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Malpractice Traps:What You Need to Know
Beverly A. Michaelis, J.D.
Professional Liability Fund
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1. Everyday Mistakes Can Be Costly
2. eCourt Pitfalls
3. Confidentiality Traps for the Unwary
Topics
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Everyday MistakesCan Be Costly
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Transactional Practice
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Lack of Client Follow Through
UCC Renewals
Transferring Assets Into Trust
Changing Beneficiaries
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1. With CPAs
Filing Subchapter S Election
2. With Other Lawyers
In-House Counsel
Co-Counsel
Failure to Document
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Drafting Errors
Failing to Take a Security Interest
Over-Reliance On Boilerplate
New Case New Rule Not Found
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Litigation Practice
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1. Missing Statute of Limitations
2. Inadequate or Incomplete Service
3. Allowing Defaults Or Dismissals
Administrative Errors
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Inadequate Investigation
Failing to Accurately Identify Parties
Failing to Verify Details
Failing to Discover Lienholders
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Poor Client Relations
1. Lack of Informed Consent
2. Poor Case/Client Screening
3. Fee Disputes
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1. Apply the ARMS Test
2. Use Engagement Letters
3. Document the File
4. Investigate the Clients Facts
5. Carefully Review All Forms
9 Proven Solutions to
Avoid Claims
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6. Double-Check Statutes, Rules
7. Accurately Identify All Parties
8. Docket Follow-Up Dates
9. Use Teamwork
9 Proven Solutions to
Avoid Claims
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Teamwork Controls the Risk
Keep Your Own Calendar
Take Initiative
Give Tactful Reminders
Get to Know Clients
Meet Weekly
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eCourt Pitfalls
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eFiling Basics
1. Create PDFs Electronically
2. Avoid Scanning
3. Documents Must Be Searchable
4. Acrobat is the Gold Standard
Free if you buy a Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 http://bit.ly/aJWvX
http://bit.ly/aJWvXhttp://bit.ly/aJWvX
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eNotice Basics
Keep Your E-mail Address Current
Clean Out Your E-Mail Server
Learn How to Recover Notices
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Common eCourt Traps
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Upload the Correct Document
Dont Rely on Grace Periods
Give Documents Proper Names
Verify Before You Upload
Always Check the Confirmation
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Help! I Deleted the E-Notice
1. Double-Up on E-Notices
2. Train Staff
3. Consider Changing Outlook Defaults
4. Try www.recuva.com or
5. Run an eCourt Report
http://www.recuva.com/http://www.recuva.com/
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White List Court Domains
Choose Actions Junk E-Mail, Junk E-Mail Options
Safe Senders Tab, Add
Or Right Click, Choose Junk E-Mail
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Computer Viruses
1. Keep Software Up-to-Date
2. Use More than One Line of Defense:
www.malwarebytes.org3. Monitor the ECF System Directly
4. Speak Up!
http://www.malwarebytes.org/http://www.malwarebytes.org/
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Keep Informed
1. Include Staff Addresses on e-Filings
2. Use Rules to Forward Court E-Mail
3. Set Up a Generic Address forCourt Notices:
[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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Dont Rely on the Court File
1. Maintain a Complete File
2. Backup! Backup! Backup!
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Avoid Last Minute Filings
1. No Internet Connection
2. Court Web Site Offline
3. Other Technical Difficulties
4. No Help Desk Support
5. Out of Time for Paper Filing
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Confidentiality Trapsfor the Unwary
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Embarrassment
Damage to your Client
Damage to your Reputation
Loss of Trust
Loss of Future Business
Consider the Consequences
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E-Mail & Fax
1. Verify
2. Send a Greeting
3. Understand Auto-Complete
4. Resist Reply to All
5. Use Disclaimers
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Remote Access
+ Unencrypted
+ No Firewalls
+ Unsecured Wi-Fi
= Breach of Confidentiality
Consider Air Cards
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Metadata
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Always Inspect
Copy Document First
Office Button
Prepare
Inspect Document
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Invoke Warnings
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Best Practices
Individual Documents in AcrobatDocument > Examine
Document
All Documents In Acrobat
Edit > Preferences > Document > Examine DocumentWhen
closing document
When sending document by e-mail
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Redaction
What?The permanent removal of text or images
Why?Protect confidential content
How?Through proper use of software
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Changing the Background Color
Covering Sensitive Text with Fill
What Redaction is NOT
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Use Acrobat to Redact
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1. Shred Paper
2. Wipe Hard Drives
www.dban.com
3. Properly Dispose of
Electronicshttp://www.abanet.org/tech/ltrc/fyidocs/
http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ecycle/index.htm
Destruction
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Thank You!Beverly Michaelis
Practice Management [email protected]
503-639-6911 or 800-452-1639
Twitter: http://twitter.com/OreLawPracMgmt
Blog: http://oregonlawpracticemanagement.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlymichaelis
