News
Division News
FTC Announces Expanded Business Education Campaign on ‘Red Flags’ Rule
After substantial lobbying by the ABA’s task force on the Red Flags Rule regarding identity theft of which the GP Division is a critical member, The Federal Trade Commission announced today that it is delaying enforcement of the Red Flags Rule. The rule would require you and many of your clients to expend significant time, money and effort to develop formal policies regarding identity theft. It is the ABA’s position that the red flags rule should not apply to attorneys engaged in the private practice of law due to the higher degree of confidentiality we are subject to by the rules of professional conduct and case law. The FTC has agreed to delay enforcement until November 1st so that the issues raised by the ABA can be studied further. We are hopeful that similar to our successful efforts a few years ago to exempt lawyers from the Gramm Leach Bliley privacy law we will prevail in this instance as well. Should you wish to discuss the rule with the GP Division’s representative on the ABA task force, please contact Keith McLennan at kmclennan@millerturetsky.com.
Not only is this rule and its delay important to you and your practice but it also has a significant impact upon your clients. Communication with your clients regarding this rule is a must. Full announcement of the delay can be found here or at http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/07/redflag.shtmABA Membership Guide for Solo Practitioners
You have your own practice. With the ABA, you will never practice alone.
The ABA has the resources you need to succeed.
Attorneys with their own lawpractice
achieve countless accomplishments
while facing unique challenges.
The American Bar Association
recognizes these challenges and offers
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Professional advancement, specialized
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plans are just the beginning ofwhat
the ABA has to offer you. This
membership guide is your roadmap
to success. After all,with the ABA,
youwill never practice alone.
Click here to to download your Membership Guide
ABA Recession Recovery Teleconference Series
How’s the recession affecting you? Need some insight on navigating these troubled economic times?
Listen in to the ABA Recession Recovery Teleconference Series, free for ABA members. We hope you can join us for one of these four teleconferences, which feature expert faculty providing practical tips and strategies for succeeding in today’s career climate. Programs will focus on marketing yourself, succeeding as a solo practitioner, adapting to the new legal environment, and stabilizing your outlook in an unstable world.
Click here to learn about the individual programs
Online Research Costs: Are They Recoverable?
Per the October/November 2008 issue of GPSolo, Joan Burda discusses the question of whether lawyers may bill clients for online research (OLR) fees. The GPSolo Division in April 2008 conducted a survey of their membership to learn more about their cost recovery practices. Approximately 50% of respondents recover costs for OLR. To learn more about this survey and information on how you can determine if you can recover costs, please go to the GPSolo Resources page at http://www.abanet.org/genpractice/resources/costrecovery/
Economic Recovery Resources
Find the latest information from the ABA on how to get through the economic downturn. Our Economic Recovery Resources portal contains resources and tips on a variety of topics from job searching, to practice management, to professional development and more. Visit http://new.abanet.org/economicrecovery/default.aspx.
ABI Adds Personal Umbrella Coverage for Lawyers (NEW)
American Bar Insurance (ABI) now offers personal umbrella policies through the Navigators Insurance Group. ABA members concerned about protecting their assets from unfunded liability judgments may purchase personal umbrella coverage that includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage at no additional premium — and with discounted pricing through ABA Member Advantage.
“In today’s marketplace, when the number of uninsured/underinsured motorists in the United States is growing, we felt ABA members should have this coverage available,” says J. David Andrews, former ABA Treasurer and current ABI President. “This goes beyond existing homeowners and auto policies, without requiring a change in carriers. It strengthens protection in many areas.”
According to the Insurance Research Council’s Uninsured Motorists, 2008 Edition study, released earlier this year, 14 percent of drivers in the United States were uninsured in 2007, and the number could rise to one in six by 2010.
If you or a family member is involved in an accident in which one of these drivers is at fault, you are unlikely to be reimbursed for vehicle damages, lost wages or medical costs. Worse, depending on the limits of your personal auto policy, you may not have enough coverage for yourself, either.
In addition, if you own a boat, have a swimming pool or ride a motorcycle or snowmobile, you have increased risk. Personal umbrella protection adds an extra layer of liability coverage for young drivers, rental properties, farmland, watercraft and all types of vehicles.
The policies also include limits of up to $10 million, as well as coverage for domestic partners, spouses and drivers under 18.
Whatever your risk, as an ABA member you qualify for discounted pricing through the ABA Member Advantage program. For more information, visit www.abanet.org/advantage/insurance.
New Benefit for ABA Members - Mozy »
ABA members can now receive special discounts on secure online backup by Mozy.
Mozy is a simple and safe way to back up all the important files and documents on your computer. A copy of your data is stored in a secure, remote location for safekeeping, so that in the event of disaster your data is still retrievable. Backups can be configured to run automatically without your personal attention.
Use MozyPro to secure your documents at the office. MozyHome will safeguard the music, videos and family photos on your personal computer.
Discounts are available to ABA members for both the MozyHome and MozyPro solutions. To take advantage of these discounts, please visit www.mozy.com/aba or call 1.877.MozyPro and mention that you are a member of the ABA.
SOLO Goes Electronic
SOLO, the Division’s diminutive eight–page newsletter, will soon see a change in format. It will be online–only starting with the fall 2008 issue. GPSolo Division members will receive notice of each issue by e–mail with a link to the online site. The look of the newsletter will also change; the online format will feature an easy’access list of articles and authors, as well as a downloadable pdf and other “quick click” links to past issues, Division information, and the opportunity to voice your comments on the newsletter via e–mail. The content, however —short articles that offer practical tips and advice for the solo and small firm lawyer— remains the same.
Download the First Online Edition of Solo eNewsletter - Winter 2009
New Member Advantage Benefit – Hewlett–Packard »
ABA members can now receive special discounts on commercial products and services at Hewlett-Packard, a leading technology provider offering computers, printers, imaging systems and more.
Besides discounts, members can take advantage of HP’s team of more than 125 technical sales experts who can help you select the right products and services for your business. Whether you need to price a new printer or want advice on designing a scalable network or storage solution, the technical sales team can help—through telephone consultation, live chat or free online classes.
For more information, please visit www.hp.com/go/legal. To purchase HP products and take advantage of special ABA membership discounts, please visit www.hp.com/go/aba1 or call 1-800-888-8450 and mention code ABA1.
New Issue of Law Trends »
Check out the newest issue of GP|Solo’s popular practice area e-newsletter, Law Trends & News. No matter what area of law you practice, you’ll find essential reading in the diverse offerings of Law Trends. More
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