Practice Tips for Lawyers

Remote Access Revolutionizes Legal Work, but Be Wary of Client Confidentiality

May 9, 2025

It has become more mainstream since the pandemic for lawyers to work remotely, whether appearing for a court scheduling conference by Zoom or taking a client call from an Uber. Although this type of work is more ubiquitous than in years past, there is often greater risk in trying to maintain the confidentiality of client information when on the road.

Balancing Duties: How Defense Counsel Can Effectively Serve Insureds and Insurers

May 5, 2025

It is common for lawyers to work as defense counsel for clients whose legal fees are being paid by an insurance company as a result of an insurance policy. In those situations, the relationship between an insured, their defense counsel and their insurer is called the tripartite relationship, reflecting the fact that the client, the lawyer and the insurer are part of the same team.

The Unfinished Doctrine—Is It Really Unfinished?

April 21, 2025

Given recent changes in the stock market and concerns over economic growth and stability, law firms, like any business or partnership, can face interruptions in cash flow or other hardship.

When Can a Lawyer Say Goodbye to a Client?

April 7, 2025

Most attorney-client relationships begin with high hopes: that the matter will go well, that the client’s objectives will be met or perhaps even that the attorney will be able to obtain additional work in the future from that client. Many attorney-client relationships come to a natural end, where the deal the lawyer was retained for closes or the litigation ends.

When Zealous Advocacy Oversteps

April 7, 2025

Litigation lawyers strive to be zealous advocates for their clients.

Conflicts of Interest Involving Ex-Government Lawyers

March 25, 2025

There is no single path for a lawyer’s career. In fact, there are many different types of entities with whom lawyers can practice law.

Do Corporate Attorneys Have a Duty to Speak Up?

March 10, 2025

A lawyer can provide legal advice to an organization without representing the organizations employees and other representatives. That is, a lawyer generally does not have a direct attorney-client relationship with that organization’s individual employees unless such a relationship is specifically undertaken.

Which Professional Liability Policy Is Best?

March 3, 2025

Even in states like California, where carrying professional liability coverage is not statutorily mandated, obtaining legal malpractice and other professional insurance can help protect law practices from potential exposure.

Considerations for a Fully Remote Law Firm

February 24, 2025

With the assistance of emerging technology and a post-COVID-19 era where professionals learned to efficiently work from home, many lawyers have considered setting up entirely remote law firms. Doing so can help new or emerging practices save on rent or other costs of in-person practice, but there are still ethical considerations for a firm that is thinking about moving entirely to being online. Here are some issues to consider.

Balancing Attorney-Client Privilege with a Lawyer’s Right to Defend Against Allegations of Wrongdoing

February 10, 2025

The attorney-client privilege is one of the most sacrosanct concepts at law. Courts will often take steps to maintain and protect the privilege and confidences between a client and their lawyer, absent instances of waiver or fraud.