Poor client communication is one of the most common factors in malpractice claims and bar complaints. To avoid these issues and enhance your legal services, consider the following tips.
Fraudulent Activity Alert Relating to the Corporate Transparency Act
As many business law practitioners are aware, a new federal law called the Corporate Transparency Act took effect on January 1, 2024. The wide-reaching legislation imposes new reporting requirements on most small and medium-sized businesses, individuals with ownership interest or control in those entities, and the lawyers or other legal professionals involved in their formation. Failure to comply with the strict reporting deadlines may carry civil and/or criminal penalties.
Shape Your Work With Pro Se Parties
Clear communication with pro se parties can help prevent misunderstandings and allow you to better work with them and obtain the information you need to represent your client competently and diligently. Focus on building a professional relationship with them that clearly defines roles and interests. Consider the following tips when interacting with a self-represented litigant to help avoid potential ethics or malpractice issues.
New OJD Email Address: How to Add It to Your Safe Senders List
The email domain that Oregon’s circuit courts and the Oregon Tax Court use to send notices has changed. Here are instructions for how to add a domain name to your Safe Senders List in Outlook.
New Email Address for Court Notifications
Effective September 20, 2023, the email domain that Oregon circuit courts and the Oregon Tax Court uses to send electronic notices of court hearings, orders, and judgments has changed.
Can We Talk? Audio Conferencing Options and Tips
These days, video and audio calls are the new standard. Consider incorporating audioconferencing into your practice if you haven’t already done so.
Manage Meetings Like a Conductor
If you want to improve your meeting management skills, take your inspiration from the conductor.
Using Video to Support Internal Office Processes
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a one-minute video equals 1.8 million words. This article will discuss three ways to use video to run a better practice, reduce potential malpractice, and improve your bottom line. It will conclude with a step-by-step tutorial on how to make videos for your staff in Microsoft Teams
Drawing the Line for Nonengagement
Meeting with a potential client may sometimes feel like walking a tightrope. It can be difficult to end the intake without any misunderstandings or unintended promises. When someone believes an attorney-client relationship has formed but you do not, a real danger exists. As the attorney, it is your role and responsibility to clearly communicate when an attorney-client relationship is established and when it is not, no matter the marketing medium.
Making the Work Flow
To prevent mishaps and errors, you may need to evaluate how cases proceed through your office. Having a smooth process can avoid inaccuracies and save time. You can be more efficient if you have a well-defined and planned workflow for you and your staff.
Feel Well: Emotional Well-Being 2022
End the Friday feeling well with emotional well-being!
Connect: Social Well-Being 2022
Let's connect this Thursday with Social Well-Being!
Engage and Grow: Career and Intellectual Well-Being 2022
Let's engage this Wednesday with Career and Intellectual Well-Being!
Align: Spiritual Well-Being 2022
Let's align this Tuesday with Spiritual Well-Being!
Stay Strong: Well-Being Week Kick-Off and Physical Well-Being 2022
How Physical Well-Being fits into the role of a lawyer.
Well-Being Week in Law: 2022 Sneak Peak
The OAAP is excited to bring you blog posts and resources to enhance your well-being. Each day
Don't Underestimate the "Obvious": Document, Document, Document
Many malpractice claims arise from a client
Communication with Clients: Adjust as Necessary
Regardless of the practice area, many attorneys are now facing the dilemma of losing track of their clients. The pandemic, and most recently wildfires on the West Coast, has upended many people
Phone Systems: What Works for Your Firm?
As we move forward and adjust to the changing infrastructure due to the pandemic, it is a good time to think about what type of phone system works best for your law firm. Phone calls remain a very popular form of communication, despite other methods such as email, video conferencing, and client portals, and may be the preferred method depending on the circumstances.
Client Portals: Take Control of Client Communication
Client portals allow lawyers to interact with clients in a secure environment to accomplish tasks such as gathering information, sharing documents, and making payments for services. They can be a valuable tool for lawyers, so consider implementing them into your practice if you haven't already.
Six Tips for Keeping Clients Happier with Communication
Unhappy clients are not the clients you want to have. They complain to you, to your staff, to their neighbors, to their friends, and they complain to the Oregon State Bar. One thing that makes clients unhappy is being ignored. Their emails go unanswered. There is no callback. If a receptionist is answering the phone, the receptionist becomes less sympathetic to the complaining client out of embarrassment or frustration.
Evolving Scams: Don't Let Your Guard Down
When it comes to scams, never let your guard down. Even though you may feel like you can recognize the red flags, the scammers are constantly evolving and creating more sophisticated scams as we catch on to their more obvious ploys.
5 Tips to Better Billing
If your billing rate isn't matched by your collection rate, you may have a problem with your billing. Here are five tips that can help you send out bills that get paid promptly in full.
Saving Text Messages
Text messaging with your clients is a practice that requires thoughtful consideration. If you find yourself in a situation in which you want or need to save text messages, you have many options available, but there is no "one size fits all" solution.
Communicating Effectively and Professionally
The legal world is changing quickly on many fronts, most notably technology. The way we communicate is greatly impacted as a result. Unfortunately, it has also highlighted a divergence among different generations of attorneys, particularly regarding the most appropriate form of communication in different contexts.
Send Text Messages to Your Clients without Using Your Cell Phone
Have you ever wanted to text an appointment reminder or a quick message to your clients without having to use your cell phone? There is an easy and free way to do this. It