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Ethical Duties When Representing Clients and Working on Client Files

Identify and minimize the ethical risk while representing clients.

Lawyers and legal staff have important ethical duties and responsibilities when representing clients and working on client files, including competence, communication, client intake, identifying conflicts of interest, managing client files, and closing the client file. This topic will assist lawyers and legal staff in identifying and avoiding, or minimizing, the ethical risks while properly representing clients and it will also provide guidance and best practices.

65 minutes
Course Exam
Certificate of Completion
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Agenda

How to Properly Communicate With Clients

  • Keep the Client Properly Informed and Advised During the Representation
  • Document the File, Copy the Client With All Relevant Documents Related to Representation, and Provide Periodic Updates
  • Timely Respond to Client Communications
  • Be Careful What You Say in Emails and Other Communications - Do Not Assume That It Will Remain Confidential
  • Do Not Include Confidential Information in Response to Online Reviews/Complaints

How to Act Competently

How to Handle Client Intake

  • Use a Client Intake Form
  • Conducting Initial Client Interview
  • Screen Potential Clients for Potential Conflict of Interest at the Beginning of the Representation

How to Avoid Conflicts of Interest

How to Preserve Client Confidentiality

How to Manage Client Matters and Files

  • Create a File Organization System
  • Maintain Your Calendar
  • Communicate With Client
  • Be Careful What You Say in Emails
  • Copy Client With All Relevant Documents
  • Conduct Periodic File Reviews to Maintain Progression of the Files

How to Handle File Closing and Records Management/Retention

  • Create a Procedure for File Retention
  • Withdrawal and Non-Engagement/Disengagement Letters
  • Withdrawal/Termination of Representation

Non-Lawyers and Ethics Rules

Ethical Fees and Fee Agreements

  • Have Written Fee Agreement or Engagement Letter
  • Identify the Client(S)
  • Provide Clients With a Bill With Detailed Time Entries on Monthly Basis
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Credits

OnDemand Course

Applications have not yet been submitted for Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming CLE for this course. However, if you are interested in obtaining CLE for any of the listed states or have any additional credit questions please email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-352-9540.

This course was last revised on February 27, 2024.

Call 1-866-352-9540 for further credit information.

  • AK CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Alaska attorneys may receive 1.0 hours of continuing legal education, including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics credit for completing this program. Please contact the Alaska Bar Association or go to www.alaskabar.org for details regarding reciprocity with other states.
     
  • AL CLE 1.1 including Ethics 1.1
     
  • This course or a portion thereof has been approved by the Alabama State Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for a maximum of 1.1 hours' credit, including 1.1 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • AR CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This course has been approved for 1.0 hours of CLE by the Arkansas CLE Board, including 1.00 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • Arizona CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • The Arizona State Bar does not pre-approve or pre-certify MCLE programs. However, records of this program and attendance will be maintained by Lorman Education Services for auditing purposes. This activity may qualify for up to 1.0 hours toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including 1.00 hours of professional responsibility.
     
  • CA MCLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Lorman Business Center, LLC. is a State Bar of California approved MCLE sponsor and this course qualifies for 1.0 CLE hours of participatory credit, of which includes 1.00 hour of ethics credit.
     
  • CT CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Neither the Connecticut Judicial Branch nor the Commission on Minimum Continuing Legal Education approve or accredit CLE providers or activities. This course has been approved for CLE credit in jurisdictions aside from CT and therefore it automatically meets the content and delivery requirements in Connecticut. Credit is based on a 60 minute credit hour and shall be awarded as follows: 1.0 CLE credit(s) including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics credit.
     
  • FL CLE 1.5 including Ethics 1.5
     
  • This course has been approved by The Florida Bar for 1.5 hours of CLE credit, including 1.50 hours of ethics credit. Course classification: Intermediate level.
     
  • GA CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Georgia Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency for 1.0 CLE hours, including 1.0 ethics hour.
     
  • HI CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program was approved by the Hawaii State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE credit hours including 1.00 ethics credit hours.
     
  • IA CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Ethical Duties When Representing Clients and Working on Client Files is accredited under the regulations of the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education. It is planned that this program will provide up to a maximum of 1.0 hour(s) including 1.00 ethics hour(s) of unmoderated credit towards the mandatory continuing legal education requirements under the Iowa rule.
     
  • IL CLE 1.0 including Legal Ethics 1
     
  • This course was approved for a total of 1.0 hours of MCLE Credit by the Illinois MCLE Board. The Illinois Commission on Professionalism has also approved this course for the following credit: Legal Ethics for 1.00 hour.
     
  • IN CLE 1.1 including Ethics 1.1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education. Participating attorneys are eligible to receive up to 1.1 hours of Distance Education credit which includes 1.1 hours of ethics.
     
  • MN CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 hours of credit, including 1.00 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • MS CLE 1.1 including Ethics 1.1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education for a maximum of 1.1 credit hours, including 1.1 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • ND CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • North Dakota CLE policy does not allow for pre-approval of any self-study courses. This course may qualify for up to 1.0 hours of CLE credit, including 1.00 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • NH MCLE 1.1 including Ethics 1.1
     
  • NH MCLE does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the NH Minimum CLE requirement. Lorman Education Services believes this Ondemand course meets the requirement of NH Supreme Court Rule 53 and may qualify for 64 minutes of ethics credit.
     
  • NJ CLE 1.3 including Ethics 1.3
     
  • This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.3 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 1.3 qualify as hours of credit for ethics/professional responsibility.
     
  • NM CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the New Mexico Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.0 hours of credit, including 1.0 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • NV CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE hours, including 1.00 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • NY CLE 1.0 including Ethics and Professionalism 1
     
  • This course has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York Continuing Legal Education Board for up to a maximum of 1.0 credit hours in the area(s) of Ethics and Professionalism for 1.00 hour. Each hour may be counted only as satisfying one category of credit. Duplicate credit for the same hour of instruction is not permitted. This course qualifies for credit for established attorneys only. Lorman Business Center, LLC. has a financial hardship guideline. Please contact customer service at 1.866.352.9539 for instructions on how to apply.
     
  • PA CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This Distance Learning program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.0 hours including 1.00 hours of ethics, professionalism or substance abuse CLE credit.
     
  • RI CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Rhode Island Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for 1.0 hours of CLE credit, including 1.00 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • TN CLE 1.07 including Dual 1.07
     
  • This program has been approved as a distance learning format by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education for a maximum of 1.07 hours of credit, including 1.07 hours of dual credit.
     
  • UT CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Utah State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE hours, including 1.00 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • VT CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This self-study program has been approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board of Vermont for 1.0 hour(s) of CLE credit including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics credit. Please note: Attorneys may only claim 12 credits per compliance period in this format. This course is considered "Non-Moderated Programming without Interactivity".
     
  • WA CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Washington State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 hours of A/V credit, including 1.00 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • WI CLE 1.0
     
  • This program qualifies for 1.0 hour(s) of ondemand CLE through the WI Board of Bar Examiners.
     
  • WV MCLE 1.3 including Ethics 1.3
     
  • This program has been approved by the West Virginia State Bar MCLE Commission for 1.3 MCLE hours, including 1.3 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • NALA 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program is applicable for continuing legal assistant education credit. Please check with your accrediting board to see if this course will qualify towards your recertification requirements. Program Length: 1.0 hour(s) including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics credit.
     
The CLE Code is ONLY a requirement when applying for CLE Credit in New York. Other states do not need to supply the CLE Code to apply for CLE credit.

To earn each credit Lorman offers through the OnDemand learning platform, you need to watch 100% of the program. Also, for certain credits you will need to fulfill additional requirements which will be displayed on the "credits" tab when viewing the course.

This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

MP3 Download

  • AK CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Arizona CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • CA MCLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • CT CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • HI CLE 1.0
     
  • MO CLE 1.3
     
  • NJ CLE 1.3
     
  • NM CLE 1.0
     
  • NY CLE 1.0 including Ethics and Professionalism 1
     
  • VT CLE 1.0
     
  • WA CLE 1.0
     
  • WV MCLE 1.3
     
The CLE Code is ONLY a requirement when applying for CLE Credit in California (for participatory credit), Kansas, New Jersey or New York. Other states do not need to supply the CLE Code to apply for CLE credit.

This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Faculty

Joseph A. Corsmeier, Esq.

Joseph A. Corsmeier, Esq.

The Law Office of Joseph A. Corsmeier, P.A.

  • Founder and president/owner of The Law Office of Joseph A. Corsmeier, P.A.
  • Practices primarily in the areas of attorney disciplinary defense before the Florida Bar, attorney admission matters before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, professional license and disciplinary matters before the boards of the state of Florida
  • Provides expert analysis and opinions on ethics issues, legal malpractice, conflicts of interest, fees, attorney disqualification, and other matters and has testified as an expert in both federal and Florida courts
  • Frequent speaker and has written numerous publications on topics including ethics and professionalism, law office management, fees, trust accounting, social media, technology, conflicts of interest, and other topics
  • Holds the highest lawyer rating with Martindale-Hubbell and AVVO Law Directories; designated as a Super Lawyer
  • Admitted to practice in all Florida courts, the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Middle District of Florida
  • Member of the American Bar Association, the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, and the Clearwater and St. Petersburg Bar Associations; served as director of the Clearwater Bar Association, 2004-2009, and president, 2009-2010
  • Adjunct professor of paralegal ethics at St. Petersburg College
  • J.D. degree, Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law; B.A. degree, Florida State University
  • Can be contacted at [email protected] or 727-799-1688
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

All of your training, right here at Lorman

All of your training, right here at Lorman.

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  • State Specific Credit Tracker
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Product ID: 411244
Published 2024
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