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Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Keep Suing All The Lawyers: Recent Developments In Claims Against Lawyers For Aiding & Abetting A Client’S Breach Of Fiduciary Duty, Katerina P. Lewinbuk May 2018

Keep Suing All The Lawyers: Recent Developments In Claims Against Lawyers For Aiding & Abetting A Client’S Breach Of Fiduciary Duty, Katerina P. Lewinbuk

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

Lawyers have increasingly become subject to liability under various legal theories, ranging from traditional legal malpractice or negligence liability claims to various third-party actions. Most recently, state and federal courts across the country have recognized attorney liability for aiding and abetting a client’s breach of fiduciary duty. This Article will address the current status of the cause of action for a lawyer’s aiding and abetting her client’s breach of fiduciary duty, explain the commonalities and distinguish nuances as outlined by particular states, examine recent decisions by federal courts that have recognized the cause of action, and culminate in its conclusion …


Mutually Assured Protection Among Large U.S. Law Firms, Tom Baker, Rick Swedloff Jan 2017

Mutually Assured Protection Among Large U.S. Law Firms, Tom Baker, Rick Swedloff

All Faculty Scholarship

Top law firms are notoriously competitive, fighting for prime clients and matters. But some of the most elite firms are also deeply cooperative, willingly sharing key details about their finances and strategy with their rivals. More surprisingly, they pay handsomely to do so. Nearly half of the AmLaw 100 and 200 belong to mutual insurance organizations that require member firms to provide capital; partner time; and important information about their governance, balance sheets, risk management, strategic plans, and malpractice liability. To answer why these firms do so when there are commercial insurers willing to provide coverage with fewer burdens, we …


Liability Insurer Data As A Window On Lawyers’ Professional Liability, Tom Baker, Rick Swedloff Jan 2015

Liability Insurer Data As A Window On Lawyers’ Professional Liability, Tom Baker, Rick Swedloff

All Faculty Scholarship

Using the best publicly available data on lawyers’ liability claims and insurance – from the largest insurer of large law firms in the U.S., the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Professional Liability, and a summary of large claims from a leading insurance broker–this article reports the frequency of lawyers’ liability claims, the distribution and cost of claims by type of practice, the disposition of claims, and lawyers liability insurance premiums from the early 1980s to 2013. Notable findings include remarkable stability over thirty years in the distribution of claims by area of practice among both small and large firms, …


A No-Fault Remedy For Legal Malpractice?, Melissa D. Mortazavi Dec 2014

A No-Fault Remedy For Legal Malpractice?, Melissa D. Mortazavi

Melissa Mortazavi

No abstract provided.


No Laughing Matter: The Intersection Of Legal Malpractice And Professionalism, Nicola A. Boothe-Perry Jan 2012

No Laughing Matter: The Intersection Of Legal Malpractice And Professionalism, Nicola A. Boothe-Perry

Journal Publications

In an effort to increase professionalism among lawyers, an analysis of the relationship between lawyers' professional behavior and legal malpractice claims is warranted. This Article will explore that relationship, and address the need to fuse the two components in an effort to enhance professionalism. The Article will specifically seek to address the questions: (1) Should professionalism be admissible, or even conclusive, evidence of the standard of care of the "reasonable attorney" in legal malpractice cases? and (2) Will a proper definition of the "reasonable attorney" in the context of legal malpractice cases encourage and ultimately enhance professionalism in legal society?


Appellate Malpractice, Steven Wisotsky Oct 2002

Appellate Malpractice, Steven Wisotsky

The Journal of Appellate Practice and Process

No abstract provided.


Lawyers' Malpractice In Litigation, Nathaniel Rothstein Jan 1972

Lawyers' Malpractice In Litigation, Nathaniel Rothstein

Cleveland State Law Review

Until recently, when we spoke of malpractice we invariably meant medical malpractice. Less than 20 years ago only a handful of lawyers carried professional liability (malpractice) insurance. This is no longer true. Attorneys who practice in large metropolitan areas are now keenly aware of the importance and necessity of having this insurance coverage; and in no segment of the legal profession is this more urgent than amongst trial lawyers-for much like surgeons in the medical field, trial lawyers are the most vulnerable in attorney-malpractice lawsuits.


Legal Malpractice: Improper Representation Of Conflicting Interests, Marshall J. Nachbar Jan 1972

Legal Malpractice: Improper Representation Of Conflicting Interests, Marshall J. Nachbar

Cleveland State Law Review

When an attorney, for whatever reason-sloth, over zealous conduct, or personal greed-represents a client without being completely loyal to the client's interests there are several things that may occur. The attorney may be subject to disciplinary or disbarment proceedings. He may be disqualified from further representing his client. If the attorney's actions have resulted in damage to his client the attorney may find himself the defendant in a malpractice action. If the cause of the damage is alleged to be the result of an attorney representing dual interests or improperly representing adverse interests then the cause of action will be …


Commencement Of Statute Of Limitations For Malpractice Of An Attorney, James Gordon Joseph Jan 1972

Commencement Of Statute Of Limitations For Malpractice Of An Attorney, James Gordon Joseph

Cleveland State Law Review

In almost all jurisdictions the statute of limitations for the malpractice of an attorney is between one and three years. Although some argue that this is too short a period, the main problem is not in the statute but in its application. Difficulty arises when a court must decide at what point the statute of limitations begins to run. To appreciate a court's problem, the nature and reasons behind statutes of limitations must be understood