TLI Top Tip: Lessons Learned from Claims in Q1
April 17, 2025
In the event there was any doubt that legal malpractice claims can be expensive, in the first part of 2025 TLI closed 12 claims…
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
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Trust Account Do’s and Don’ts
April 10, 2025
Follow these Do’s and Don’ts to make sure you are in compliance with Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 and the rules regarding…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: ABA Formal Opinion 513 – Lawyers Cannot Stick their Head in the Sand
April 3, 2025
In August 2024, the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Responsibility issued ABA Formal Opinion 513 providing further guidance on the explicit duty of…
Article
The ABC’s of Buying Legal Malpractice Insurance
March 28, 2025
Purchasing legal malpractice insurance does not have to be intimidating. Whether you are newly licensed and hanging out your own shingle, or whether you…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Signing a Settlement Agreement without Client Involvement is Risky Business
March 27, 2025
There are two scenarios, each similar in premise, that cause problems for lawyers with respect to settlement of their client’s legal matter. At the…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: ABA Formal Opinion 515 – Can an attorney disclose confidential information about a client who commits a crime against the attorney?
March 20, 2025
ABA Formal Opinion 515 discusses when a lawyer who is a victim of a crime by a bona fide client or prospective client may…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Lawyers and Social Media – The Duty of Confidentiality Still Applies
March 13, 2025
If you use any kind of social media platform, you may be aware that there exist various groups for lawyers on these platforms –…
Article
Should Texas Lawyers Include Arbitration Provisions in their Fee Agreements?
March 10, 2025
Many lawyers include arbitration provisions in their fee agreements looking only at the perceived benefits without considering the risks and ethical requirements. Lawyers often…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Ethics Committee Opinion 706 – Lawyers cannot pay nonlawyer-owned companies based on a percentage of law firm revenues.
March 6, 2025
Opinion 706, issued last month by the Professional Ethics Committee, determined that a lawyer cannot pay a nonlawyer-owned entity that provides a platform of…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Texas Supreme Court endorses Anti-Fracture Rule in Professional Liability Cases
February 27, 2025
For several decades, Texas courts of appeal have applied the anti-fracturing rule to claims for professional malpractice preventing plaintiffs from “fracturing” a malpractice claim…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Top: Texas Professional Ethics Committee Opinion 705 – Ethical Issues Raised by Use of Generative AI
February 20, 2025
In our October 28, 2024 article, we examined the responsible and ethical use of Generative AI (GAI) based on ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 512.…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Top: Texas Professional Ethics Committee Opinion 704 – Lawyers practicing law in Texas cannot be partners with nonlawyers.
February 13, 2025
Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 5.04(b) states that a lawyer shall not form a partnership with a non-lawyer if any of the activities…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Top: Are you using Generative AI to draft pleadings, motions and other court-filed documents?
February 6, 2025
In our October 28, 2024 article, we discussed ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 512 regarding the responsible and ethical use of GAI in your law…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Top: Wire and Check Fraud Targeting Attorneys
January 30, 2025
TLI has previously written about wire transfer scams and hacked email accounts. The warnings and tips in those articles remain true and should be…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Top: Texas Ethics Opinion 702 – Lawyers can provide general education on legal topics to non-lawyers
January 23, 2025
Many years ago, I remember sitting through a junior league meeting where two young partners from a large law firm in town gave a…
Article
The Rundown on Lateral Hiring in Texas
January 17, 2025
Is the lateral candidate a good fit? And if so, how can both the firm and the lateral hire navigate the ethical minefield for…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Top: ABA Opinion 514 – A Lawyer’s Obligations when Advising an Organization
January 16, 2025
On January 8, 2025, the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility issued Formal Opinion 514 regarding a lawyer’s duties to organizational clients…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Judgement creditor can have interest in malpractice recovery, and even flip positions, says Texas Supreme Court
January 9, 2025
On December 31, 2024, the Texas Supreme Court issued its opinion in Henry S. Miller Com. Co. v. Newsom, Terry & Newsom, LLP, 2024…
TLI Top Tip
TLI TOP TIP: Mental Health Minute
January 2, 2025
At this time of year when we reflect on resolutions for the New Year, we encourage all attorneys to embrace changes and habits that…
TLI Top Tip
TLI TOP TIP: Texas Supreme Court Decides in favor of Excess Carrier
December 26, 2024
On December 20, 2024, the Texas Supreme Court issued its opinion in Ohio Cas. Ins. Co. v. Patterson-Uti Energy, Inc. Marsh USA, Inc., 2024…
News
TLI Gives Back $3,500,000
December 20, 2024
TLI is proud to announce that the 2024 policy distribution totaled $3,500,000! This amount was approved by the TLI Board of Directors at the…
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.