When you're a lawyer, keeping accurate records is crucial. It's not just about good business; it's about protecting yourself from potential disciplinary action and ensuring you can deliver the best service to your clients. A bad record-keeping system can lead to lost files, missed deadlines, and a host of other issues that can land you in trouble.

In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Jeff Hazen, Assistant Ethics Counsel at The Florida Bar, to discuss records retention Rules and best practices.

Jeff Hazen serves as the Assistant Ethics Counsel for the Florida Bar, with over 16 years of dedicated service. Throughout his tenure at The Florida Bar, Jeff has handled thousands of inquiries on the Ethics Hotline, assessed numerous lawyer advertisements, and issued dozens of staff Ethics Opinions. Jeff is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 9506.

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

LegalFuel Article: How long should I keep closed file?

LegalFuel: Records Management, Retention, and Destruction Guide

LegalFuel Document Library

• Client Communications Forms and Letters
• Client Fee Agreements and Letters of Representation
• Lawyer Changing Firms

Rules Regulating The Florida Bar – View the Full Set

• Rule 4-1.6 Confidentiality of Information
• Rule 4-5.8 Procedures for Lawyers Leaving Law Firms and Dissolution of Law Firms

Ethics Hotline – 800-235-8619

Ethics Informational Packets

Ethics Opinions by Subject

• Opinion 06-1
• Opinion 10-2
• Opinion 12-3
• Opinion 88-11

Unclaimed Trust Account Funds

LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

Attorneys and law firms are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated scams, including phishing schemes, fraudulent check scams, wire fraud, and even identity theft. These scams can cause devastating financial losses, erode client trust, and damage professional reputations.

In today’s episode host Jamie Moore welcomes Steve Weisman, lawyer and nationally recognized expert on scams, to discuss why lawyers are such attractive targets and what can be done to protect the legal profession from these threats.

Steve Weisman is a lawyer and nationally recognized expert on scams, identity theft, and cybersecurity. Steve holds a JD from Boston College Law School and a BA from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is also a professor at Bentley University and is the author of more than ten books, including The Truth About Avoiding Scams, which Smart Money Magazine recognized as one of the year’s ten best money book. Steve earned a Certificate of Merit for excellence in legal journalism from the American Bar Association and he has written columns for USA Today, Bankrate.com, the American Institute of Economic Research, and the Saturday Evening Post.

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Technology CLE credit. Course # 9386.

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

• Scamicide
• About Steve
• All Books – Steve Weisman - Amazon
• Beware of Scam Emails Targeting Lawyers [Florida Bar News]
• FBI Issues Alert on Fake Lawyers Scamming Crypto Victims [Florida Bar News]
• Scams and Phishing Attacks Powered by AI [American Bar Association]
• What we know about the cybercrime group Scattered Spider [Cybersecurity Dive]
• State-of-the-art phishing: MFA bypass [Talos Intelligence]
• SIM Card Swap Scams [National Cybersecurity Alliance]
• LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

Many attorneys have now been working fully virtual for years. During the pandemic most firms experimented with different levels of remote or hybrid work models. For some it worked well, and they continued, but other firms chose to return to the office. While supporters of remote work point to increased flexibility, autonomy, and efficiency, critics worry about the loss of mentorship opportunities and the potential impact on productivity and quality.

In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Marelize Dingman, of Florida Appeals, to discuss the key to running a successful law firm without a physical office.

Marelize Dingman earned her BA in Social Work from the North-West University in South Africa. After moving to the United States, she was hired at the firm Palmer and Palmer P.A. Following Bill Palmer’s appointment to the Fifth District Court of Appeal, Marelize joined another well-respected Orlando law firm and began managing large corporate events and promoting South African musical artists. When Bill Palmer returned to private practice, Marelize was thrilled to join him and the whole Florida Appeals team as their Firm Administrator.

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit. Course #9354.

REFERENCED RESOURCES:

• Florida Appeals
• Marelize Dingman
• Beyond Brick and Mortar: The Evolution and Impact of Virtual Law Firms (NYSBA)
• How to Work Remotely as a Legal Professional: A Guide (Clio)
• LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center