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Growing Support For Non-Lawyer Practitioners Will Put Pressure on Law Firms

The mechanical-sounding name of a limited license legal technician, or LLLT, doesn’t hint at the disruptive potential this new job title could have on the legal profession.

The first LLLTs are set to be licensed in April or May in the state of Washington. California, New York and others are discussing creating the same or similar categories to address the needs of people who can’t afford lawyers to represent them in relatively low-level legal proceedings.

LLLTs in Washington will be allowed to fill out legal forms, inform clients of procedures and timelines, review and explain pleadings and identify additional documents that might be needed in court. The initial practice area is limited to domestic relations but is expected to expand to areas like wills, adoptions and bankruptcy.

The threat to law firms is that clients who do hire lawyers and paralegals to perform such tasks will now hire LLLTs for those duties. Nothing will prevents lawyers from hiring LLLTs to provide those services from their own offices, but it seems likely that LLLTs will inevitably exert downward pressure on billable hours and fees, even as the glut of unemployed attorneys continues.

Response to a need

The concept of LLLTs sprung from the perception that the number of poor people needing legal services – and unable to get them – was growing unabated. And the debate about allowing non-lawyers to provide legal services has gone national: American Bar Association President William C. Hubbard has convened a Commission on the Future of Legal Services to study that and other issues.

Robert Ambrogi reported in the Law Sites blog (http://bit.ly/1B4mXpg) that other states are following Washington’s lead. In February, the Oregon State Bar issued a report recommending that its board of governor’s “consider […]

April 13th, 2015|News|
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Enjoy the Super Bowl party; Avoid injuries, penalties, and DUI

Super Bowl Sunday has become an unofficial national holiday, with the same enjoyable customs of a regular holiday: We gather with family and friends and plenty of food and drink to celebrate one of the world’s largest sporting events.

The party atmosphere carries risks similar to other holiday celebrations. According to the Auto Club (www.calif.aaa.com) and the California Department of Insurance (www.insurance.ca.gov), there is a 77 percent increased risk of alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes throughout California on Super Bowl Sunday. In Los Angeles County, the crash rate increases 57 percent, and San Diego County sees a 117 percent rise. The figures reflect an Auto Club analysis of California Highway Patrol crash data from 5 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday through 4 a.m. the following day. The data cover the five Super Bowls played from 2009 through 2013 and were compared to crash rates for the other Sundays in January and February.

Narver Insurance advises everyone to write a “game plan” of safety measures to avoid the increased risk of drinking and driving that could injure or kill you, friends or family, or other innocent people.

For many of us, one deterrent to drinking and driving is the enormous economic expense of a DUI citation. The Auto Club estimates that a first-time misdemeanor conviction can cost up to $15,649 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees, and increased insurance costs. Attorneys who are arrested could also be subject to disciplinary actions by the State Bar, costing more legal fees and untold economic damage to your legal reputation and practice. The estimated cost of a first-offense misdemeanor DUI for a driver under 21 years of age is $21,500. That doesn’t include social host liability issues for the owner of […]

January 28th, 2015|News|
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INSURE FINE ART TO PROTECT FROM DEVASTATING LOSS LIKE THEFT, FIRE

During the season of gift giving, homes are filled with new items — some of largely sentimental value, others expensive. A few are worth enough to cause the owner to think unsentimentally about adjusting their insurance coverage to protect against theft and other events.

Especially for high net worth individuals who have purchased jewelry, antiques, works of art and the like, a portion of the holidays should be devoted to assessing risk for loss, and ensuring that your insurance coverage is adequate. Don’t assume that you are not at risk; art is a high-value crime, with up to 100,000 pieces stolen each year at a value of up to $6 billion.[i] According to the FBI, more than half of the reported thefts in art, antiques and collectibles are from homes. The Art Theft Detail of the Los Angeles Police Department alone has recovered $121 million in stolen art since 1993.

For items like jewelry, antiques and artwork, there are many factors to consider. Here are some questions to ask when you contact your insurance broker.

What does my basic policy cover?
Specifically, are my high-value possessions covered for more than a minimal total?
What kind of information should I provide to ensure these items are covered at their maximum value?

Most standard homeowner policies limit the amount covered for theft, no matter how valuable the item. Jewelry, furs and collectibles are often limited to a maximum claim of $2,000.[ii]

“Valuable Items” policies to cover your more expensive collectibles are available but again you should be aware of specific ceilings that may apply for individual pieces and blanket coverage. Such policies also provide for losing a stone from a piece of jewelry or other a similar loss. When you acquire a high-value […]

January 20th, 2015|News|
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TOP 10 TIPS FOR CRAFTING THE BEST CYBER INSURANCE POLICY

The first insurance product related to cybercrime was developed in 1997 and protected against the hacking of websites. Since then, things have gotten more complex. Today there are many more ways to cause harm through the Internet and the consequences are more wide-ranging, including expensive violations of state and federal privacy law, theft of trade secrets, and the total shutdown of a business as evidenced by the recent hacking into Sony Pictures’ network systems. Not only are large corporations like Sony Pictures, Home Depot, and Target vulnerable; small firms that conduct business through the Internet and store sensitive client information on networks are vulnerable, too, such as law firms that collect personal information about clients for billing purposes.

The following 10 tips will help you start an important conversation between your firm and Narver Insurance to craft a comprehensive cyber-liability insurance policy to protect the assets your company has worked hard for.

Ask for retroactive coverage. Your firm needs to have coverage for a breach that occurred before you were aware it happened. Retroactive coverage insures prior unknown events that result in claims or expenses during the policy period. Think Target or Home Depot, neither of which knew that they were breached until many months after the event occurred. Retroactive coverage can be negotiated for one, two, five or 10-year periods and some insurers offer unlimited coverage. Be aware that some insurers do not offer this coverage.
Review the limits and sublimit clauses in the policy to ensure that they are adequate for your firm’s needs. Pay attention especially to the limits for crisis management and regulatory action expenses such as fines for state and federal privacy act violations.
Third Party coverage is essential. Does it include an Errors & […]

December 15th, 2014|News|
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Changes To California Workers’ Compensation New Hire Pamphlets

Starting July 1, 2014, California employers must distribute a revised Workers’ Compensation Pamphlet to all new employees at time of hire.  Click here to view full information.

August 18th, 2014|News|
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