Easiest Way to Commit Legal Malpractice

This is the easiest way to commit legal malpractice.

Honor a client's request to advise them on "just one clause" in their contract, without reviewing the whole contract.

If I had a dollar for every time a potential client reached out to me and asked for legal advice on “just one clause” in their contract, and just tried to send me one page of their contract to review, I could retire today.

Just looking at that one clause would be malpractice.

In Virginia, DC, and Maryland, where my firm has licensed attorneys, the contract is construed as a whole.

Just looking at that one clause means that I’m missing the entire context of the document.

There could be another clause in your contract that completely shifts the meaning of the “just one clause” you are asking for advice on.

Lawyers, make sure you are getting a full copy of the whole contract.

Make sure it is signed.

These seem like basic things to do, but when a potential client is offering to drop money in your trust account and needs a “quick review” done today, it can be tempting to give them a “quick review.”

But the client doesn’t need “quick.”

They need correct.

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My firm reviews noncompetes and severance agreements at a reasonable, flat rate, with efficiency and responsiveness.

If you or someone you know in the DC, Maryland, or Virginia area could use this type of support, we may be a good fit to provide legal representation.

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Using the Term “Associate” for Lawyers