Small Law, Big Ethics: Navigating the ethical challenges of running and growing your solo/small law practice in a post-COVID world

Allison Williams
Allison Williams | Law Firm Mentor

Allison Williams is the owner of not one, but two, successful companies. Founder of Williams Law Group, a full-service family law firm, and Law Firm Mentor, where she and her team provide business coaching services for solo and small law firm attorneys.

On-Demand: June 29, 2023
Small Law, Big Ethics: Navigating the ethical challenges of running and growing your solo/small law practice in a post-COVID world

$195.00 1.5 hour CLE

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Program Summary

This program is designed to provide solo and small law firm attorneys with an overview of the ethical issues they are likely to encounter in the course of growing their practice. We will cover topics such as the use of non-attorney salespeople, technology and data privacy concerns, the growth of the virtual law practice, the increasing use of AI technology in the practice of law and the rise of social media and online marketing. Each of these trends creates unique ethical challenges related to compensation, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, client communication, and professional conduct.

Compensation arrangements for non-attorney salespeople raise unique ethical concerns, particularly when it comes to fee-splitting and conflicts of interest. Our program will address these concerns and provide guidance on how to structure compensation arrangements that are both ethical and compliant with applicable rules of professional conduct.

The increased use of technology in legal practice raises ethical concerns regarding data privacy, client confidentiality, and cybersecurity. Attorneys must stay informed about evolving technology trends, implement appropriate security measures, and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

With the growth of remote work and virtual law firms, ethical considerations arise concerning the delivery of legal services online. Issues include client verification, secure communication, remote notarization, and maintaining client confidentiality in a digital environment.

Attendees will learn about the ethical obligations that solo and small firm attorneys owe to their clients and how those obligations interact with these new legal practice trends. This program will highlight pitfalls, speak to the most common issues that attorneys fail to recognize and give practical guidance on how to navigate these issues while still building a growing and successful practice.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • The use of non-attorney salespeople
  • Technology and data privacy concerns
  • The growth of the virtual law practice
  • The increasing use of AI technology in the practice of law
  • The rise of social media and online marketing
  • Ethical challenges related to compensation, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, client communication, and professional conduct
  • Guidance on how to structure compensation arrangements that are both ethical and compliant with applicable rules of professional conduct
  • Ethical obligations that solo and small firm attorneys owe to their clients and how those obligations interact with these new legal practice trends
  • Highlight pitfalls, speak to the most common issues that attorneys fail to recognize and give practical guidance on how to navigate these issues while still building a growing and successful practice

Date / Time: July 31, 2023

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Allison Williams_Law Firm Mentor_myLawCLEAllison Williams | Law Firm Mentor

Allison Williams is the owner of not one, but two, successful companies. She is Founder of Williams Law Group, a full-service family law firm where she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, is Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as Matrimonial Law Attorney, and is certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy in Family Law. Allison was recognized as Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2008-2013 and has been named a Super Lawyer annually since 2014.

After taking Williams Law Group from start-up to a multi-million dollar business in 3.5 years, she created a second business, Law Firm Mentor, where she and her team provide business coaching services for solo and small law firm attorneys, helping them grow their revenues, crush chaos in business, and make more money.

Law Firm Mentor was born out Allison’s success in business, including winning the LawFirm500 award, ranking 14th of the fastest growing law firms in the nation, being named a Stevie Award Finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017 and in 2018, being voted as NJBIZ’s Top 50 Women in Business, and designated one of the Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners.

Agenda

I. The use of non-attorney salespeople | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Technology and data privacy concerns | 2:10pm – 2:20pm

III. The growth of the virtual law practice | 2:20pm – 2:30pm

IV. The increasing use of AI technology in the practice of law | 2:30pm – 2:40pm

V. The rise of social media and online marketing | 2:40pm – 2:50pm

VI. Ethical challenges related to compensation, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, client communication, and professional conduct | 2:50pm – 3:00pm

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

VII. Guidance on how to structure compensation arrangements that are both ethical and compliant with applicable rules of professional conduct | 3:10pm – 3:20pm

VIII. Ethical obligations that solo and small firm attorneys owe to their clients and how those obligations interact with these new legal practice trends | 3:20pm – 3:30pm

IX. Highlight pitfalls, speak to the most common issues that attorneys fail to recognize and give practical guidance on how to navigate these issues while still building a growing and successful practice | 3:30pm – 3:40pm