LAWPRO Magazine Article Type
From crisis to innovation: 20 years of LAWPRO professional liability insurance
Twenty years ago, an investigative task force appointed by the Law Society of Upper Canada made a sobering discovery: the fund established to pay for professional indemnity claims against Ontario lawyers was underfunded by over $200 million dollars. The resulting crisis presented the bar in Ontario with one of the most serious challenges in its history…. Read More »
Categories: 2015 February - LAWPRO 20th, Articles, Errors & Omissions, Features, LAWPRO policy20 years of LAWPRO leading cases
While Ontario lawyers will appreciate that LAWPRO defends them on legal malpractice claims, they may not appreciate the breadth of legal issues that come up in those claims. This article highlights leading or significant cases that LAWPRO litigated over the past 20 years, some of which dealt with legal issues and principles that are relevant… Read More »
Categories: 2015 February - LAWPRO 20th, Admin dismissals/Rule 48, Articles, Casebook, Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Limitation Periods, Wills & Estates20 ways to improve the finances of your practice
The demands of individual files can make it a challenge to give your practice’s finances the time and attention they need. From the new issue of LAWPRO Magazine, here are 20 ways you can make or save more money in your day-to-day work. Most are relatively simple and can be implemented at little or no… Read More »
Categories: 2015 February - LAWPRO 20th, Articles, Finances, Practice TipsDon’t get duped: 20 red flags of bad cheque fraud you should recognize
Lawyers in all areas of practice continue to be the frequent targets of bad cheque scams. These scams involve debt collections, business loans, IP licensing disputes or spousal support payments. While it appears Ontario lawyers are increasingly aware of these frauds, occasionally some are being duped into disbursing funds on a bad cheque they have… Read More »
Categories: 2015 February - LAWPRO 20th, Articles, Cyber dangers, Fraud, Practice TipsOur history shapes our future
At least once a month I ask myself a few questions. Has LAWPRO remained true to its roots? Have we lived up to the expectations set out in the 1994 Insurance Task Force Report? Is it not true that, in many ways, we’ve surpassed them and are on the way to achieving goals that weren’t… Read More »
Categories: 2015 February - LAWPRO 20th, Articles, EditorialsDemystifying condominiums with better communication
Condominium ownership has a unique set of rules and responsibilities. Helping your clients understand what they are getting into can reduce your risk of a malpractice claim. Start off on the right foot at the beginning of your relationship by sending a detailed retainer letter setting out what you will or will not be doing… Read More »
Categories: 2015 February - LAWPRO 20th, Articles, Communications Errors, Real Estate, TitlePLUSWould you get caught in a trust vs. gift dispute when handling purchase funds?
It can be uncomfortable to talk about money. When handling real estate purchases and domestic contracts, however, lawyers can’t afford to accept purchase funds on a “no questions asked” basis. Why not? Because if purchase funds come from somebody other than the prospective owner, the doctrine of resulting trust presumes that, regardless of who is… Read More »
Categories: 2015 February - LAWPRO 20th, Articles, Could This Happen to You?, Real EstateYou may be exposed to a claim if you release a private mortgage advance to a third party
LAWPRO has become aware of a new exception to coverage in certain title insurance policies which could expose real estate practitioners to claims from their private lender clients. The issue has recently arisen in connection with private residential mortgage transactions, and in particular where the lender and borrower are separately represented, as required, because the… Read More »
Categories: Alerts, Real Estate, Title insurance, TitlePLUS2015 coverage for lawyers in private practice
Standard insurance coverage The base program Eligibility: Required of all lawyers providing services in private practice. 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 2015 insurance program includes a… Read More »
Categories: 2014 October - Insurance Issue 2015, Articles, Errors & Omissions2015 insurance coverage for exempt lawyers
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: 2014 October - Insurance Issue 2015, Articles, Errors & Omissions