Avoiding Common Mistakes – From Client Intake to Trust Accounting
Dive into the intricate world of legal ethics with a comprehensive exploration of common mistakes lawyers make in their practice. This course provides practical insights and strategies to navigate ethical challenges, covering critical areas from client intake to trust accounting. Topics include conflicts of interest, client confidentiality, the impact of social media on ethics, and supervision of non-lawyers. Participants will gain proficiency in managing client files, records, and ethical withdrawal. With a focus on non-engagement and disengagement letters, fee agreements, and trust accounting, this course equips legal professionals with the knowledge and skills to uphold the highest ethical standards in their practice.Â
Key Topics Discussed:Â
• Client Intake Best PracticesÂ
• Navigating Conflicts of InterestÂ
• Safeguarding Client ConfidentialityÂ
• Ethics in the Era of Social MediaÂ
• Supervising Non-Lawyers within Ethical FrameworksÂ
• Efficient Management of Client Files and MattersÂ
• Records Management: Ethics and ComplianceÂ
• File Closing ProtocolsÂ
• Withdrawal and Termination of Representation: Ethical ConsiderationsÂ
• Crafting Effective Non-Engagement and Disengagement LettersÂ
• Fee Structures and Trust Accounting: Ethical Foundations
I am originally from Brazil, Indiana. I attended Northview High School where I participated in color guard/band, volleyball, and softball. I attended the University of Southern Indiana where I earned my B.A. in political science. I attended the Robert H. McKinney School of Law where I earned my J.D. I started my law career practicing insurance defense litigation. However, after a few years I crossed over and became a plaintiff attorney. I litigated plaintiff cases for several years in state and federal court. I even had the honor of arguing a case in front of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. After several years of trial work, I transitioned into an in-house counsel role where I started advising attorneys on their ethical obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct. Ethics quickly become my passion and the focus of my career. I started to not only advise attorneys on legal ethics, but I also began to teach it (and other legal subjects) across several platforms. I am an Assistant Clinical Professor of Business Law & Ethics at the IU Kelley School of Business Indianapolis. I am also an Adjunct Professor of Torts at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. In addition, I am a frequent continuing legal education seminar speaker, locally and nationally, in legal ethics. I further author a quarterly business ethics column for the Hamilton County Business Journal. In my personal time I love reading, sports, movies, cooking, and spending time with my family.
Podcast Host
Nicole Pettes is a podcast host known for her engaging interview style and ability to draw out the best in her guests. She has hosted a diverse range of podcasts and video interviews that explore a wide variety of topics. Currently, Nicole is a Video Podcast Host with Learn Formula, where she contributes to their professional education series. She also hosts the Anxious & Ambitious podcast, which explores personal growth and mental health, and co-hosts the Podcast Guesting For Profit, which helps entrepreneurs and podcasters succeed as podcast guests.
