Preventing Legal Malpractice and Disciplinary Complaints: Ethics Audits as a Risk-Management Tool

Business Law Today, Vol. 2015, Issue 3 (March 2015), pp.1-2

Posted: 15 Sep 2015

Date Written: March 2015

Abstract

This column examines the value of firm lawyers conducting and supporting ethics audits as an integral feature of a comprehensive risk-management program. For decades, legal malpractice experts have urged lawyers to implement systems, policies, and procedures related to the delivery of legal services. Once a firm adopts systems, policies, and procedures, a meaningful risk-management system requires a periodic examination to monitor lawyers’ compliance. Rather than waiting for a professional liability insurer to recommend or require such a systematic examination, proactive firm leaders and lawyers should seriously consider devoting time and resources to periodic ethics audits.

Keywords: legal ethics, law firms, professional responsibility

JEL Classification: K19, K39

Suggested Citation

Fortney, Susan Saab, Preventing Legal Malpractice and Disciplinary Complaints: Ethics Audits as a Risk-Management Tool (March 2015). Business Law Today, Vol. 2015, Issue 3 (March 2015), pp.1-2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2660360

Susan Saab Fortney (Contact Author)

Texas A&M University School of Law ( email )

1515 Commerce St.
Fort Worth, TX Tarrant County 76102
United States
817-212-3902 (Phone)

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