What if you could give back just because it felt good, because it was the right thing to do? And not just for the community. What if giving back was the right thing for you?
Read More »Tag Archives: Rules of Professional Conduct
ON ETHICS: Backdating scheme fells law firm
The now-defunct New York firm of Dewey & LeBouef collapsed for many reasons. One of those, it is clear now, was that the now-former partners ignored their responsibilities to the firm and to each other.
Read More »LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: Clients are No. 1 in Model Rules — and in your practice
A quick glance at the table of contents for the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct is all it takes to let you know that the client is No. 1.
Read More »Making time for pro bono
The Rules of Professional Conduct don’t require pro bono service, but they strongly recommend it. Fifty hours per year, to be exact.
Read More »LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: The cost of incivility
Most lawyers take pride in zealous advocacy on behalf of their clients.
LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: Pay-to-play access fees
A recent LA Times column describes a twist in medical fees. A specialist, in this case a cardiologist, is charging a premium retainer fee for accessibility. And that’s just access, not treatment.
Dangers lurk around ghost blogging
Blogging can be a cost-effective means of marketing, but when the writing is done by someone other than a lawyer, firms put themselves at risk of potential ethics violations.
LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: Will the market change what bar associations won’t?
Although corporate law firms have seen business improve since the depths of the Great Recession, things hardly are robust even today.
LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: What’s your recourse if the client refuses to pay?
An opinion this year by the New Jersey State Bar’s Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics raises a major alarm bell for any lawyer who has trouble collecting money from a current client.
LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: Your recourse if the client refuses to pay
A recent opinion by the New Jersey State Bar’s Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics raises a major alarm bell for any lawyer who has trouble collecting money from a client.
LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: When is a flat fee refundable?
An interesting issue can be raised about one type of alternative billing arrangement, namely a fixed or flat fee with the billing rate determined and stipulated in the engagement letter, before the assignment even begins.
ABA proposes change in firm ownership rules
The American Bar Association’s Ethics 20/20 Commission has proposed changing the Rules of Professional Conduct to permit other service professionals, such as accountants, social workers and public relations professionals, to partner with attorneys to own up to 25 percent of a law firm.
Read More »Ethics professionals: Use caution with pay-per-lead advertising
Though Wisconsin has closed the book on investigating a controversial pay-per-lead website and other states have done the same, ethics professionals advise lawyers to use caution with similar advertising models.
Read More »Conduct rules questioned
Madison attorney John Nicholas Schweitzer wants his peers to charge less in some instances and accept new fees in others, but he’ll have to get through the state Supreme Court first.
Read More »