Practice advisor programs are administered and strongly supported by many of our subscribing law societies. There is good reason for this. The experienced practitioners providing  practice advice or reviews are often the ‘first line of defence’ to mitigate practice issues. As noted by the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador:

CLIA has a strong commitment to loss prevention and we take a proactive approach to avoiding claims. CLIA acts as a central hub for our subscribers by offering one-stop-shopping for those who need a quick source of loss prevention resources. Our Loss Prevention Online Repository houses a collection of links to numerous checklists, tips, articles and guides created by our subscribers and partners.

We can’t stress enough the importance of early reporting of a claim or potential claim. Your CLIA Policy and Code of Professional Conduct require you to report a claim or potential claim as soon as practicable after learning of a claim or becoming aware of circumstances that might give rise to a claim, however unmeritorious. Failure to report in a timely fashion can jeopardize your coverage. Late reporting also makes the handling and resolution of a claim more difficult. 

For over three years, the Law Society of Saskatchewan has developed the Bite Size CPD Series. These informative under-10-minute video episodes cover a variety of topics and are available for all to view on the Law Society website. A new episode is released each Thursday. 

Lawyers often report a potential insurance claim on a matter they have taken on for a friend or relative. These are among the most embarrassing claims for the lawyer and among the most difficult to defend for the insurer.

CLIA has a strong commitment to loss prevention. We take a proactive approach to avoiding claims and developed a Loss Prevention Strategic Plan to more focus our energies on helping lawyers find the loss prevention resources they need. In case you missed it, here is a collection of Generative AI posts to help you better manage your practice and avoid errors:

CLIA has a strong commitment to loss prevention. We take a proactive approach to avoiding claims and developed a Loss Prevention Strategic Plan to more focus our energies on helping lawyers find the loss prevention resources they need. In case you missed it, here is a collection of loss prevention posts focused on practice management to help you better manage your practice and avoid errors:

CLIA has a strong commitment to loss prevention. We take a proactive approach to avoiding claims and developed a Loss Prevention Strategic Plan to more focus our energies on helping lawyers find the loss prevention resources they need. In case you missed it, here is a collection of loss prevention posts focused on client relations to help you better manage your practice and avoid errors:

CLIA has a strong commitment to loss prevention. We take a proactive approach to avoiding claims and developed a Loss Prevention Strategic Plan to more focus our energies on helping lawyers find the loss prevention resources they need. In case you missed it, here is a collection of loss prevention posts to help you better manage your practice and avoid errors:

Since our original post in February, both Ontario and Manitoba have developed guidance on generative AI. Below is an update including these new resources.

Lawyers in CLIA jurisdictions are required to report a claim as soon as practicable after learning of a claim or becoming aware of circumstances which might give rise to a claim, however unmeritorious.

For over ten years, CLIA produced more than 70 articles for our Loss Prevention Bulletin. While discontinued in 2016, the advice shared in some of these articles is timeless and still of value. We’re curating those articles to bring you our ‘From the Vault’ series. The article below is #155 from November, 2003.

A new series focuses on artificial intelligence (AI), including an overview of what it is, its strengths and weaknesses and your duties as a lawyer when using AI. While some episodes focus on the new Law Society Artificial Intelligence Guidelines, useful information is included for all. See also our recent post on Generative AI Guidance for information regarding guidelines in your jurisdiction.

Effective communication with your client is key to avoiding claims. The Lawyer’s Insurance Association of Nova Scotia (LIANS) has compiled several useful communication tips on their website.

Failure to communicate effectively with clients is the common factor in a large percentage of errors and omissions claims. The Lawyer’s Insurance Association of Nova Scotia (LIANS) has compiled several useful communication tips on their website.

At the spring 2012 American Bar Association Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability National Legal Malpractice Conference, Ronald C. Minkoff, Laura Frankel, Richard A. Simpson and Robert H. Moses presented a session on professional liability claims arising out of a family law practice.

Before Samuel Teichroew went to law school, he met with Barney Christianson to talk about rural legal practice.

As previously noted in our post on limitation periods, Roundup: Avoiding Missed Limitation Periods, human error and inadequate office systems are two of the reasons lawyers miss deadlines, including limitation period. Improving time management skills can help.

The recent Supreme Court of British Columbia decision, Zhang v. Chen, 2024 BCSC 285, highlights the danger in relying on generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, for legal research. The lawyer in this case relied upon two non-existent cases, which were discovered subsequently to have been invented by ChatGPT.