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Posted on: May 8, 2018 by Huntersure
Unfortunately for those in the legal field, malpractice claims can become more common if communication is not effective. When a client expects one result, but gets another then they are inclined to sue or bring up attorney malpractice allegations.
Legal firms and individual lawyers can take measures to prevent this kind of controversy by being proactive rather than reactive. One step is to invest in attorney liability insurance, a kind of coverage that guards against malpractice. It’s highly recommended that law firms invest in this kind of protection, which guards against losing assets and getting slapped with a lawsuit.
Another step is to keep communication open and on the level with clients. Here are a few ways law firms can go about this and become better communicators.
It’s important for law firms and individuals working within to be effective communicators. Clients, while expecting upfront communications, may not in fact be upfront or reachable. Assumptions should never be made about the client and what they’re expecting or requesting. It’s imperative to get in touch with them even if they are hard to get a hold of. Having continuous communication as a foundation helps prevent misunderstandings.
A client engagement/disengagement letter is a necessity for law firms when it comes to communication. These are staples in any office and need to be precise in what they’re stating including deadlines, costs, and overall expectations. Firms should discuss the engagement letter legal services with the client(s) so they understand everything before signing anything. This keep honesty and transparency at the forefront.
When it’s time to bring a service to a close, then it’s time for a disengagement letter, which outlines the end of the attorney/client relationship.
Instead of trying to gloss over or simply hide a mistake, like missing a deadline, or miscalculating a fee, it’s important for a firm or lawyers to own up to it. Explaining the problem and effectively communicating what happened is a preventative measure that puts everything out in the open for the client to understand. While damage will still be done, it’s better to take care of it right away than to try to pull something over a client.
Huntersure LLC is a full-service Managing General Agency that has provided insurance program administration for professional liability products to our partners across the United States since 2007. We specialize in providing insurance solutions for businesses of all sizes. Our program features can cover small firms (grossing $2.5 million annually) to large corporations (grossing $25 million annually or more). We make doing business with us easy with our breadth and depth of knowledge of E&O insurance, our proprietary underwriting system that allows for responsive quoting, binding and policy issuance and tailored products to meet the needs of your insureds. Give us a call at (646) 751-3030 to learn more.
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