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High Court ruling that lawyers are ‘debt relief agents’ gets mixed reaction 

By Kimberly Atkins - Published: March 10, 2010
Tags: bankruptcy reform, Milavetz, Supreme Court

WASHINGTON - Bankruptcy attorneys may be more careful about how they advise their clients after the U.S Supreme Court’s holding this week that the communication and disclosure rules that apply to debt relief agents also apply to them.

Good marketers know to listen and follow up 

By Mark Powers & Shawn McNalis - Published: March 9, 2010
Tags: legal marketing

Columnists Mark Powers and Shawn McNalis take a look at the fall-out from failing to follow up with referral sources.

Justices: Bankruptcy lawyers are ‘debt relief agencies’

Published: March 8, 2010
Tags: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, debt relief agency, Supreme Court

Bankruptcy attorneys are “debt relief agencies” under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, and are therefore subject to its regulations, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in an opinion written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Lawyer didn’t violate duty to former client 

Published: March 8, 2010
Tags: fiduciary duty

An attorney who supported a citizens’ group that opposed a real estate development project sought by his former client didn’t violate his duty of loyalty, the California Court of Appeal has ruled.

Don’t hunker down: Continue marketing in a tough economy 

By Mark Powers & Shawn McNalis - Published: March 4, 2010
Tags: marketing

In weak economic times, it’s more important than ever to generate and maintain positive top-of-mind awareness with your clients, referral sources and community.

Seventh Heaven: Four reasons to upgrade to the new Windows 

Published: March 3, 2010
Tags: Google, technology, Windows

After the disaster of Windows Vista, the latest Windows operating system, Windows 7, purports to have solved many of the issues that plagued Vista and made it less than user-friendly.

But is it worth the time and money to upgrade?

Fines for unauthorized practice of law not dischargeable 

Published: March 3, 2010
Tags: automatic stay, unauthorized practice of law

Penalties for the unauthorized practice of law are not dischargeable in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled.

Bar association needn’t sell mailing list 

Published: March 2, 2010
Tags: bar association, unfair business practices

A local bar association didn’t violate state unfair trade practices law when it refused to sell its membership mailing list to a businessman who offered low-cost mediation in competition with its members’ services, the California Court of Appeal has ruled in affirming a dismissal.

Lawyer cannot include specialty in firm name 

Published: March 1, 2010
Tags: ethics

A lawyer cannot include a specialty area in the name of a law firm, the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline has advised.

FTC to appeal ‘red flags’ ruling 

By Kimberly Atkins - Published: February 28, 2010
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, identity theft, red flags rule

WASHINGTON - The Federal Trade Commission has filed notice that it will appeal a U.S. District Court decision which said that regulations designed to combat identity theft cannot be enforced against attorneys.