Referral networks are everywhere—from Bar association panels to informal coffee groups to full-blown lead generation services. But many lawyers don’t realize that participating in these networks can...

Lawyers often forget that your duty to a client doesn’t end when the representation does. State Bar recommends that California lawyers are required to retain a client’s file for a minimum of five...

In the digital age, legal marketing is a minefield. Your website, your Yelp profile, your LinkedIn posts—they all fall under the rules of professional conduct. And nowhere is that more delicate than...

Flat fees are attractive to both lawyers and clients—simple, predictable, and easy to budget. But in California, the ethics rules draw critical distinctions between a true flat fee, a retainer, and an...

One of the most sensitive decisions a lawyer can make is whether to withdraw from a case. It often arises when the client becomes uncooperative, stops paying, insists on unethical conduct, or simply...

Nothing triggers a State Bar audit faster than mishandling your client trust account. For solo and small firm lawyers, the trust account (IOLTA) is often the most neglected part of their practice...

Many solo & small firm lawyers think conflicts of interest are a “big firm” problem. They’re not. In fact, small firms are often more vulnerable because they lack the institutional checks and...

Fee-sharing among lawyers can be mutually beneficial. It’s a long-standing tradition in the legal profession—one lawyer refers a client, another lawyer does the heavy lifting, and they split the...

On August 1, 2023, Rule 8.3 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct became effective —a landmark moment that brought our state into alignment with the overwhelming majority of U.S...