationships. This article defines “Of Counsel” and explains why attorneys are misguided when seeking to avoid rule violations by placing an “Of Counsel” label on a legal relationship.
Read MoreThis article addresses any of the risk management considerations including the division of fees, conflict checking, vicarious liability and malpractice coverage, office sharing concerns and more. Read on for practical tips and alternative solutions.
Read MoreTechnology advances and changes in the legal marketplace have caused firms to bring “Of Counsel” attorneys from other states to expand client bases beyond the reaches their own law licenses. This trend raises some ethics and malpractice issues.
Read MoreImplementing a law firm business development strategy can seem daunting. This article includes 10 easy-to-implement tips to help your law firm continue to grow.
Read MoreNow is a good a time to calendar a comprehensive review of your firm’s disaster recovery and lawyer succession planning. Missouri’s Rule 5.26 is a good place to start when drafting a succession plan for sole practitioners.
Read MoreWe are here to help you! Our Risk Management Department is available for free, confidential risk management guidance at 1-800-843-2277 x171 or foundation@thebarplan.com.
Contact UsResources to help Missouri lawyers continue to serve their clients and communities during the novel coronavirus pandemic. To read more, click here.
On March 21, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration approved Missouri’s request for assistance through the federal agency’s disaster loan program. The legislation comes a few days after the passage of a similar declaration in Illinois. This move makes low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) available to small businesses and private nonprofits severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. To read more click here.
On Friday, March 27, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law. This $2 trillion economic relief package is the largest in US history, designed to stabilize our economy and help businesses and individuals weather the unprecedented financial disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The accountants and business performance advisors at Brown Smith Wallace have assembled the CARES Act Response Team to help businesses and individuals. Click here to read more.