#554: Competence and Diligence in Light of Changing Laws and Regulations

9 snips

Apr 10, 2025

Craig Dobson, an expert in ethics and professional responsibility, joins to discuss the evolving legal landscape for attorneys. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining diligence and confidentiality while navigating new tools. They explore alternative fee structures beyond hourly billing, advocating for transparency in client agreements. Craig shares insights on proactive billing practices in his own firm, stressing the need for lawyers to understand risks. Together, they offer essential guidance for solo and small firm attorneys to stay compliant amid regulatory changes.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Staying Competent in a Changing Legal Landscape

Join relevant professional organizations like AILA to stay updated on legal changes.
Subscribe to their newsletters and updates to remain competent and informed.

ANECDOTE

Sudden Form Change Causes Chaos

The administration changed a form type without a grace period, causing issues for lawyers.
One lawyer had to recall issued FedExes and redo forms, creating stress and client aggravation.

ADVICE

Specialization vs. Generalization

Specializing in a few practice areas allows for deeper competence.
Avoid being a generalist as it makes staying updated and competent in all areas difficult.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Attorney Craig Dobson, an expert on ethics and professional responsibility, joins Stephanie Everett to talk about the ethical and professional responsibility concerns lawyers face in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. They discuss how solo and small firm attorneys can stay compliant while leveraging new tools, the importance of confidentiality and competence, and the fundamental need to maintain diligence in your practice. Craig and Stephanie examine alternative fee structures beyond just hourly billing and provide guidance on ethical practices around lawyer pricing models. Craig also shares how he’s approaching billing in his own practice and why lawyers need to be proactive about understanding the risks.

Read Craig’s article: Overview | Full Article

Additionally, Zack talks with Curtis, from MyCase and LawPay about their new product, Smart Spend, the LawPay Visa® Business Card is issued by Emprise Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc.

Listen to our other episodes about ethics and alternative billing practices:

#350: Ethics in Your Business: It's More than Regulations, with Susan Liautaud Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Legal Talk Network
#488: The Power of Value-Based Pricing, with Shaun Jardine Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist
#543: What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist
#547: Legal Tech You Need for Flat Fees, with Adriana Linares Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:18 Lawyerist Coaching

05:22 Expense Tracking in MyCase

10:01 Integrating Finance with Practice

14:54 Immigration Law and the Current Administration

17:53 Specialization and Maintaining Competence Across Multiple Areas

22:39 Lawyer Pricing Models in an Era of Uncertainty