Practice Management - Law Society of Alberta

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Practice Management

These resources support lawyers to employ a range of strategies and skills to support the delivery of efficient and effective legal services and internal processes. They help lawyers manage and mitigate risks to their practice and use technology and innovation to improve legal services.

Retirement Guide

Business Continuity and Succession Plan Guide and Checklist

Practice Management Assessment Tool

Resource	Description	Topic	Audience	Format	Publisher
15 Myths of Small Firm Practice	This resource outlines common myths relating to starting up or running a practice.	Time Management & Organization Skills, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
A Lawyers Guide to Video Conferencing	To help you get started with video conferencing, this guide will walk you through the basics on how to install and use two of the most popular video apps: Zoom and Skype.	Technological Competence	Private Practice, Management, Government, In-House, Sole Practitioner/Small Firm	Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Basics of Cloud Computing	The use of cloud service providers has become increasingly common, for law firms and many other businesses. This resource provides a brief overview of the essentials for cloud computing, including risks, benefits and other resources to help you choose a cloud provider.	File Management & Security, Technological Competence	Private Practice, Management, Government, In-House, Sole Practitioner/Small Firm	Article, Guide, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Business Continuity and Succession Plan Guide and Checklist	This guide is designed to provide background information about business continuity and succession planning. Additionally, it identifies items to consider in developing your plan and provides resources where you can find additional information and templates so you can develop a customized plan for your unique circumstances.	Manage Practice Risks, File Management & Security	Private Practice, Management, Government, In-House, Sole Practitioner/Small Firm	Guide, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Checklist When Moving Law Offices	This checklist is for lawyers moving to new office space, whether they are transferring to a new firm or moving their practice.	Time Management & Organization Skills, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner/Small Firm	Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Considerations for Opening a Law Office	Running a law firm entails more than just being good at the law, you have to understand how to start and run a business. This resource outlines key topics to consider before opening a law office.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Government, In-House, Sole Practitioner/Small Firm	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Computer/Network Security Checklist	Computers and the internet are now an essential component of most, if not all law practices today. Learn about how to secure your equipment and develop your own cybersecurity strategy.	Manage Practice Risks, Technological Competence	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner/Small Firm	Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
CPD Tips: Practice Management	Keeping busy workloads under control can be a big challenge. Practice management is a competence to be honed and developed throughout a lawyer’s career.	Time Management & Organization Skills, File Management & Security	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Crossing the Border with Electronic Devices	Prepared by the Policy Counsel Counterpart Group, Federation of Law Societies of Canada. With travellers at Canadian airports and border crossings subject to increasing scrutiny, it is important for lawyers to have an understanding of how the privacy interests of their clients may be impacted by legislation and policies developed to address public safety issues.	File Management & Security	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Guide	External Source
Debt and the Small-Firm Lawyer	Many small-firm lawyers have clients with limited resources. Those who aren’t firm about payment often end up with problems caused by excessive unbillable time, high accounts receivable and exorbitant write-offs.	Manage Practice Risks, Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures	Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Fraud Fact Sheet - Cybercrime and Bad Cheque Scam	Cybercrime and bad cheque scams are some of the most common, significant and costly problems for lawyers. Learn about the different types of fraud and what to watch for.	Manage Practice Risks, Technological Competence	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Checklist	External Source
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.	File Management & Security	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.	File Management & Security	Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Guide, Template	Law Society of Alberta
Law Firms and Security Strategies for Today's World	Lawyers must pay as much attention to their physical security as they do to the security if trust funds and electronic data. Learn about best practices for securing your office and ensuring the safety of your staff.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Law Firm Startup Trust Safety Milestones	Trust Safety milestones from day one to the fourth month.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Infographic	Law Society of Alberta
Limitations Software Options What to Look for in Limitations Software	Limitations errors can generally be avoided with the help of a well-constructed limitations system. Limitations software assists lawyers in organizing and monitoring deadlines.	Time Management & Organization Skills, Technological Competence	Private Practice, In-House, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Mastering Client Files	Adopting use of a Master Client File List will help you gain better control over your practice. Learn about the key pieces of information and the benefits of using a Master Client File List.	Time Management & Organization Skills, File Management & Security	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Podcast	Law Society of Alberta
Password Managers: Locking the Barndoor with Better Passwords	Poor password habits have become a target for cybercriminal activity, instead of a line of defense. There are practical things you can do to restore the protective function of our passwords.	Technological Competence, Manage Practice Risks	Management, Private Practice, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Guide, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Paying Practice Debts	Learn about ethical responsibilities of lawyers and law firms to financial commitments and business dealings.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Protecting Client Confidentiality and Data Security While Working Remotely	Learn about how to protect client confidentiality and data security while working remotely.	Technological Competence, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Rarely a Borrower Be	When you are starting a new law firm, you will likely need to borrow some money, or at least establish a line of credit. Paying back the debt will be a growing pain you will have to endure.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Retirement Guide	This guide is designed to provide information about the retirement process. It identifies items to consider in developing your plan and provides resources containing additional information and templates.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice	Guide, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Returning to Practice	This guide is intended to help you navigate the reinstatement process.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Guide, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Selling Your Practice Checklist	If you’re thinking of selling your practice, view this helpful checklist to know what steps you need to take.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Slow Death from Exposure	The irreducible reality is that you have to lay money out for overhead and disbursements before you can bill your clients. Knowing the exposure factor over a period of time is important information about the speed of the cash flow cycle in your practice.	Manage Practice Risks, Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Software Comparison Chart Software Data Preservation Options	These comparison charts detail features and pricing options to consider when choosing the practice management/accounting software package that is right for your firm.	Technological Competence, Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Start-Up Kit	This resource provides some considerations for starting up a law firm.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Guide, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
To File or Not to File	File retention practices are changing due to the cost of storing files and the attractive alternatives offered by technology. Learn about the different considerations when addressing your firm’s file retention and document strategy.	File Management & Security, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Top 10 Things to Include in Your Law Office Manual	This “Top 10” list is a starting point to tailor a manual for your firm. Remember to update the manual regularly, and engage colleagues and staff in its development and revision.	Supervision & Management, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Podcast, Guide, Article	Law Society of Alberta
Top 5 Ways to Avoid Falling Into the Mortgage Fraud Trap	This "Top 5" list is a starting point to avoid falling into a mortgage fraud trap	Manage Practice Risks, Technological Competence	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Guide, Article	Law Society of Alberta
Two Email Tips to Save You From Heartache	Email communication is effective and efficient in many ways, but we have all experienced moments when our heart skips a beat when we think a mistake has been made. Learn about two easy adjustments to your Outlook email settings to save stress and reduce errors in your email communication.	Manage Practice Risks, Technological Competence	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Podcast, Guide, Article	Law Society of Alberta
Why I Self-Referred to the Practice Management Department	The time to look carefully at the holes in your practice is on the sunny days. Waiting until someone makes a complaint to the Law Society, or sues you, or some other crisis happens, means you are responding to those problems in the context of that crisis.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
File Retention and Document Management	Learn about your ethical obligations and best practices in file management, storage and destruction.	File Management & Security, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Guide, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Practice Transition Videos	These webinars guide lawyers through important information, options and resources related to transition of their legal careers. The videos provide general information to lawyers who are starting their own firms; moving to another firm; planning to become inactive; or seeking to reinstate, retire or resign.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Webinar, Video	Law Society of Alberta
Preparing for a Leave	There are any number of reasons why a lawyer may take a break or a leave from practice. For lawyers considering these options, there are both practical and regulatory factors that need to be addressed.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Disbursing the Undisbursable: What to do with Unclaimed Trust Funds	Law firms occasionally hold trust funds for extended periods of time when they cannot locate the clients or other parties to whom the funds belong. What can you do in this case?	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Employee Theft on the Rise: Are You at Risk?	Employee theft exposes lawyers and law firms to personal financial risk.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Trust Bank Reconciliations	How to review a trust bank reconciliation: trust bank balances, client trust listings and trust journals.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Prescribed Financial Records	This resource is meant to assist lawyers to understand their obligations in relation to prescribed financial records.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Top 10 Tips: Financial Records Management	You must do a reconciliation of your trust and general accounts by the end of the following month even if you have no balance in either account.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Trust Misappropriation: Your Ounce of Prevention	The bad news is that anyone can be a victim of fraud or theft. The good news is that there is much we can do to minimize the severity, duration and impact of loss.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
TS Rules Modernization Cross Reference Tables	Guide Cross-Referencing the old Trust Safety rules with the rules adopted as of Jan. 1, 2022.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Trust Shortage and Reporting	The Rules, how to report a shortage and next steps.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Your Role as a Responsible Lawyer	As a Responsible Lawyer, you are responsible for all trust money and property received from a client. This document outlines some of your trust safety responsibilities, at a glance.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Detecting Identity Fraud	Due to recent incidents of identity fraud, it is important to investigate this question if your newest client is such a borrower.	Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Ethical and Effective Advertising	The best legal advertising is memorable, informative and assists members of the public to find lawyers who can help them with their legal problems.	Technological Competence	Private Practice, Management, Government & Non-Profit, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Privacy Breached: Now What?	For hackers, lawyers represent a high value target. Billions of dollars flow through Alberta lawyers’ trust accounts every year.	Manage Practice Risks, Technological Competence	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article	Law Society of Alberta
The Code of Conduct and Your Staff	A skilled legal assistant makes for happier clients, happier lawyers and, often, a better bottom line. With this in mind, you must also empower your legal support staff with the knowledge they need to succeed.	Supervision & Management	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article	Law Society of Alberta
What Can a Student-at-Law Do?	You will see that the right to give legal advice and appear before courts turns upon being a lawyer, barrister, solicitor, member of the bar, advocate, avocat, attorney, agent, counsel or officer of the court.	Supervision & Management	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Letter from the Law Society: Building a Stronger Team	With rising demand for good legal talent, and head-hunters routinely reaching out to offer big bonuses and salaries to our associates, now, more than ever, it is an absolute necessity to build a workplace where associates feel appreciated and valued.	Supervision & Management	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Financially Speaking – Trust Accounts July 2020	In the first-ever episode of the Financially Speaking podcast, Trust Safety team members break down the basics of trust accounting – what a lawyer needs to do once they’ve been approved to operate trust accounts, the different kinds of trust accounts and how to manage trust accounts successfully.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Podcast	Law Society of Alberta
Financially Speaking – Lifecycle of a Trust Account	In the second episode of Financially Speaking, our hosts walk through the lifecycle of a trust account, from its creation through to its closure. And, in the spirit of Access to Justice Week, we’re not only going to focus on the logistics and obligations of those trust accounts but on the key role that pooled trust accounts play in funding access to justice initiatives in our province, with a special guest from the Alberta Law Foundation (the Foundation).	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Podcast	Law Society of Alberta
2022 Trust Safety Rule Changes	Trust Safety hosts a webinar on the changes to the Trust Safety rules, which came into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures, Manage Practice Risks	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Webinar, Video	Law Society of Alberta
Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Webinar	Trust Safety and Policy & Ethics host a webinar on the Law Society’s rule amendments regarding Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing.	Manage Practice Risks, Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Webinar, Video	Law Society of Alberta
Law Firm Self-Report – Feb. 13, 2018	The Law Firm Self-Report went online effective Nov. 8, 2017. It is mandatory for law firms to e-file a completed Self-Report online via the Lawyer Portal.	Effective Accounting & Billing Procedures	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Webinar, Video	Law Society of Alberta
Practice Management 101: Life Cycle of a File	The Practice Management team offers this recorded webinar on the basics of effective practice strategies from the beginning of a file through to the end. Listen for a discussion on these strategies that will increase your efficiency and decrease your risk.	Time Management & Organization Skills, File Management & Security	Private Practice, Government, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Webinar, Video	Law Society of Alberta
Practice Management 101: Road to Retirement	The Practice Management Team discusses retiring from the practice of law. If you have questions about the process and timelines for winding up your practice, the team has strategies, resources and more to help you navigate this new stage of your career.	Manage Practice Risks, File Management & Security	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Webinar, Video	Law Society of Alberta
The Goods on Going Solo	Law office must-haves, best practices for file, time and financial management, how to draft a retainer and non-retainer agreement and more.	Time Management & Organization Skills, Manage Practice Risks	Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Webinar, Video	Law Society of Alberta
Guidance for Video Conference Witnessing and Commissioning of Documents Submitted to Land Titles for Registration	Learn about the eligibility, requirements and best practices for video conferencing witnessing and commissioning of documents submitted to Land Titles.	Technological Competence	Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Private Practice, Management, Government & Non-Profit, In-House	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Remote Legal Services FAQ	This resource addresses frequently asked questions about obligations when providing remote legal services. Some information is based on legislative and court announcements that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to monitor ongoing news releases to ensure you have current information.	Technological Competence	Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Private Practice, Management, Government & Non-Profit, In-House	Article	Law Society of Alberta