It's Not Just “Lawyering”
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JUNE 2015 VOL. 87 | NO. 5 JournalNEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Also in this Issue It’s Not Just Referrals Reducing Risk “Lawyering” Culture Shift Escrow Accounts The Law Practice Management Issue Engagement Letters Edited by Marian C. Rice THE NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION As a New York State Bar Association member you recognize the value and relevance of NYSBA membership. For that, we say thank you. Your commitment as members has made NYSBA the largest voluntary state bar association in the country. You keep us vibrant and help make us a strong, effective voice for the profession. David P. Miranda David R. Watson President Executive Director BESTSELLERS FROM THE NYSBA BOOKSTORE June 2015 Best Practices in Legal Management Impasse Resolution Under the Taylor Law, Practice of Criminal Law Under the The most complete treatment of the business of 2nd Ed. CPLR and Related Civil Procedure Statutes, running a law firm. With forms on CD. 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PN: 40054 / Member $185 / List $220 / 1,096 pages Expand your professional knowledge 1.800.582.2452 www.nysba.org/pubs Mention Code: PUB3072 NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION JournalNEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD OF EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David C. Wilkes Tarrytown e-mail: [email protected] Marvin N. Bagwell New York City Brian J. Barney Rochester Elissa D. Hecker Irvington Barry Kamins Brooklyn Jonathan Lippman New York City John R. McCarron, Jr. Carmel Eileen D. Millett New York City Thomas E. Myers Syracuse Gary D. Spivey Colorado Springs, Colorado Sharon L. Wick Buffalo Lawyer Referral and MANAGING EDITOR Daniel J. McMahon Albany Information Service e-mail: [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITOR Nicholas J. Connolly Interested in expanding Tarrytown PUBLISHER David R. Watson your client base? Executive Director NYSBA PRODUCTION STAFF EDITOR Joan Fucillo DESIGN Join the Lawyer Referral & Information Service Lori Herzing Erin Corcoran Dave Cape Why Join? COPY EDITORS > Expand your client base > Benefit from our marketing strategies Alex Dickson Reyna Eisenstark > Increase your bottom line Howard Healy Kate Mostaccio Overview of the Program EDITORIAL OFFICES The New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207 has been in existence since 1981. Our service provides referrals to attorneys like (518) 463-3200 • FAX (518) 463-8844 you in 44 counties (check our website for a list of the eligible counties). Lawyers www.nysba.org who are members of LRIS pay an annual fee of $75 ($125 for non-NYSBA mem- bers). Proof of malpractice insurance in the minimum amount of $100,000 is ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE required of all participants. If you are retained by a referred client, you are Fox Associates Inc. required to pay LRIS a referral fee of 10% for any case fee of $500 or more. For 116 West Kinzie St., Chicago, IL 60654 additional information, visit www.nysba.org/joinlr. 312-644-3888 FAX: 312-644-8718 Sign me up New York: 212-725-2106 Los Angeles: 805-522-0501 Download the LRIS application at www.nysba.org/joinlr or call 1.800.342.3661 or Detroit: 248-626-0511 e-mail [email protected] to have an application sent to you. Phoenix: 480-538-5021 Atlanta: 800-440-0231 Give us a call! Email: [email protected] EUGENE C. GERHART 800.342.3661 (1912 – 2007) Editor-in-Chief, 1961 – 1998 CONTENTS JUNE 2015 IT’S NOT JUST “LAWYERING” The Law Practice Management Issue Edited by MARIAN C. RICE 10 14 Strategic Referral Relationships Enhance Growth by CAROL SCHIRO GREENWALD 19 Reducing Legal Malpractice Risks Preserving a Statute of Limitations Defense by ANDREW S. KOWLOWITZ and STEFANIE A. SINGER 23 How to Shift Law Firm Culture DEPARTMENTS One Firm’s Story 5 President’s Message by DONNA DRUmm 8 CLE Seminar Schedule 28 Follow the Money 32 Law Practice Escrow Accounts: The Dangers of by VICTOR M. METSCH Excessive Delegation and Deference 38 Point of View by HENRY G. MILLER by MATTHEW K. FLANAGAN 40 Burden of Proof 34 Start Out Right by DAVID PAUL HOROWITZ Engagement Letters 42 Meet Your New Officers by MARIAN C. RICE 49 Attorney Professionalism Forum 52 New Members Welcomed 44 Disability Determinations, Judicial 61 Classified Notices Authority and CPLR Article 78 61 Index to Advertisers Part II 64 The Legal Writer by CHET LUKASZEWskI by GERALD LEBOVITS The Journal welcomes articles from members of the legal profession on subjects of interest to New York State lawyers.