Ethics 101: Maintaining an Ethical Law Practice & Trust Accounting (Self-Study)

Course Description

The seminar attendees will be provided with information and tips on best law office management practices to potentially avoid Bar complaints and legal malpractice claims along with important information and Bar requirements regarding lawyer IOTA trust accounts, including record keeping, procedures, and continuing proper maintenance of the trust account. Upon completing the course, the attendees will more fully understand the relationship between best practices the ethics rules and maintaining an ethical practice in today’s rapidly evolving legal ethics environment.

Principles

• Maintaining an Ethical Law Practice
• Lawyer Trust Accounting Basics and Recent Changes to Bar Rules

Syllabus

1. Maintaining an Ethical Law Practice
   1. Intestacy Laws In Florida
   2. Screening a Client
   3. Recognizing and avoiding prohibited transactions with a client
   4. Fees, fee agreements, and scope/parameters of representation
   5. Internal Law Firm Controls
   6. Competence and identifying competency issues
   7. Fee disputes and collecting fees and costs
2. Section II. Lawyer Trust Accounting Basics and Recent Changes to Bar Rules
   1. Managing IOTA Trust Accounts
   2. New Trust Account Rules Require Trust Account Plan and Responsible Lawyer
   3. Recent Nonrefundable Fee Rule Revisions
   4. Commingling and Reporting Shortages in Trust Account
   5. Managing IOTA Trust Accounts: Tips

Instructor

Joseph A. Corsmeier, Esq.