Author Archives: The Legal Reformer

About The Legal Reformer

Center for Legal Practice Reform

Legal Consumer Tip #4 – Think Like a Lawyer

Posted on September 28, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

One of the best ways to effectively communicate with your lawyer, and to make sure your lawyer is hearing you and working toward your goals, is to put yourself in your lawyer’s shoes. Understanding how s/he receives your communications — … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips | Tagged American Bar Association, Attorneys, Bar Associations, Client-Side Manner, Clients, Ethics Opinions, Law Firm Culture, Law Schools, Lawyers, Legal Consumer, News | Leave a comment

Attorney Disbarred for Fee Ultimatum to Clients

Posted on September 21, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

The New Hampshire Supreme Court disbarred an attorney this week for giving an ultimatum to his clients in February of 2006: agree to his $2 million fee or he would not represent them in the mediation taking place that same … Continue reading →

Posted in Billing | Tagged Attorney Misconduct, Attorneys, Clients, Conflict of Interest, Disbarment, Disciplinary Action, Fee Disputes, Legal Ethics, News, Settlement | 1 Comment

Judge Benched for Treatment of Litigant – Update

Posted on September 14, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Following up on The Washington Post Editorial Board opinion in LPR’s last blog post, The Baltimore Sun reported on September 11, 2012, in an article titled Judge to Retire Amid Complaints About Domestic Violence Case, that Baltimore County District Court Judge Bruce … Continue reading →

Posted in Reform | Tagged Disciplinary Action, Disciplinary Complaint, Judges, Justice, Legal Reform, News | Leave a comment

Judge Benched for Treatment of Litigant

Posted on September 12, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

The Washington Post Editorial Board posted an opinion on September 9, 2012 titled When Judges Behave Badly, commenting on Baltimore County District Judge Bruce S. Lamdin’s December 12, 2011 treatment of a domestic violence litigant seeking a restraining order against her husband … Continue reading →

Posted in Reform | Tagged Disciplinary Action, Disciplinary Complaint, Judges, Justice, Legal Reform, News | Leave a comment

Pressure to Settle: In Your Best Interest . . . or Your Lawyer’s?

Posted on September 7, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Last week, a Colorado jury handed down a more than $2 million verdict against a Denver law firm for pressuring a client, in a contingency fee case, to settle for less than it was worth. In her lawsuit, the client portrayed the firm as … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips | Tagged Attorneys, Clients, Conflict of Interest, Jury Verdict, Legal Consumer, Litigation, News, Settlement | 2 Comments

Caveat Emptor – Corporate Clients Need to Beware, Too

Posted on August 31, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

A corporate client filed a legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit on August 27, 2012 against the law firm and attorneys representing it in several securities class action litigations. The lawsuit includes allegations that the firm and attorneys … Continue reading →

Posted in Billing | Tagged Attorneys, Awareness, Caveat Emptor, Clients, Fee Disputes, Litigation, Over Billing | Leave a comment

Legal Consumer Tip #3 . . . Attorney Tip #1 – Attitude Matters

Posted on August 24, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

“Her ingratitude is unbelievable.” So says a matrimonial attorney, reportedly in practice for more than 50 years, in response to a client’s legal malpractice lawsuit. The lawsuit includes allegations that the attorney was in cahoots with her husband and reduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips | Tagged Attitude, Attorneys, Client-Side Manner, Clients, Legal Practices, Work Ethic | Leave a comment

Scott Turow Weighs In: The Billable Hour Must Die

Posted on August 14, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Notable author, Scott Turow, wrote the cover article for the August 2007 issue of the ABA Journal, titled The Billable Hour Must Die: It rewards inefficiency. It makes clients suspicious. And it may be unethical. Interestingly, The Billable Hour Must Die has … Continue reading →

Posted in Billing | Tagged American Bar Association, Attorneys, Books, Clients, Conflict of Interest, Legal Consumer, Legal Ethics | Leave a comment

Effecting Legal Practice Reform . . . Law Students First

Posted on August 10, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Perhaps one way to effect legal practice reform is to address it with students before they become members of the legal community. Like the teaching of bed-side manner to medical students, law students may well be the most willing and … Continue reading →

Posted in Reform | Tagged American Bar Association, Client-Side Manner, Curricula, Law Schools, Law Students, Legal Consumer, Legal Practices, Legal Reform | Leave a comment

Legal Consumer Tip #2 – Justice is Not Always Just

Posted on August 3, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Imagine a case in which person A sues person B, and the case is tried before a judge. The judge takes all of the evidence under consideration and objectively supports his/her ruling with accurate factual findings based on the evidence … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips | Tagged Attorneys, Clients, Credibility, Evidence, Judges, Justice, Lawyers, Legal Consumer, Legal Reform, Legal System, Litigation | Leave a comment