OBLIC news, events and updates.

The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct recently issued two advisory opinions on lawyer advertising.  Online advertising is discussed in Opinion 2021-04 Competitive Keyword Online Advertising.  Advertising as a specialist is addressed in Opinion 2021-05 Communication of a Lawyer Specialization in a Field of Law Not Designated by the Supreme Court. Opinion 2021-04 Competitive Keyword Online […]

This is a continuing series in which we address policy coverage questions that we  routinely discuss with you and your colleagues. The answers provided are based on the basic policy form, currently LPLP-1t; refer to your specific policy and any endorsements attached thereto that may change coverage or the answers provided. As you should expect, […]

As COVID restrictions are lifted, vacation and travel plans are back on the calendar.  Attorneys should always have plans for what happens when they are not available.  See Business Succession Planning:  Designating a Successor Attorney.  However, if you don’t already have those plans in place, here are some quick steps you can take as you prepare […]

With the uptick in advertising, be aware there may be client generator situations trying to involve lawyers inappropriately in live telephone or real-time electronic contact with potential clients.  The contact to the potential client may be from a service employed by a non-lawyer professional to call people involved in auto accidents from police reports.  That […]

Retirement is the most common reason OBLIC policyholders close a law practice.  Other reasons include election or appointment to the judiciary or other public office, the start of a new firm, or the assumption of some other non-private practice employment.  Whatever the reason, here are steps we recommend be followed when closing your law practice. […]

Attorneys have always had their fair share of difficult clients.  However, challenging economic times, such as those recently thrust upon our profession by the COVID-19 pandemic, often increase the number of these precarious situations, making the practice of law even more challenging.   The following recommended best practices may help you navigate the treacherous waters of […]

This is part one of a monthly series in which we address policy coverage questions that we  routinely discuss with you and your colleagues. The answers provided are based on the basic policy form, currently LPLP-1t; refer to your specific policy and any endorsements attached thereto that may change coverage or the answers provided. We […]

Questions about fee agreements are frequently asked on the OBLIC Hotline.  Flat fee agreements seem especially problematic.  Let’s take a closer look at these fee agreements. Rule 1.5 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct governs fees and expenses.  The rule provides that: A lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge, or collect an […]

A new law took effect April 12, 2021 that creates a new category of unclaimed funds called Attorney Unclaimed Funds in the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds. These Attorney Unclaimed Funds are: unclaimed IOLTA funds held pursuant to 4705.09 ORC, unclaimed IOTA funds held pursuant to 3953.231 ORC, and unclaimed residual settlement […]

New Domestic Violence Protection Orders went into effect April 15, 2021. These forms were last updated in 2014. If you have the old forms in your system, you will need to replace them. The new forms are available in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format, and in languages other than English, on the Supreme Court […]