It is the responsibility of lawyer management of well managed law firms to
make certain that their firms have developed and implemented those internal
controls and informational systems to insure that their firm's attorneys and
employees operate within the bounds of the rules of professional conduct, and
loss prevention.
Even
under the best efforts, situations do arise in private practice that make it
prudent to review and reinforce the law firm management procedures in place
surrounding ethics and the rules of professional conduct.
At this brand
new law office management/ethics program, a nationally recognized law firm
management consultant, the managing partner of a mid-size law firm and the
former Chief Counsel of the Disciplinary Review Board will join together to
tackle critical topics such as:
• Ethical
obligations: The role(s) of lawyer management
• Conflicts of interest: Ethical concerns related to client
conflicts, issue conflicts and business conflicts; Data base to
immediately
spot potential conflicts; Communications systems to circulate information about
new clients and matters
• Fee disputes:
Enhanced communications with client; scope of engagement letters;
Management
controls to insure engagement letters are used; Review of Bills; Requirements
for Contingent fee agreements; Client advances and charges for out of pocket
costs
• Quality control: Conflicts of interest
related to associate Training; Review of firm work product; Developing the
Firm's
Know-how and Knowledge base
• Maintaining
client confidentiality: Disclosure of clients' confidences; Casual
discussions in
public places; Internet and other technological issues,
etc.
• Loss Prevention: Ethical ways to avoid bad
clients.
…and more!