Identify and minimize the ethical risk while representing clients.
Lawyers and legal staff have important ethical duties and responsibilities when representing clients and working on client files, including competence, communication, client intake, identifying conflicts of interest, managing client files, and closing the client file. This topic will assist lawyers and legal staff in identifying and avoiding, or minimizing, the ethical risks while properly representing clients and it will also provide guidance and best practices.
Agenda
How to Properly Communicate With Clients
- Keep the Client Properly Informed and Advised During the Representation
- Document the File, Copy the Client With All Relevant Documents Related to Representation, and Provide Periodic Updates
- Timely Response to Client Communications
- Be Careful What You Say in Emails and Other Communications - Do Not Assume That It Will Remain Confidential
- Do Not Include Confidential Information in Response to Online Reviews/Complaints
How to Act Competently
How to Handle Client Intake
- Use a Client Intake Form
- Conducting Initial Client Interview
- Screen Potential Clients for Potential Conflict of Interest at the Beginning of the Representation
How to Avoid Conflicts of Interest
How to Preserve Client Confidentiality
How to Manage Client Matters and Files
- Create a File Organization System
- Maintain Your Calendar
- Communicate With Client
- Be Careful What You Say in Emails
- Copy Client With All Relevant Documents
- Conduct Periodic File Reviews to Maintain Progression of the Files
How to Handle File Closing and Records Management/Retention
- Create a Procedure for File Retention
- Withdrawal and Non-Engagement/Disengagement Letters
- Withdrawal/Termination of Representation
Non-Lawyers and Ethics Rules
Ethical Fees and Fee Agreements
- Have Written Fee Agreement or Engagement Letter
- Identify the Client(S)
- Provide Clients With a Bill With Detailed Time Entries on Monthly Basis
Speakers
Joseph A. Corsmeier, Esq.,
The Law Office of Joseph A. Corsmeier, P.A.- Founder and president/owner of The Law Office of Joseph A. Corsmeier, P.A.
- Practices primarily in the areas of: attorney disciplinary defense before the Florida Bar, attorney admission matters before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, professional license and disciplinary matters before the Boards of the State of Florida
- Provides expert analysis and opinions on ethics issues, legal malpractice, conflicts of interest, fees, attorney disqualification, and other matters and has testified as an expert in both federal and Florida courts
- Frequent speaker and has written numerous publications on topics including ethics and professionalism, law office management, fees, trust accounting, social media, technology, conflicts of interest, and other topics
- Holds the highest lawyer rating with Martindale-Hubbell and AVVO Law Directories; designated as a Super Lawyer
- Admitted to practice in all Florida courts, the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Middle District of Florida
- Member of the American Bar Association, the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, and the Clearwater and St. Petersburg Bar Associations; served as director of the Clearwater Bar Association 2004-2009 and president 2009-2010
- Adjunct professor of paralegal ethics at St. Petersburg College
- J.D. degree, Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law; B.A. degree, Florida State University
- Can be contacted at 727-799-1688 or jcorsmeier@jac-law.com
Who Should Attend
This live webinar is is primarily designed for attorneys. Other legal, construction, and environmental professionals may also benefit from attending.
