Law Firm General Counsel
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General Counsel Law Firm 2005 Necessity? Volume Extravagance 15 or Issue Number Witzders J. Peter professionally firm, both good benefit law of firmly whether believe that great "[ it to a was a economically. depend.s" and whether works bad idea idea it on or a Kerry. John F. out. WORK OF GENERAL A DOING THE FIRM IS I. THE COUNSEL ANYWAY. Counsel is Firm General The full-time Law no of, institution. it is far from longer unheard but an COMMON MOST WORK LEGAL |NTERN.,•L TO Counsel firms have General but Many, most, not a of the scrvices needs and Every firm FImMS. uscs approaching position, it, but the title are or things. Almost lawyers of for number its every a positions in different firms. describes different conflicts, resolve lawyers firm its to to nego- uses Liability Professional Association of The 2002 like), (office and the leases tiate its contracts own meeting Lawyers' contained annual materials a employee issues, insur- handle certain handle to to ranging firms, size from of in 75 32 to survey liability professional particuIarly matters, ance reported by that, lawyers, and 1000 one name or requirements fol- ethics insurance, to are assure full time another, third of the firms have about a ethics keep resolve with lowed, and to up or doing within the lawyers functions one or more arises, against firm firm the claim If issues. a a described Counsel functions of General range investigate, outside in the and lawyer event may the is correlation between here, and that there no lawyer will both the hired, firm counsel is serve a compliance lawyer employment and full time of a lawyer portion of func- and the client function a Altman Weil size of the firm.l A 2004 the survey relationship. the staffand that in the To tion assure desig- found that 63% had of 200 firms AmLaw a procedures, following employees other proper are Counsel", another 10% with nated "General lawyers required by particularly law, firm those only of intending for 25% the do but to so, coun- adopted and that both rules that must are see position time. 100% of their did the sel occupy educated about them and staff lawyers and are beginning but the studies Other to emerge, are lawyers importance. will be And the firm their developing position of and the lack is one, con- legal a required lot of crises. There is handle to a description job makes such studies sistent more itself- which it has do for the firm work that to example, Thus, for anecdotal statistical. than a bill client. should to cannot not a or spends only half the time that "Our GC statement LEGAL INTERNAL GRADUAL FORMALIZATION OF necessarily is GC" doesn't of your mean ours during malpractice insurers, the Some WORK. studies, similar it be these and faster. From can policy, underwriting the condition stage to or as a recognizing that it is law firms concluded that are formal- require functions be of the above to some lawyer time desirable dedicate and to to necessary They ethics committee ask about ized. may or an prevention, but conflicts, ethics, claims and loss opinion might They ask about Ethics Partner. inventing do they of in the to ways process are They panels will committees. review want to or offi- view, institution of full- time the that. In a my procedure and how is it conflicts about the know responsibility position with General Counsel cial They supervised resolved. conflicts and how are prevention, claims, ethics, loss for the firm's pro- policies relating written look will to want to at be conflicts, fessionalism, and other programs can relationships and client with clients business con- lawyers fidentiality, and staff and ask how are new Tampa, Cartton in Florida. shareholder with Fields Peter J. Winders is Continued 4 page on profession require. ethics tot of the projects take The Counsel, from General a page they getting when anything of time done. policies. They of look the will made the not want are to at even aware of supervises inexperi- organization firm, ask who the and experience, had the of have Most you lavwcrs. They understand the business intake enced want to policy find the "Hey! can't office in the designated require be Many that Loss person process. one helped have because know manual. one, we designated be Claims Prevention and that Partner, someone ago." write it ten years claim-by-claim basis, Counsel, overall either or as an on a require Sarbancs-Oxlcy it of the manual position. committee "Oh. told They leave to out may new or was a of becoming and will panel. requirements because it date and These out one a new more more a was are replace subjects impor- it." life, and fact of because the more are more underwriting simpler days, write of "Do The tant. you okay. "Oh, When?" calendar?", things is do have to gone. you on a "Well, the manual 2' 2 out years ago.. new came FIRM LAWYERS HAVE FUIJ•-TIME PART-TIME TIlE OR FOR doing things by There certain benefits commit- to are recognized lawyer well that is EM•RGlX•;. It B•N pretty a spreads of Committee work the administra- tee, course. expected prevention job be firm with the loss cannot to at a tive duties of the finn around. future allows It managers did before much billable time he she have accept- as as or Compliance policy with enhanced for is to emerge. any ing job. and Counsel, is of Claims the the The true same input policy. making into of the who have lhe persons demanding. supervision conflicts Ethics of is ques- more prevention, ethics, conflicts claims loss and But are frequently and take time the than in tions arise more more specialized subjects promptly if thal need be handled to devoting time them. and finns past, to are more more immediately. policy Where the nol sys- or experience of this is found in the Evidence going require is considerable in fact tem to Liability Attorneys" of Assurance significant change, education and con> a a (ALAS) Prevention Society's Loss help, but it will work betler if mittee may emphasizes loss Counsel. ALAS preven- 9ood ideas Law firms full whose of by the chaired General Counsel. are provides with tion, its member finns and delayed is committee... in time panel part-time and of hnmediate needed. Decisions As to access a one are prevention lawyers, problems loss such below, full-time discussed certain to seven require help risks and ethics, issues resolution with of conflict immediate pro- as Prevention fcssionalism. ALAS attention because the affected work Loss impression ethically proceed that in thai it is their without it. When the Counsel reporl recent cannot years person frequently assignment competing questions asked that used counsel has be lhe basic with the ethics to more by in-house, firms handled will be down time for the member firm duties, declined and client there have are more likely they diffi- consult for affected client. and the and that to exposure on more are lnore now more sophisticated problems. This the anecdo- cult and supporls dangerous. things The times There are more are more being by taken law finns obser,,ations lhat time is tal more ignored conflicls lawyers for watch' for. Missed to or assignments expertise. develop within the The in-house to liability. against lawyers lawyer Claims lead to are Counsel other Prevention of Ethics Counsel Loss finn or or practice The of law is and more more common. more enough positions require reduce billable time similar to Inefficiency addressing complex. in loss the and more recognition formal work, of either matter matter or as a as a allowing prevention them and ethical concerns, or a crisis is handle ethics who of fact. A not must person an priority wise. The behind client work less is and less doing file. work for a it needs needs done. times The that work be suggest to and, doing General Counsel work era finn is the be done well. the So to specialist, doing being by is less it is done the if work not a time. The whole will lose billable The firm not as a adequately. than efficiently. And often less than being of it and is Some done. work is necessary, using of than committees, the EFFICIENTLY time involves DOING IT ANY•AY, |r FIRM DOING |F more one TIlE IS responsibilities devoting right lawyer. Spreading firm lawyer general, the around full the the Sr:NSF,. In M.•,s;r;S jobs legal do the duties does reduce the the needs of the administrative firm internal time the not cost to to can as responsibility merely Assigning responsibility efficiently is firm, the it hides it. than when much to scat- one more the sacrifice of the billable hours he tered. at person, even practice for devoted the frees last hours to year, up everybody If that inefficient. Connnittees agrees are unlikely full is If others. There be loss. to net many a a procedure, intake it business needs be there to a new nonproductive of work time reduce the GC every can lawyers busy of committee for will take to years a day, lawyer by of minutes you two average are a an supervise it done. time and to agree once more one, on by ignoring added (a) the value ahead, any money even delayed good time is ideas whose full of firms Law are its attendant improvement with in loss prevention lawyers conflicts. The calendar in committee due to are quicker claims, likely (b) the reduction in crises res- or just first, the the client unconcerned nol comes as 'FilE PROFESSIONAE L/kWYER 4 all followed he that have argument with client paralyze work questions that tend conflicts of may an olution a to doing requirements for safeguards and ethical embarrassing the of so.