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

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

ETHICAL CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS
8:45 - 9:35, Written by Quentin M. Rhoades.
Presented by Quentin M. Rhoades in Missoula, and Edward J. Guza in Billings and Great Falls.

• 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
9:35 - 10:30, Written by Quentin M. Rhoades.
Presented by Quentin M. Rhoades in Missoula, and Edward J. Guza in Billings and Great Falls.

• 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
10:45 - 11:15, Written by Edward J. Guza.
Presented by Quentin M. Rhoades in Missoula, and Edward J. Guza in Billings and Great Falls.

• 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, Written by Edward J. Guza.
Presented by Quentin M. Rhoades in Missoula, and Edward J. Guza in Billings and Great Falls.

• 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

EDWARD J. GUZA is a founding partner of the Bozeman law firm of Guza, Williams & Nesbitt, PLLC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of civil litigation and representing employers in employment law issues. Mr. Guza a frequent lecturer for National Business Institute and has previously lectured at legal ethics programs. He is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section and the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association. Mr. Guza also is a member of the Federal District Court of Montana and the State Bar of Montana. He is the past president of the Gallatin County Bar Association. Mr. Guza earned his B.S degree from the University of Montana and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law. (Great Falls and Billings locations)

QUENTIN M. RHOADES is principal in the law firm of Sullivan, Tabaracci & Rhoades, P.C. His practice concentrates on trials and appeals of real property, insurance, and commercial disputes in state and federal courts. Mr. Rhoades has a wealth of courtroom experience before both Montana and federal trial and appellate courts. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; the Montana Supreme Court; the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; the U.S. Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel; U.S. District Court for the District of Montana; the U.S. Court of Claims; the U.S. Tax Court; the U.S. Immigration Court for the Districts of Montana, Washington and Colorado; and the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals. Mr. Rhoades also has been admitted to practice pro hac vice before federal courts in the Western District of Arkansas, the Eastern and Southern districts of Texas, the Western District of Washington, and the District of Minnesota. He earned his B.S. degree and his Master of Arts degree, high honors, from Montana State University; and his J.D. degree from the University Of Montana School Of Law. Mr. Rhoades has lectured on legal ethics, construction law, firearms law and bankruptcy law for several years. (Missoula location)

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