Malpractice & Ethical Perils for Law Firms to Avoid

11/16:  Malpractice & Ethical Perils for Law Firms to Avoid

On Nov. 16 at noon, join us for this live GoToWebinar by Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company’s Cathy M. Sargent, Executive Vice President & COO, and Margaret “Peggy” Hewitt, Resources and Services Manager, and moderated by Renée E. Thompson, Upchurch Watson White & Max. Course number 5406. Approved for 1.0 General; 1.0 Ethics CLE credit. Section members register for only $50.

Even the best lawyers can be sued for malpractice, and in our litigious environment, lawyers can face a number of risks from clients due to real or perceived errors. No one single error accounts for the majority of claims against attorneys from a myriad of possibilities: substantive law error, administrative mistakes, client relations faux pas, and intentional wrongs are at the top. Understand from where and why claims happen to help you take proactive steps to reduce the likelihood a claim will be successfully made against you. REGISTER

Ryan C. Taylor

SSF Section Member Ryan C. Tyler Honored for Pro Bono Service by Legal Services of Greater Miami

Congratulations to Solo & Small Firm Section member Ryan C. Tyler of Ratzan Weissman & Boldt, who was honored with the Solo/Small Firm Equal Justice Award during Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.‘s 2021 Pro Bono Celebration. Legal Services recognized the volunteer services of over 325 attorneys and professional partners at its Oct. 28 celebration.

Read the full write-up in The Florida Bar News. (Photo credit Ratzan Weissman & Boldt.)

Lawclerk/SSF Section Partnership

LAWCLERK Partnership:  Hire (or Be) a Freelance Attorney

LAWCLERK is where attorneys go to hire freelance lawyers. The company has built a nationwide network of over 3,400 freelance lawyers—called Lawclerks—who can help busy attorneys with research, any sort of written document, discovery, or other project-based written work.

Solo & Small Firm Section members now can earn rebates when they hire freelance attorneys through LAWCLERK—and the section will receive a share of the revenue for each member who signs up and uses an account. Sign up as a freelancer or create a hiring attorney account to connect with talented attorney freelancers from the section. GET STARTED

Patrick Russell, Mediator

November 17 FREE CLE—Meaningful Mediation: Ethical, Mindful, and Strategic

Nov. 17, 12 – 1 PM free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members.* Presented by Patrick Russell, Salmon & Dulberg Dispute Resolution and Meaningful Mediation.

Learn the mediation approach that rests on the powerful foundation of tactical thinking, ethics, and diplomacy from ADR Section Chair, Mediator, and former Florida Bar Ethics counsel and trial lawyer Patrick Russell. His mediation goal is to unleash peace to have less conflict and more resolution. When parties mindfully listen, speak and act during mediation, they can better understand one another, trust one another, and are in a better position to resolve their differences.

Course number and 1.0 General; 1.0 Ethics CLE credit pending. REGISTER

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

How to Combine PDFs

PDF Tip:  Combine Several Files Into One PDF 

Here’s a helpful tech tip from The Florida Bar and LawTech Partners on several ways you can combine multiple PDFs into one PDF file. This tip pertains to Adobe Acrobat DC but is easily applied to other PDF manipulation tools:

  • Open Acrobat DC.
  • Choose File > Create > Combine Multiple Files into a single PDF. You will be presented with the “Add Files” window.
  • You can click Add Files, include files you currently have open via the Add Open Files button, or drag and drop files into the window. You can add and Adobe will convert files that are not yet PDF files. You can choose almost any type of document, such as a Microsoft Word doc, email and more.
  • Click Combine to merge all of the files into one PDF.

You will have the option to re-order the collection documents before performing the final merge.

Image of a coffee mug, laptop, and paper clips on a desk with text overlay

Easy Ways to Find CLE (Some Free)

  • Save the Date (Dec 14, 12 – 1 PM) for “Microsoft Word: Pro Tips to Save You Time and Energy,” a live GoToWebinar by General Magistrate Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin. Course number and 1.0 Technology CLE credit pending approval. Registration opens soon.
  • Visit our calendar page to register for upcoming monthly live audio webcasts and free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinars.
  • Join our section’s members-only Facebook group to access a video library of previously recorded Wednesday Wisdom webinars.
  • Purchase previously recorded section CLE through The Florida Bar, available 24/7 as on-demand seminars and podcasts.
  • Purchase previously recorded section CLE through The Florida Bar in CD or DVD format.

If you are interested in getting involved on the Continuing Legal Education Committee or presenting a CLE seminar, please contact CLE Committee Chair Linda Calvert-Hanson.

Thank you to our 2021-22 section sponsors.