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The Importance of Staying in Your Practice Comfort Zone

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Straying outside could mean disaster.

All lawyers have their comfort zones of practice; stepping outside these zones can increase your risk of making a mistake.

Dabbling – or taking the occasional case in an unfamiliar area – is a good way to invite a malpractice claim or bar grievance.

This doesn’t mean you always have to reject all cases in new areas. In fact, the ethics rules allow you to accept a novel case matter if you take appropriate steps to become competent to handle it.

It just means you have to know your limits, maintain competence, and put your clients’ interests first. Below are some practice pointers.

Running a law office can be a roller-coaster. While some of the ups and downs are outside your control, others can be managed, contained and prepared for. Join us on September 28 at 12 noon CT for the free, one-hour CLE webinar “Managing a Law Office in Uncertain Times: Practical Tips for Building a Solid Foundation for Your Law Practice.” See how a one-page business plan may be all you need. Learn safe and effective “scripts” for initial consultations. Receive a crash course in Law Office Budgeting 101 and Best Practices for client screening. Discover the “Dirty Dozen” list of clients to avoid. The webinar is presented by Gary Poole, a 40-year practitioner and mentor for new lawyers, and Hannah Chapman, a business and financial consultant for small businesses. Attend “Managing a Law Office in Uncertain Times” for a master class on how to maintain law office excellence through good times and bad. Learn more here.

Sticking to Your Practice Sweet Spot

Dabbling can spell disaster. Lawyers must have a baseline of competence before accepting a case. Some firms have practice niches that serve a specific clientele. Others become certified as specialists. Even those with general practices have expertise in some areas, but not others.

Read ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, Competence. A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation.

Associate co-counsel. Bring in an experienced attorney to help. A retired lawyer may be perfect. Make sure the client agrees to the arrangement, including how case responsibilities and fees will be divided. Get their consent in writing. Follow relevant ethics rules.

Don’t accept a case to accommodate a friend or relative. You’re doing nobody a favor by stepping into uncharted territory.

Don’t let your inexperience hurt your client. Opposing counsel will know your reputation and background. They may try to leverage your lack of experience in settling or resolving the matter. It’s one thing to handle a slip and fall with minimal injuries; it’s another thing to litigate a complicated products liability or wrongful death case.

Withdraw if necessary. If you find yourself in over your head, withdrawing from representation might be required. Don’t do anything to prejudice the client. Get court permission when required.

The Bottom Line: Avoid malpractice minefields by sticking to what you know and are good at.

Do you practice in Wisconsin, Texas, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana or Michigan? Is your professional liability coverage managed through Alta Pro? If so, you’re automatically a member of the Alta Pro Risk Purchasing Group (RPG), which offers a wealth of benefits for your practice: free, cutting-edge CLE webinars featuring top experts tackling timely topics; the Pro Practice Playbook; the Pro Practice Blog; Reminger’s ProLink risk management assistance; Reminger’s Claim Repair Hotline; discounts on CLIO practice management software; tax savings on health insurance; and access to the Risk Pro, who can help keep your firm safe and successful. Register here and start enjoying your Alta Pro RPG benefits.

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About the Editorial Staff

In an age of consolidation where increasingly impersonal transactions have made customer service an oxymoron, we bring together independent agents, insurance companies, and other industry specific service providers to develop and deliver insurance products and risk management solutions that benefit our insurance customers.

November 6, 2024 1:00 pm EST
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