Product Description

Lawyers and law firms facing legal malpractice or bar discipline claims can become hyper-focused on defense. But when not embroiled in defending a claim, most law firms know that prevention is the key to avoiding claims and ethical problems. For that reason, more and more firms are devoting resources to ethics training and loss prevention. But are these resources enough?

The problem with ethics training is that—however well-intentioned—it must focus on the real world situations that lawyers and law firms face. And no one knows better what causes a malpractice claim or ethics complaint than legal malpractice defense counsel and lawyers who defend other lawyers before the Board of Bar Overseers (BBO).

This highly-experienced panel of malpractice defense counsel and lawyers who practice before the BBO, including a former chair of the BBO, provide real-world examples of how and why lawyers get in trouble. They share their experiences “from the trenches” and highlight practical tips and techniques to avoid malpractice claims.

Defending against malpractice claims or ethics complaints has both an economic and psychological impact. When it comes to malpractice, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. This program is a must-attend for law firm management, in-house counsel, and risk management counsel for firms of all sizes.

Agenda & Materials

• 2:00 p.m. - 2:05 p.m.

  Welcome and Introduction

  Hon. Debra A. Squires-Lee, Superior Court, Business Litigation Session, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• 2:05 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.

  Client Intake, Conflicts & Termination

  on demand video Add to Cart

  Gary M. Ronan, Esq., Goulston & Storrs, PC , Boston
  
• a. Client Intake & Selection: Traps & Risks for the Unwary
• b. Conflicts, Conflicts, Conflicts: Why Do Lawyers Still Get it Wrong?
• c. Termination Issues: How to Avoid a Bad Breakup
• 2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

  Client Communications, Client Funds & Zealous Advocacy

  on demand video Add to Cart

  Hon. Debra A. Squires-Lee, Superior Court, Business Litigation Session, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• a. Communication: Fulfilling Your Duty to Communicate is the Key to Loss Prevent
• b. Client Funds & the BBO: From IOLTA Accounts to Overbilling
• c. Zealous Advocacy & Potential Pitfalls
• 3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 4:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.

  Attorney Supervision & Attorney Mental Health

  on demand video Add to Cart

  Mary B. Strother, Esq., Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• a. Supervision: What Does It Mean that Law Firms Have a Duty to Oversee Associates, Paralegals & Contractors?
• b. Drugs, Alcohol & Depression: Issues that Law Firms Cannot Ignore
• 4:50 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  "Ask the Experts" Q&A Session

  Panel
  

Chair

Faculty