Disciplinary Actions are likely the most closely read section of each edition of The Florida Bar News. However, total discipline cases are actually on the decline. According to the Bar’s website, in a typical year, the Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP) receives over 16,000 requests for assistance; and only about 25% of those inquiries result in the opening of a disciplinary file. Last year 3,364 files were opened which resulted in only 318 Supreme Court Discipline cases. In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt welcome back Deputy Director of Lawyer Regulation, Patricia Savitz, to discuss The Florida Bar’s lawyer discipline process. If your questions or issues are not addressed, you can contact LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar for guidance. Patricia Savitz has been with the Bar since 1997 and was previously Bar Counsel with the Orlando Branch of The Florida Bar where she handled all aspects of Bar disciplinary proceedings. She was recently promoted to Deputy Director for the Lawyer Regulation Department of The Florida Bar. Patti received both her undergraduate and her law degree from the University of Miami. Prior to working at the Bar, Patti was an Assistant Public Defender in the 20th Judicial Circuit in Fort Myers and was a Senior Attorney with the Department of Children and Families. She has done extensive appellate work including oral argument before the Fifth District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court. This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1 hour of General CLE credit including 1 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course #5838­­.  REFERENCED RESOURCES:The Florida Bar – Attorney DisciplineFlorida Bar Attorney Consumer Assistance (ACAP) Hotline 866.352.0707 The Rules Regulating The Florida BarChapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar

The Lawyer Discipline Process from Start to Finish

LegalFuel is the official Florida Bar Podcast. This monthly series is brought to you by The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar and will feature esteemed leaders in law discussing new and innovative topics. Its purpose is to help members of The Florida Bar as well as attorneys from other states run better practices and provide better legal services to their clients. Disclaimer: The views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not represent the views of, nor are they endorsed by The Florida Bar, their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, or representatives. None of the content should be considered legal advice. As always, consult a lawyer.

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The Rules Regulating The Florida Bar detail the many required procedures and the professional conduct of our members. They are designed to protect the public and maintain ethical standards within the legal field. When the Bar receives a complaint, it is often due to a lack of understanding or awareness of the rules by the attorney. Here at the Practice Resource Center, we actively try to assist our members with resources and guidance so that they have the tools and knowledge to be compliant with the Rules.  So, in today’s podcast, we’re going to discuss some essential, but perhaps less well-known Bar Rules that every lawyer should be aware of to avoid a disciplinary action.    This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 0.5 hour of General CLE credit including 0.5 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 8346.    REFERENCED RESOURCES:    ·        Supreme Court Reduces the Number of Mandatory CLE Hours ·        Supreme Court-Mandated Professionalism CLE Now Available ·        Frequently Asked Questions About CLE Requirements ·        Designate Your Inventory Lawyer Today! ·        If a lawyer is leaving a firm, which clients to notify? ·        LegalFuel Document Library: Lawyer Changing Firms ·        Trust Accounting – Basic Records and Procedures ·        It Is a Requirement That the Trust Account Compliance Certificate Be Completed ·        Trust Account Compliance Certificate Instructions ·        Trust Accounting FAQs ·        Attorney/Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP) ·        How long should I keep closed files? ·        How to Establish an Interstate Law Practice? What are some pitfalls to avoid? ·        Choose a Corporate Structure ·        Should I form a professional service corporation? Do I have to? ·        Modern Complexity Demands New Ways of Working: The Future of The Lawyer-Nonlawyer Partnership ·        The Florida Bar Ethics Informational Packets ·        Best Practices for Law Firm Invoices [Guest Post] ·        LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

Bar Rules You May Not Be Aware Of: Guidance for Avoiding Disciplinary Actions

Lawyers often invest in technology but may not utilize it effectively, leading to a missed return on investment. Strategic spending on impactful technology is crucial when you are a solo or small firm on a budget.    In today’s episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Catherine Sanders Reach, to discuss cost-effective technology tools and services you may already have at your disposal.   Catherine Sanders Reach provides practice technology and management assistance to lawyers and legal professionals. Formerly, she was Director of Law Practice Management and Technology for the Chicago Bar Association and the Director at the American Bar Association’s Legal Technology Resource Center. Prior to her work at the NCBA, CBA and ABA she worked in library and information science environments for several years, working at Ross and Hardies as a librarian. She received a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of Alabama.   Catherine’s professional activities include articles for Law Practice magazine, Law Technology News and GPSolo Magazine, as well as numerous other publications. She has given presentations on the use of technology in law firms for national bar conferences, state and local bar associations and organizations such as the National Association of Bar Council and the Association of American Law Schools.    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 # 8284.    REFERENCED RESOURCES:  ·        About Catherine Sanders Reach ·        Subscribe to North Carolina Bar Association CPM ICYMI Newsletter ·        Articles Written by Catherine Sanders Reach o  Free and Cheap Technology for Thrifty Lawyers o  Can MS 365 Replace Law Practice Management Software? o  Expand MS 365 with Add-ins and Integrations o  Adobe Acrobat Has a New (Inter)Face o  Microsoft 365 versus Google Workspace o  Trying Out LinkedIn Newsletters ·        Other Resources o  Microsoft Bookings o  Use Planner in Microsoft Teams o  Removing sensitive content from PDFs o  Fastcase Quick Reference Guide o  Dashlane Authenticator app o  Keeper Authenticator o  Zoom VoIP Phone Services o  Microsoft Teams Phone ·        LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center   

Cost Effective Tech Solutions for Budget-Minded Lawyers

Back in the day, law firms either relied on their reputations and referrals from former clients or they paid for billboards and phone book ads. If you are a solo or small firm practitioner, you likely don’t have a lot of time or a huge marketing budget to compete with larger firms to attract new clients, but a simple, well-crafted digital marketing strategy can be all that you need for maintaining a steady flow of client activity.   In today’s episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Rob Saravia and Jeff Hazen, to discuss practical marketing tips and Bar Advertising Rules.    Rob Saravia is The Florida Bar’s new marketing manager aiding growth in the Programs Department. He brings over 4 years of experience in the marketing field, with a focus on the dynamic realm of retail marketing. Rob is a graduate of Florida State University with a double major in Marketing and Economics.    Jeff Hazen serves as the Assistant Ethics Counsel for the Florida Bar, with over 15 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 0.5 hour of General CLE credit including 0.5 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 8214.    REFERENCED RESOURCES:  • Article: Law Firm Marketing Strategy: Top 8 Ideas to Grow a Legal Practice (by Clio) • The Florida Bar Advertising Regulation and Information • Handbook on Lawyer Advertising and Solicitation • Chapter 4 Rules of Professional Conduct • 4-7.13 Deceptive and Inherently Misleading Advertisements • 4-7.16 Presumptively Valid Content • 4-7.18 Direct Contact with Prospective Clients • 4-7.20 Exemptions from the Filing and Review Requirement • Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 20-01: Negative Online Reviews • Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 21-1: Negative Online Reviews • Ethics Hotline 800-235-8619 • Grow Your Practice – Join the Lawyer Referral Service • LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar • LegalFuel: Marketing Resources

Practical Marketing Tips to Expand Your Legal Practice

Microsoft 365 is a must for many legal professionals who rely on its wide range of time saving and regularly enhanced tools. There are also specifically designed features within the software to streamline your daily legal workflow that you may not be aware of. Now artificial intelligence has been integrated across Microsoft 365. It’s called Copilot and it is poised to become your new digital assistant inside of all the Microsoft applications that you are already using. Smart lawyers should take note and ask how Copilot can instantly and fundamentally change how you get work done in your firm.  In today’s episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Ben Schorr, a Senior Content Manager at Microsoft, to discuss Microsoft 365 and Copilot.    Ben Schorr is a Senior Content Program Manager at Microsoft. He is also the author of several books and articles on technology including “The Lawyer’s Guide to Microsoft Outlook,” “The Lawyer’s Guide to Microsoft Word” and “OneNote in One Hour.” He was a Microsoft MVP for 20 years and has been involved in management and technology for more than 30. In his free time, he’s a slow Ironman triathlete and a high school football coach. He currently lives with his family in Redmond, WA. 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 # 8203.  REFERENCED RESOURCES:  Ben Schorr - LinkedInBooks by Ben SchorrArticle by Ben Schorr: Which Office 365 Package is Right for Your Law Firm?MicrosoftMicrosoft CopilotOfficial Microsoft Blog: Announcing Microsoft Copilot, your everyday AI companionMicrosoft: Rehearse your slide show with Speaker CoachSummarize an email thread with CopilotGet started with Microsoft 365 Chat in Microsoft TeamsMicrosoft OneDrive for BusinessNatural language search in Outlook  LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar

Microsoft 365 and Copilot: Top Features for Legal Practice Needs

Beginning in March of 2020, the pandemic transformed every aspect of our lives. For most of us who had reported to an office every day, this meant a very sudden shift to remote only work. Law firms had to quickly adapt to stay connected to the courts, colleagues, and their clients. We are now more than three years out and while some firms found that remote work was seamless and chose to continue it, other firms have gone to a hybrid model or banned remote work completely. According to a recent ABA report, 89% of lawyers in private practice are allowed to work remotely, with 18% permitted to work out of the office all the time and 45% with the flexibility to choose their own schedule. Here at the Practice Resource Center, we were curious to hear how it’s all working out. In today’s episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Richard Rivera, Partner at Smith Gambrell Russell, to discuss how the firm’s Jacksonville office has adapted to the new normal.  Richard Rivera received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Florida in 2009 and earned his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Florida State University College of Law. Rich works in both the Litigation and the Intellectual Property Practice Groups. His IP practice is concentrated in trademark and copyrights, compliance with state and federal laws governing sweepstakes and other promotional activities, software and internet technology, marketing, and licensing issues. He also prosecutes trademark and copyright registrations before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office. Rich is also the current Chair of The Florida Bar’s Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers Committee. 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 Mental Health and Wellness CLE credit. Course # 8185. REFERENCED RESOURCES:   Smith Gambrell RussellAbout Rich RiveraABA Article: Are law firm leaders having second thoughts on remote work? Intapp Time Article: How to Work Remotely as a Legal Professional: A Guide (from Clio) Article: Working remotely is now a top priority, says new ABA report highlighting lasting shifts in practice of lawABA 2022 Practice Forward Report: Where Does the Legal Profession Go from Here? LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar

The Lawyer Discipline Process from Start to Finish

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