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Resource | Description | Topic | Audience | Format | Publisher |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bridging the Gap | All too often, lawyers or their clients adopt a “my way or the highway” mentality. This type of approach tends to be counter-productive when trying to determine how to best resolve a dispute. | Establishing the Relationship, Foster Collaboration and Trust | Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit | Article, Guide | Law Society of Alberta |
Untying the Knot: Withdrawing from a Client | Lawyers frequently ask the Practice Advisors whether circumstances justify firing a client. Even if the answer is yes, sometimes the lawyer is obligated to continue acting. | Suitability of Lawyer-Client Relationships | Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm | Article | Law Society of Alberta |
Contingency Fee Issues | Learn about common problems relating to contingency fee matters, including contingency fee agreements that do not comply with the Rules of Court, charging fees on retainer deposits and inaccurately calculating fees on advances. | Establishing the Relationship | Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm | Article | Law Society of Alberta |
Interactive Non-Engagement Letter Guide | A non-engagement letter confirms to a potential client, after a consultation or phone conversation, that the firm is unable to act on the matter. | Suitability of Lawyer-Client Relationships | Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm | Guide, Template | Law Society of Alberta |
Interactive Retainer Letter | Retainer letters are recommended practice in Alberta for non-contingency retainers. | Establishing the Relationship | Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm | Guide, Template | Law Society of Alberta |
Client Communication Toolkit: Client Service | Clients have a myriad of different needs and preferences, so there is no single right way to offer or provide legal services. | Establishing the Relationship, Ongoing Communication | Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm | Guide | Law Society of Alberta |
Client Communication Toolkit: Legal Fees | By highlighting common pitfalls, best practices and recent developments, our goal is to help you meet your clients’ expectations and achieve a more successful, satisfying practice for yourself. | Establishing the Relationship, Ongoing Communication | Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm | Guide | Law Society of Alberta |
Simply Speaking | It’s hard not to fall into the legalese trap. From law school onwards, lawyers are conditioned to write and speak using academic language and legal terminology. | Ongoing Communication, Foster Collaboration and Trust | Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit | Article, Guide | Law Society of Alberta |
Top Ten Ways to Avoid Law Society Complaints | Provide your clients with realistic timelines for their matter, and update those timelines when things change. | Foster Collaboration and Trust | Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit | Article, Guide | Law Society of Alberta |
Educational resources in this section are intended for the legal profession as an aid and are not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice. Readers must exercise their professional judgment about the accuracy, utility and applicability of the material. The Law Society of Alberta and Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association (ALIA) accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions in any resource. If you find any information that is unclear, inaccurate or outdated, please send an email with details to Education.
Any information pertaining to the ALIA Group Policy contained in any resource is provided for information purposes only. The Group Policy contains other terms and conditions that may affect coverage. Subscribers to the Group Policy should always review the Group Policy, to confirm their obligations in any circumstance.
Any third-party resources are suggested for information and reference only. The Law Society and ALIA are not responsible for the accuracy, content or information contained in these sites. Views expressed in these resources are the views of the authors individually and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Law Society or ALIA.