Article Index

Alert | Engaging Beyond Handshakes

Every single client-solicitor relationship you enter without a Letter of Engagement is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.  Issuing a Letter of Engagement at the start of every client-solicitor relationship is essential.  The Advocate...

Dari Peguam Cemerlang Ke Pemimpin Berkesan

Akhmed telah diterima masuk ke Badan Peguam lima tahun yang lalu dan dengan cepat telah memperolehi reputasi sebagai peguam yang berdedikasi dan cemerlang.  Majikannya menilai dia dengan baik, dan memuji kemahiran penulisan dan pengetahuan undan...

From Brilliant Lawyer to Effective Leader

Akhmed was called to the Bar five years ago and quickly earned a reputation as a dedicated and brilliant lawyer.  His employer rated him highly, praising his drafting skills and knowledge of the law.   Although Akhmed did not attend court...

The Power of Inquiry: How Lawyers Master Unfamiliar Fields Through Targeted Questioning

This article first appeared on KataEzri at kataezri.wordpress.com.  Copyright © 2023   Reprinted with permission from the author.   Embracing Curiosity: A Lawyer’s Approach to Learning In the diverse world of law, att...

Interviewing New Clients for Facts

This article first appeared on From the Bar Stool at fromthebarstool.life.  Copyright © 2023   Reprinted with permission from the author.   When meeting a client for the first time, I tell my younger colleagues they need to ...

Managing Clients at the End of a Transaction

A satisfied client will pay your fees, possibly reinstruct, and recommend your services to friends and colleagues.  On the other hand, a client who is not satisfied may do none of these things!  They will instead convey their dissatisfactio...

Get Your Diary and Calendar Organised

The busy life of a lawyer places many demands on their time.  One has to keep track of court appearances, client appointments, deadlines, and telephone calls, to name a few.  Without a system to organise all these items and more, life can b...

Beware of WhatsApp Scams: You May Be Their Next Victim

Alert | Do Not Give Guarantees

A complaint was lodged by the family member of an accused where a Member had given a guarantee that the accused would be released from prison and acquitted of the criminal charge.   It was discovered that the Member has been conducting his dea...

Lawyers at Social Events: Be Careful of What You Say outside the Courtroom

I’m sure this sounds familiar — you’ve had a long tiring week of going back and forth to court and reviewing countless paperwork.  So now you attend an event to unwind or catch up with some friends and the next thing you know &...

Enhancing Communication Practices in Law Firms

From individual clients to companies big or small, lawyers communicate with a lot of people on a daily basis.  The operational efficiency of a law firm lies in the cohesiveness of the firm’s communication environment.  Enhan...

Telecommuting in Times of COVID-19

Telecommuting was a buzzword being bandied about by law firms, aimed at attracting and retaining millennial lawyers.  The flexibility to work from home was a recruiting tool in a competitive talent market.  The COVID-19 pandemic has set a n...

Managing Clients – A Lawyer’s Perspective

People shy away from certain areas but the truth is no matter how much you research on the internet, there is really no substitute for experience when it comes to dealing with clients.  And without them, who can we bill eh! Kipling alway...

Brainstorming

How often have you among your workmates?  Even if you did not realise it, you would have probably done so at least once in your daily life.  Brainstorming has been used to find solutions and come up with ways and suggestions to pr...

Prevention Is Better Than Cure – “It Wasn’t Me!”

Let’s do it the best way! The subject matter of better risk management continues from last issue of ‘Prevention Is Better Than Cure’ to share simple learning points to ensure that our members take pre-emptive measures to prevent ...

Musings of A Mediator

I first trained as a mediator under the Malaysian Mediation Centre in 2010. I was immediately drawn to the concept of strategic resolution of disputes which is the goal in any mediation. I followed my Malaysian training with a mediation training prog...

Managing Clients’ Expectations During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all aspects of the economy in ways we never imagined and law firms are not exempted from the brunt.  While most economic sectors have resumed to its usual business and is gradually recovering from the aftermat...

Mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that is gaining attention.  The benefits of mediation are: Less time-consuming: quick, efficient and easy (most mediations can be concluded within a working day); Costs less: inexpensiv...

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Legal risk is unavoidable as lawyers do make mistakes from time to time.  Therefore, taking pre-emptive measures will help to prevent any potential claims or legal disputes from errors or omissions made by the legal practice.  Proactiv...

Essential Steps When Closing Your Law Firm

There could be various reasons to close a law practice.  Maybe you are a sole practitioner joining another law practice as a partner or have decided to cease practice to become an in-house legal officer or maybe you have decided it’s time ...