Avoid potential ethical problems and be aware of the rules and their application in practice.
This course will provide important information to paralegals regarding compliance with the ethical responsibilities under the Bar rules as well as risk management. Paralegals are permitted to perform multiple tasks and projects under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Paralegals also assist in managing the law office and recognizing and preventing (or mitigating) ethics violations. This course will identify crucial ethical issues and traps for the unwary and either prevent ethical issues from occurring or manage ethical issues when they occur.Agenda
- Identifying and Resolving Ethics and Risk Management Issues
- Client Intake: Properly Screening Potential Clients and Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
- Ethical Requirements for Lawyer Supervision of Paralegals: The Importance of Paralegal and Non-Lawyer Compliance With the Bar Rules and Paralegal Bonuses
- Fees and Fee Agreements: Ethical Requirements for Charging Fees and Substance of Fee Agreements
- Billing and Client Account Management: Ethical Billing and Client Account Management
- File Closing and Records Management: The Critical Importance of Client File and Records Management
- Ethics and Social Media Pitfalls
- Technology Ethics Issues
Speaker(s)
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
