Attorney Grievances Part 2: 5 Avoidable Mistakes
March 20, 2023
In last month’s Article, we provided an overview of the grievance process. We discussed that most grievances (about 70% last year) were dismissed as “inquiries”…
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
Article
Article
Attorney Grievances Part 1: An Overview of the Grievance Process
February 20, 2023
During the 2021-2022 bar year, 7,175 ethics complaints (or grievances) were filed against Texas attorneys. A grievance can expose attorneys to discipline ranging from…
Article
Safekeeping Property: Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls with Client Funds
January 19, 2023
A surprising number of disciplinary actions stem from the mismanagement of client’s funds or property. In fact, according to the State Bar of Texas…
News
TLI Gives Back $4,500,000
January 4, 2023
Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange is the only legal malpractice insurance company in Texas that is owned by the Texas lawyers and judges that it…
Article
Moving On: Checklist and Tips for Departing Attorneys
December 21, 2022
Attorney departures are not a new trend, but the trend of lateral moves has continued to increase significantly. According to a recent NALP report, lateral…
Article
7 Objectives of Risk Management
November 29, 2022
Implementing an effective risk management strategy–addressing anything that may interfere with the ability to provide quality legal services and generate a profit–is essential to…
Article
Best Practices for Drafting Effective Fee Agreements
October 17, 2022
In this Article, we’ll discuss why crafting effective fee agreements is essential to a successful attorney-client relationship and summarize best practices for effective fee…
News
TLI adds New Members to Board of Directors
September 20, 2022
TLI is happy to announce the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors. Cynthia Benavides, Weslaco, Texas Cindy obtained her undergraduate…
Article
Wire Transfer Scams: How to Minimize the Risk
September 19, 2022
Scams continue to target Texas attorneys regardless of firm size. Email wire transfer scams–most commonly targeting real estate closings or legal settlements–have increased exponentially resulting in…
News
TLI mourns the passing of Board of Director Mary-Ann Bellatti
September 14, 2022
TLI said goodbye to long-time TLI Director Mary-Ann Abbott Bellatti with her passing on August 5, 2022. Mary-Ann lived in Houston and had served…
News
TLI wins Texas Lawyer “Best of” Poll 2022
September 1, 2022
For the twelfth straight year, TLI has won the Texas Lawyer Best of readers’ poll! TLI won for Professional Liability Insurance Provider and for Cybersecurity Insurance…
Article
Succession Planning Basics
August 18, 2022
Have you considered what would happen if you were suddenly unable to practice law? If so, have you implemented a succession plan to protect…
Article
Duty of Confidentiality in Correcting Client Statements
July 22, 2022
Most lawyers generally understand their duty of confidentiality. And yet, the duty of confidentiality is a common pitfall for many attorneys. Often there are…
Article
Mediation: Practical Tips to Achieving a Favorable Outcome
June 14, 2022
Mediation has become an increasingly popular form of resolving a dispute. After all, litigation is costly, stressful, and time-consuming. In this Article, we discuss…
Article
Why Proper Documentation and Management is Critical to Your Practice
May 17, 2022
It’s not uncommon for lawyers to neglect properly documenting their files. Attorneys often cite lack of time or wanting to keep costs down for…
Article
When It’s Time to Say Goodbye: Terminating the Attorney-Client Relationship
April 18, 2022
This Article focuses on the termination of the attorney-client relationship, including practical steps of withdrawal, ethical obligations under the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct…
News
TLI Celebrates Tom Hanna
March 11, 2022
Long-time Board member Thomas “Tom” Hanna passed away on February 6, 2022, during his 37th year of service on the Board of Directors of…
Article
Practical Tips for Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
March 10, 2022
Conflicts of interest are a consistent source of legal malpractice claims. In a study of TLI’s claims between 1996 and 2001, 16.4% of all…
News
In Memoriam: Thomas Lee “Tom” Hanna
March 1, 2022
TLI lost a great friend and champion with the recent passing of Thomas Lee “Tom” Hanna. Tom was born in Hall Summit, Louisiana on…
Article
Wellness Tips for Lawyers Struggling with Mental Health or Substance Abuse Issues
February 15, 2022
The Legal Profession has a Problem Mental health issues and substance abuse are pervasive within the legal community, and studies consistently show that they…
Article
Are You Adequately Protected? Understanding the Perils of being Underinsured
January 21, 2022
Attorneys who assume that obtaining legal malpractice insurance will adequately protect them from any type of claim arising in connection with the operation of…
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.