TLI Top Tip: Your duties regarding a cyber threat targeting law firms
August 14, 2025
Earlier this year, the FBI released a new cyber alert regarding a ransomware threat by SRG targeting law firms which uses social engineering calls…
Resources
Our Resource Center includes our TLI Top Tips, articles, and links to other third party resources to assist our members with their loss prevention and best practices efforts.
News, Articles, & Top Tips
TLI Top Tip
News
TLI Wins Texas Lawyer “Best of” Poll 2025
August 12, 2025
For the 15th straight year, TLI has won the Texas Lawyer Best of readers’ poll! TLI won in the following categories: Professional Liability Insurance provider (Austin),…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Help! My client won’t pay me
August 7, 2025
Attorneys, like other professionals, have a right to be paid reasonable fees for the necessary legal services they provide. Unfortunately, because attorneys are fiduciaries…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Acquiring an interest in a client business? Rule 1.08(a) is not just DICTA
July 31, 2025
In October 2024, the Texas Supreme Court adopted significant changes to Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.08(a), which sets out the requirements a…
news
Insurance We Sell & Why you Need It
July 28, 2025
For over 45 years, TLI has been protecting Texas lawyers and supporting them in their practices. Initially, TLI filled a large hole in the…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Doing the (Side) Hustle?
July 24, 2025
One question that comes up with some regularity is how to ethically navigate the situation where lawyers who practice law also have other businesses…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Advertising Missteps
July 17, 2025
You can hardly watch tv or listen to the radio for more than five minutes without seeing or hearing an ad by an attorney…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Top Trip Ups in Claims from the Second Quarter of 2025
July 10, 2025
In second quarter of 2025, TLI closed 25 claims which cost approximately $635,000 to defend and resolve. We are providing summaries of several of…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Red, White and Blue Quick Tips
July 2, 2025
HAPPY FOURTH FROM TLI! Have written fee agreements – Written fee agreements for each new client matter that clearly define the identity of the…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Texting with Clients? Proceed with Caution
June 26, 2025
For most people, including attorneys, texting has revolutionized how they communicate. Texting is regularly described as quick, easy, efficient, concise, fast, instant, convenient, and…
Article
Considerations for Starting a Solo or Small Law Practice
June 25, 2025
Launching a solo or small law practice is a bold move that combines the demands of legal work with the rigors of entrepreneurship. Lawyers…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Texas Ethics Committee Opinion 708 – Settlement terms cannot restrict more than the Disciplinary Rules
June 19, 2025
In Opinion 708, the Texas Professional Ethics Committee (“PEC”) addressed whether a lawyer could personally agree to be bound by two different types of…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Texas Supreme Court Holds Four Year Limitations Period Applies to Reciprocal Disciplinary Proceedings
June 12, 2025
Texas Rule of Disciplinary Procedure 17.06(A) prohibits the imposition of discipline for professional misconduct occurring more than four years before the allegation of misconduct…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Texas Ethics Committee Opinion 707 – Companies owned by non-lawyers cannot offer legal services to customers
June 5, 2025
In Opinion 707, the Texas Professional Ethics Committee (“PEC”) addressed whether full time, salaried in-house counsel of a for-profit company owned by non-lawyers could…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Don’t Ignore a letter from the Client Attorney Assistance Program (CAAP)
May 29, 2025
Surprisingly, a large number of attorneys are unfamiliar with the State Bar of Texas Client Attorney Assistance Program (CAAP) and what it does. More…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Understanding Your Duties When a Third Party Has a Claim to Client Funds
May 22, 2025
In general, with respect to client funds, a lawyer’s primary duty is to the client and the lawyer is required to deliver client funds…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Civil Barratry Statute does not apply to core conduct outside of Texas, according to Texas Supreme Court
May 15, 2025
On May 9, 2025, the Texas Supreme Court issued its opinion in Michael A. Pohl, et al v. Mark Kentrell Cheatham, Sr. et al,…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Lawyers, please do not talk to represented parties – even if you are pro se
May 8, 2025
Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 4.02(a) states that in representing a client, a lawyer shall not communicate about the subject of the representation…
Article
Should I Claim, or Should I Roll? The Terminated Contingency-Fee Lawyer’s Conundrum
May 7, 2025
The contingency-fee contract has been a staple of plaintiff-side practice for over a century. It provides an avenue for individuals who are otherwise unable…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Contract Attorneys & Fee Sharing – How Not to Violate Rule 1.04(f)
May 1, 2025
It is not uncommon for law firms to utilize or employ contract attorneys. Unfortunately, it is also not uncommon for firms to run into…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: ABA Formal Opinion 516 – Can I withdraw?
April 24, 2025
At TLI, we regularly field inquiries from attorneys about whether they can withdraw from a client representation before the client matter concludes. Texas Disciplinary…
Books & Helpful Links
The following books and links reflect resources that we believe offer important content on Texas legal malpractice and ethics issues. We are always looking for new resources. If you have suggestions for additional sites or know that one of our sources is outdated, please contact us.
Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program
A confidential resource that helps attorneys, judges, and law students find solutions for dealing with substance use and mental health issues and provides resources for incorporating a healthier lifestyle.
State Bar Ethics Resources
The Bar has ethics resources. The ethics hotline can provide answers to certain ethical questions. Call (800)532-3947 for more information.
University of Houston Texas Ethics Reporter
This site includes Texas Disciplinary Rules of Conduct and Procedure, as well as Ethics Opinions, and includes prior versions of the rules.
The Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism
TCLEP is a non-profit center funded in large part by the Texas Bar Foundation. Resources on this site include the Texas Disciplinary Rules, Ethics Opinions, A Guide to the Basics of Law Practice, the Ethics Course, and other Texas specific materials.
Law Practice Management Program of the State Bar of Texas
The Law Practice Management Program of the State Bar of Texas offers a number of helpful guides that can help lawyers keep organized and practice efficiently.
ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability
The Standing Committee offers a number of important resources for attorneys interested in lawyers professional liability and insurance. A number of materials can be purchased online, including The Lawyer’s Desk Guide to Legal Malpractice.
ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
The Center for Professional Responsibility coordinates most of the ABA’s activities regarding legal ethics. There are usually a couple of commissions or subcommittee working on hot topics, and they will have links on this page. ABA ethics opinions may be available on the site.
ABA Law Practice Management Division
The ABA’s Law Practice Management has many great resources to help with running a law practice.
The ABA Legal Technology and Resource Center
LTEC focuses on law firm hardware and software.
Legalethics.com
This website focuses on ethical aspects of the use of technology by lawyers.
Legal Ethics Forum
This is a blog by law professors who specialize in legal ethics, and provides a good source for current news on ethics.
William Freivogel’s Conflicts Website
This website collects cases on conflicts issues in an easy to use format.
NABRICO Sites
TLIE is a member of the National Association of Bar Related Insurance Companies. The websites for the companies often provide valuable loss prevention advice and forms. If you are an attorney from a state other than Texas, you may want to check with these companies for professional liability and other types of insurance.
Texas Access to Justice Foundation
Lawyers who handle money for their clients must participate in the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program, by depositing these funds into an IOLTA bank account at an eligible institution. This website tells you how.
Explore Our Continuing Education Resources
Our commitment to helping you succeed includes an investment in your professional development to help safeguard your practice with additional education on how to avoid complaints and claims.