OBLIC news, events and updates.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month- Week #3 Not every cybercrime involves manipulation of the victim’s computer or device. One of the most common cybercrimes targeting lawyers—the fraudulent check scam– uses email to manipulate the lawyer. In cybersecurity, this use of email to manipulate a victim into sending money is called “social engineering.” This week we share one […]

Cybersecurity Awareness Month- Week #2 When thinking about a cyber-breach, lawyers may envision a sudden lock-down and takeover of the lawyer’s computer with a demand for ransom. While those attacks certainly occur, more often we receive reports of attacks that involve an attacker silently monitoring or hijacking an email account while the lawyer is oblivious […]

The Cloudflare Attack October is Cybersecurity Awareness month. This observance established in 2004 by the United States President and Congress to raise Cybersecurity Awareness is led by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (“CISA”) and National Cybersecurity Alliance (“NCA”). This year’s theme for CISA’s Cybersecurity Awareness campaign is “See Yourself in Cyber.” OBLIC is joining […]

Lawyer-Impersonation Wire Fraud Lawyers and law firms have long been favorite targets of cyber-criminals for phishing attacks and wire fraud. Lawyers who are involved in real estate closings or title work are particularly susceptible to attempts to divert funds being wired to third parties. We have cautioned lawyers to protect themselves against these attacks by […]

Recent Disciplinary Case Statistics reveal that the top cause of grievances is neglect. Almost half of the grievances received by Office of Disciplinary Counsel involve neglect and/or lack of communication. Other areas of concern involve excessive fees and IOLTA violations. It is also notable that “of those cases that find their way to formal disciplinary […]

We often get questions to the OBLIC Hotline about withdrawing from representation.  Sometimes withdrawal is necessary because of a conflict of interest.  More often, the need to withdraw is the frustrating outcome of undertaking representation of a difficult client.  The Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct govern this process of withdrawing at Prof. Cond. R. 1.16 […]

We are pleased to announce that OBLIC will partner with the Ohio State Bar Association to provide one-hour of CLE content at the fall and spring OSBA district meetings. Attendees of the district meeting luncheons will receive 30 minutes of CLE content presented during the luncheon by OSBA staff. An additional hour of CLE content […]

Since 2014 OBLIC has provided all policyholders access free of charge to the Cyber Toolbox, an online repository of cybersecurity resources. Among the resources available are articles warning of new cybersecurity threats, sample cybersecurity policies, and video training courses that can be shared with lawyers and staff. A new article on the Cyber Toolbox titled, […]

OBLIC has recently seen an uptick in letters of inquiry directed to insureds from the Ohio Disciplinary Counsel. Letters of inquiry are part of the investigative review when a grievance is filed against an attorney.   If you receive a letter of inquiry, or a formal complaint is filed against you, it is important to […]

Addressing Fee Disputes Fee disputes can arise in numerous situations. Clients being billed on an hourly basis may disagree with the amount they are charged, disputing the reasonableness, quality or necessity of the fee and/or expenses charged.  Flat fee clients may discharge the attorney and dispute the amount of the fee the attorney proposes to […]