Lawyers Mutual

The path to becoming a lawyer is often paved with high expectations and the promise of a lucrative career. However, the reality for many new associates is far from glamorous. The weight of substantial law school debt is a pervasive issue that casts a long shadow over the early years of legal practice. Accordin… Read More

An elderly client contacts you by telephone and asks you to do a codicil to her Will. She tells you that she wants to disinherit her two children and leave everything to a caretaker. The client shows up at your office with the caretaker. The caretaker insists on speaking for the client and does not want you t… Read More

Lawyers must be constantly vigilant to guard against fraud schemes being perpetrated by third party bad actors. Lawyers face a variety of threats, including counterfeit check scams, wire fraud, phishing scams to access confidential information, ransomware attacks, and real estate seller impersonation fraud. But… Read More

It is estimated that lawyers spend a little more than $1 billion a year on television advertising. That number seems low. According to data from Tunnl, a single law firm, Morgan & Morgan, spent nearly $240 million on television ads in 2023. I saw several of their ads on a recent weekend stay in South Caro… Read More

The origin of the word “vacation” comes from the Latin word vacare, which means “to be empty or free.” Some vacations that I have taken are consistent with this root word. When I travelled to the Everglades to camp on a deserted island, I certainly felt free of work obligations and the t… Read More

Drafting errors are one of the most common causes of legal malpractice claims. Every year, Lawyers Mutual receives multiple claims arising from lawyers’ drafting mistakes. Some of these claims could be described as minor claims, while others result in substantial damages. A minor typographical error can j… Read More

As with any new sweeping federal regulatory scheme, there are kinks to work out and questions which need clarification. This has certainly been true for the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury has cont… Read More

In the legal realm, grappling with complex matters is routine, whether it involves forecasting unexpected legal twists or devising strategies to outmaneuver adversaries. A prevalent tactic employed by management teams in tackling such complexities is tapping into the "wisdom of crowds" – soliciting divers… Read More

We have all been there. The firm has called a meeting or another lawyer in the firm wants to have a meeting with you. The content presented in the meeting could have easily been provided to you in an email. While you’re in the meeting, your email inbox grows and the pile of work on your desk continues to … Read More

‌On April 8, 2024, American Bar Association President, Mary Smith, issued a statement calling on all members of the legal profession to defend against increasing threats against judges in the United States  Smith noted that threats against judges have doubled since 2019. They include threats of physi… Read More

Lawyers Mutual congratulates Ted Edwards, who was honored by the North Carolina State Bar with the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service award. The award was presented to Edwards by State Bar President A. Todd Brown on February 23, 2024, at the LAP Minority Outreach Conference. The award is given to North Caro… Read More

In a March 23, 2024, press release, the Administrative Office of the Courts announced that the rollout for eCourts will continue with 10 new counties from the North Piedmont/Triad region converting over on April 29, 2024, and 11 new Western counties moving to eCourts starting July 22, 2024. The North Piedmont/… Read More

North Carolina allows a surviving spouse to petition for a year’s allowance in the amount of $60,000. This allowance is paid out of the personal property in the estate and is intended to provide a means of support for a surviving spouse during an estate administration. Under the existing statutory framewo… Read More

Most people don’t enjoy going to the doctor for a physical exam. There is all the poking and prodding and the lectures from your doctor about your lifestyle, diet, weight, and exercise. There is the potential that the doctor might find some illness or disease that you were unaware of. And yet most of us c… Read More

 Eighty percent of legal consumers looking to hire an attorney will move on if they don’t here back from an attorney within 48 hours. Seventy percent of consumers review online content before engaging with an attorney. This includes blogs, websites, online reviews, social media sites, and testimonia… Read More