Chandler & Moore Law, LLC

Retention policies and maintaining client files is one of the more common questions that local Bar association members ask during Chandler & Moore Law's Legal Ethics and Professional Liability Seminars. The primary Georgia Bar Rule that applies to record keeping is 1.15(I)(a) Safekeeping Property General. The Rule requires that funds and "other property" shall be maintained for six years [ 651 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//retention-policies-maint/

Lawyers have an ethical obligation to their clients to provide advice in the client's best interests. This is codified, in part, in Rule 2.1 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The rule states: In representing a client, a lawyer shall exercise independent professional judgment and render candid advice. A lawyer should not be deterred from giving candid advice by the prospect that the advice will be unpalatable to the client. [ 530 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com/personal-injury-wrongful//

Malpractice cases hinge upon the lawyer doing something incorrectly, or failing to do something that they should have done, and a resulting damage that flowed from that negligent act. We get calls on a daily basis from clients who are mad at their lawyers, for a variety of reasons. But the most common lawyers clients call complaining about are divorce lawyers. [ 528 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com/legal-ma/divorce-cost-much/

Stress inherent in the legal profession is difficult to deal with for all lawyers. With Chandler & Moore Law's focus on professional liability and State Bar ethics and disciplinary matters, we have encountered plenty of lawyers who are experiencing substance abuse and addiction problems, depression, and other psychological disorders. In some cases these problems and disorders pre-existed the lawyer's professional calling. [ 567 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//stress-depression-mental/

Managing non-lawyer employees is a critical task that lawyers often overlook. Unfortunately, overlooking such a critical task leads to malpractice complaints and Bar grievances all too often. The simple fact is, as a lawyer, you are responsible for everything your employees do, or don't do. Here are three places where this topic is mentioned in the Bar Rules, plus some tips for better managing your staff to avoid issues like the one mentioned above. [ 479 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//managing-non-lawyer-empl/

Billing is a task most lawyers hate, but it's the way that we all get paid. The Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct require that attorney's feesmoney earned by lawyersbe reasonable. There are a lot of factors in the rule defining what is reasonable, of course. In particular, the experience and expertise of the lawyer can justify a high fee, like $1,000/hour. [ 453 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//ethical-billing-practices/

Representationthe attorney-client relationship, which includes fiduciary dutiescan be started or stopped at any time. Indeed, a client has an unqualified right to fire a lawyer whenever they want. They can do this for any reason, or no reason at all. "Because of this fiduciary relationship, 'a client has the absolute right to discharge the attorney and terminate the relation at any time, even without cause.'" [ 576 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//ending-representation-et/

Multiple representation is a common situation for lawyers. Often, small business owners have a lawyer that they trust and like working with. Over time, as that relationship grows, the owners or managers ask the lawyer to represent them individually on personal matters. Lawyers who are not careful may find themselves in sticky conflict situations very quickly. What could go wrong? [ 417 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//dangers-multiple-represe/

A claimant needs three things for a viable legal malpractice case. First, there must be an attorney-client relationship. Second, the lawyer must have breached their duties owed to the client. And finally, there must be some damages caused by that breach. The last component of a legal malpractice claim is, more explicitly, legal damages. Legal damages are those damages which are recoverable under the law. [ 547 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//damages-legal-malpractic/

On May 19, 2017, Chandler & Moore Law partner Bret Moore spoke at Georgia State University College of Law's annual Solo Practice Workshop. The seminar was free to GSU COL alumni and students, and 4 hours of CLE credit, including one hour of professionalism and one hour of ethics, was offered for a small fee. The Workshop was held at the new GSU COL building in Atlanta, from 8:00 a.m. [ 127 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//bret-moore-speaks-solo-p/

Whether a client is changing counsel, had a change of heart about pursuing their case, or any other reason, there's a clear set of guidelines that lawyers must follow in order to stay out of trouble when a client requests their file. Failure to provide can lead to complaints Lawyers' failure to timely provide a client's file has generated a number of Georgia Bar ethics hotline calls. [ 661 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com/l/client-requests-file-now/

In every case, a lot is riding on credibility. It's the main way that a jury evaluates testimony of witnesses and parties. And credibility, like reputation, takes a long time to build, but can be destroyed in an instant. Think of your credibility or reputation as a piece of fine china. If the china is broken, it can be put back together with glue, but the crack or imperfection in the china will always remains visible. [ 445 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//credibility-truth-lies-e/

Lawyers are fond of limiting their own liability. That shouldn't come as a surprise. Consider the following scenario. Lawyer sends a cover letter to Client at the end of the case. It says, "If you do not notify me within 15 days that you are unhappy with this result, you waive any claim for malpractice." Or, such a cover letter could be to a bill or invoice. [ 379 more words ] http://www.chandlermoorelaw.com//limiting-liability-malpr/