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…
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 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…
Article
Texas Business Courts: New Horizons for Business Litigation in Texas
December 19, 2024
Inspired by Delaware and other jurisdictions, the Texas Legislature created the Business Court of Texas in the 88th Legislature. The Business Court received its…
TLI Top Tip
TLI TOP TIP: Holiday Reminders
December 19, 2024
As we wrap up the year, please enjoy our “HOLIDAY” tips: Have a written fee agreement – Every client engagement should be documented in…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: New Rule of Disciplinary Procedure 13.05, Termination of Custodianship
December 12, 2024
In 2021, the Texas Supreme Court adopted Rule 13.04 of the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure which authorizes a lawyer (the “appointing attorney”) to…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Amendments to Rule 5.05, Unauthorized Practice of Law and the Remote Practice of Law
December 5, 2024
In December 2020, the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility published Formal Opinion 495 regarding Lawyers Working Remotely. It recognized that the…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Amendments to Rule 4.03, Dealing with Unrepresented Persons
November 21, 2024
It is not uncommon for an attorney to represent a client in a legal matter opposite an individual who is pro se. It has…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: New Subsections to Rule 3.09, Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor
November 14, 2024
Consistent with ABA Model Rule 3.8, the Texas Supreme Court adopted three new subsections to Rule 3.09 addressing a prosecutor’s post-conviction obligation to disclose…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: New Rule 1.18, Duties to Prospective Clients: Part 2
November 7, 2024
Last week we discussed what duties are owed to someone who qualifies as a prospective client pursuant to new Rule 1.18. This week we…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: New Rule 1.18, Duties to Prospective Clients: Part 1
October 31, 2024
In June 2021, the Texas Professional Ethics Committee issued Opinion 691 which discussed an attorney’s duty to prospective clients, as well as when a…
Article
Generative AI: Exploring Recommendations for Responsible and Ethical Usage
October 28, 2024
Artificial intelligence joined legal practice with the advent of autocorrect, text editors, electronic discovery, search tools, and chatbots. Now it supplements most lawyers’ toolboxes,…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: New Rule 1.10, Imputation of Conflicts of Interest: Part 2
October 25, 2024
Similar to ABA Model Rule 1.10, Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.10(a)(2) now allows a firm to proceed with the representation of a…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: New Rule 1.10, Imputation of Conflicts of Interest: Part 1
October 17, 2024
In general, new Rule 1.10 tells us that if any lawyer in a firm has a conflict, then that conflict will be imputed to the entire…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Amended Rule 1.09(b) & (c), Conflicts of Interest with a Former Client: Part 2
October 10, 2024
Amended Rule 1.09(b), which has been totally rewritten, addresses situations when lawyers move between firms. It operates to disqualify a lawyer who has moved…
TLI Top Tip
TLI Top Tip: Amended Rule 1.09(a) Conflicts of Interest with a Former Client: Part 1
October 3, 2024
Rule 1.09 received a complete overhaul and will be examined across two TLIE Top Tips. Rule 1.09(a) prohibits a lawyer from taking on a new…
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.