Articles
Is there a deductible for claims under my Run-Off coverage?
You may be one of the many lawyers that were in private practice at one point – but have now retired, opted to work for the government, as in-house counsel, or in another career entirely. Wouldn’t it be great if your exposure to claims ended as soon as you took down your private practice shingle?… Read More »
Categories: 2014 June - Year in Review 2013, Articles, Errors & Omissions, LAWPRO policyComputers running Windows XP SP3 or Office 2003 must be updated immediately
As reported widely in the media and mentioned in the December 2013 LAWPRO Magazine, Microsoft ceased supporting Windows XP SP3 (Service Pack 3) and Office 2003 (SP3) as of April 8, 2014. There will be no new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates from Microsoft for… Read More »
Categories: 2014 June - Year in Review 2013, Articles, Cyber dangers, Legal Technology, Tech TipsTeraview tip: Is searching by municipal address getting you the right property?
Do you search by municipal address when using Teraview software? LAWPRO defence counsel have reported seeing construction liens filed on the wrong property where lawyers solely relied on municipal addresses. Note that Teraview presents you with an onscreen caution that “Addresses are approximate.” It is the legal description that determines which property is being impacted…. Read More »
Categories: 2014 June - Year in Review 2013, Articles, Practice Tips, Real EstateFeeling the pressure?
Each of us faces challenges in life. Sometimes we welcome those challenges, like marriage, the birth of a child, a promotion or a new job. And sometimes we don’t, like divorce, job loss, a serious illness or the death of a loved one. It is no secret that a legal career brings with it many… Read More »
Categories: 2014 June - Year in Review 2013, Articles, Wellness, WellnessInformed, documented plea instructions protect you from claims
Though the rate of malpractice claims flowing from criminal cases is lower than in other areas of law, the number of claims in this area is on the rise, and for many of the same reasons we see in other areas. The most frequent cause? Issues with lawyer-client communication. An area of particular vulnerability to… Read More »
Categories: Areas of Law, Articles, Communications Errors, Content Type, Criminal Law, Inadequate Investigation, Malpractice ErrorsClear communication your best defence against allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel
A substantial proportion of professional liability claims against criminal defence counsel are based on allegations of “ineffective assistance”. The jurisprudence makes it clear that poor lawyer-client communication is at the root of many of these claims. Allegations of ineffective assistance are usually first tested in the context of the appeal of a conviction. Few of… Read More »
Categories: Areas of Law, Articles, Communications Errors, Content Type, Criminal Law, Dabbling, Failure to Know The LawCan a criminal conviction make your client inadmissible for residency/citizenship?
Where a client charged with a serious crime is a non-citizen of Canada and is hoping to obtain resident status, criminal lawyers should be aware that recent changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) raise special plea and sentencing considerations. The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act On June 19, 2013, amendments to… Read More »
Categories: Areas of Law, Articles, Communications Errors, Content Type, Criminal Law, Failure to Know The LawJob market scoop: What do law firms look for?
Law students – like all students – are prone to anxiety about their career prospects. High-profile news about the employment challenges faced by new grads in the U.S. and changes in the articling requirements for Ontario have combined to create a climate of worry. But worrying about trends and generalizations can obscure the fact that… Read More »
Categories: 2014 Student Issue 2, Articles, Law students/new lawyers, Legal Careers, New LawyersDo you have what it takes to be a sole practitioner?
One-third of the more than 24,000 lawyers in private practice in Ontario are sole practitioners. as a solo, it’s great to have the freedom that comes with being your own boss, but you also have full responsibility for all aspects of the operation of your law practice. Do you have what it takes to be a… Read More »
Categories: 2014 Student Issue 2, Articles, Law students/new lawyers, New Lawyers, Solo and Small Firm