Practice management tips to avoid legal issues
Stay up-to-date
Staying current with the latest legal developments is essential to providing accurate advice to your clients.
This means completing professional development courses, reading legal publications, and keeping abreast of changes to legislation and case law.
Document everything
Effective documentation is crucial in avoiding legal issues.
By keeping detailed records of all client communications, including phone calls and emails, you’ll have a full picture
of client interaction which will help in defending yourself in a legal dispute.
Be clear with clients
Lack of clear communication with clients is a common cause of legal disputes.
Set realistic expectations about the likely case outcome, the case completion date and your costs.
Tell clients promptly about any developments and explain legal concepts in plain English.
Use engagement letters
Engagement letters are a vital tool for managing client expectations and reducing the risk of legal disputes.
These letters should clearly set out the scope of work, the fee structure and terms of engagement.
This ensures everyone has a common understanding of the work to be done and the associated costs.
Manage risks
Risk management should be ongoing. It involves identifying potential risks, assessing their likelihood and taking steps to mitigate them.
For example, you may implement strict client intake procedures to ensure that you only accept clients who are a good fit for your practice.
Have appropriate insurance cover
Professional indemnity insurance is a mandatory requirement for all Australian solicitors and protects you and your practice in the event
of a claim against you for negligence or breach of professional duty.
If your practice takes on cases where a claim made against you could exceed the standard $2 million of cover
then you should consider taking out additional (Top Up) cover to protect your practice.
ABC insurance provides A Better Choice for Australian solicitors.