Top Ethical Snares That Lead to Complaints (or Worse)

Agenda / Content Covered

All times are shown in Eastern time.

• Failing to Communicate Effectively
  2:00 - 3:00 Dean R. Dietrich
  • Keeping Clients Informed on Case Status
  • Involving Clients in Decision Making
  • What Diligence Requires
  • Triaging Issues: What You Should and Should Not Say
  • Putting Key Communications in Writing (Termination Letters, Fee Agreements)
• Financial Misconduct and Billing Issues
  3:00 - 4:00, Dean R. Dietrich
  • Avoiding Excessive Fee Allegations
  • Trust Account Pitfalls
  • Fee Sharing Do's and Don'ts
  • Investing With Clients
• Avoiding Competency Issues and Malpractice Claims
  4:15 - 5:15, Steven R. Sorenson
  • Knowing Which Cases You Should Not Take
  • How to Reject Clients and Withdraw Defensibly
  • Avoiding Substantive and Procedural Error
  • Insufficient Discovery and Case Investigations
  • Top Attorney Mistakes in the Grievance Process

Accreditation Details:

DEAN R. DIETRICH, a shareholder with Dietrich VanderWaal, S.C., has practiced in the areas of municipal law, labor relations and employment law, representing public and private sector clients in all aspects of municipal law and employment law including labor relations. Mr. Dietrich also represents clients in the area of lawyer ethics and professional responsibility and has represented many attorneys in matters before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of Lawyer Regulation, and has consulted with numerous law firms and lawyers regarding compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct. He has served as chair of the State Bar Committee on Professional Ethics in addition to past service on the committee appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review changes to Supreme Court Rules Chapter 20, the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys. In addition, Mr. Dietrich is a member of the ABA's Center for Professional Responsibility and the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers. He is also a member of the Labor and Employment Law and Local Government sections of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and past president of the Senior Lawyers Division. Mr. Dietrich is a graduate of Marquette University Law School

STEVEN R. SORENSON is a shareholder with the law firm of von Briesen & Roper, s.c. He is a member of the American Bar Association Law Foundation, chairs the District Three Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation Committee, and serves on the Ethics Committee of the American Bar Association‘s Legal Education Committee. Mr. Sorenson formerly served as secretary and president of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He is a former member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, former president of both the National Conference of Bar Presidents and the Wisconsin Law Foundation Fellows, and a current member of the foundation's Board of Trustees. Mr. Sorenson presents lectures throughout the state of Wisconsin on various topics, ranging from real estate law to professional ethics. He earned his undergraduate degree from Luther College and his Juris Doctorate degree from Marquette University Law School. During that time, he also attended American University in Washington, D.C. to study national public policy.