Every year, more and more attorneys are facing disciplinary action and litigation for alleged professional or ethical negligence. In a litigious society, no one is immune. Knowing what is required and how to identify problems before they happen is vital. Let us provide you with proactive strategies for spotting and avoiding potential areas of liability and answer your most pressing ethical questions. Find out how simple changes to your routine can make ethical legal practices second nature – order today!

1. Ethical Client Communications
2. Responsible Management of Attorney's Fees and Client Trust Accounts
3. Record-Keeping Practices That Prevent Legal Malpractice Allegations
4. Preventing Legal Malpractice in Everyday Practice

ETHICAL CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS
8:45 - 9:30, Patrick P. Devine

• Protecting Confidentiality
• Preventing Conflicts of Interest
• Keeping the Client in the Loop
• Admitting to the Client When You've Made a Mistake
• Managing Difficult Clients
• What to do When Co-Clients are Fighting?
• Representing a Mentally Incapable Client or a Minor
• Implied Attorney-Client Contracts

RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND CLIENT TRUST ACCOUNTS
9:45 - 10:30, Patrick Lyp

• Choosing the Appropriate Billing Method
• Initial Fee Agreements
• Simple Tips to Avoid Commingling of Funds
• Keeping Impeccable Financial Records
• How to Write Invoices That Clients Will Pay
• Fee Splitting
• Resolving Fee Disputes

RECORD-KEEPING PRACTICES THAT PREVENT LEGAL MALPRACTICE ALLEGATIONS
10:30 - 11:15, Patrick P. Devine

• How Long do I Keep the Closed Case File?
• What Must Be Done When a Lawyer Enters or Leaves the Firm?
• Electronic Communications Challenges
• Can an Attorney Secretly Record Conversations?

PREVENTING LEGAL MALPRACTICE IN EVERYDAY PRACTICE
11:15 - 12:00, Patrick Lyp

• Interstate Practice of Law
• Partnering With Colleagues and Case Referral
• Ethical Advertising and the Pitfalls in Online Marketing
• Assisting a Pro Se Litigant
• Unauthorized Practice of Law - What to do When You're in Way Over Your Head
• Hidden Dangers of Office Sharing Arrangements

PATRICK P. DEVINE is a partner in the law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, where he concentrates his practice on medical malpractice defense, legal malpractice defense, commercial litigation, fire insurance defense, general liability defense, insurance bad faith defense, and premises liability defense. Mr. Devine earned his B.S. degree from Indiana University School of Business and his J.D. degree, with honors, from DePaul University College of Law. He is a member of the Order of the Coif, recipient of the CALI Award for Excellence in Advanced Trial Advocacy, and the 2001 recipient of the Citizens/Allmerica Exceptional Performance Award. Mr. Devine is admitted to practice in Indiana, Illinois, and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana and the Northern District of Illinois. He is a member of the Lake County Bar Association.

PATRICK LYP is a partner in the Valparaiso firm of Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman, LLC, where he practices in the areas of business transactions, bankruptcy, municipal law and collection matters. He is a former adjunct professor at Valparaiso University School of Law, where he taught business drafting. Mr. Lyp earned his B.A. degree, with honors, from the Catholic University of America, and his J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. He is a member of the Porter County and Indiana State (member, Legal Ethics Committee) bar associations. Mr. Lyp is licensed to practice in both Indiana and Illinois state and federal courts.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com