Insurance and risk management services for the better practice of law

The cybersecurity environment is constantly changing and with the release of the VLSB+C Minimum Cybersecurity Expectations, all practitioners have an immediate requirement to ensure that they are complying with current standards.

Presented by LPLC Risk Manager and experienced cyber lawyer, Dr Fabian Horton, this recorded webinar is designed to equip all practitioners, especially those without in-house cyber security advisors, with an understanding of the expectations and common cyber threats so that they can upgrade their mitigation strategies to protect their practices.

The decision to sue a client for unpaid legal fees can be met with an allegation of negligence. LPLC sees claims where practitioners have then become stuck in expensive and stressful disputes and litigation, where the cost and time dealing with the counterclaim has outweighed the unpaid fees.

Our LIJ article provides some risk management tips for practitioners contemplating legal action for unpaid fees as well as measures to implement from the outset of a matter to help avoid being in this difficult situation.

LPLC is seeing a continuing trend of duty claims arising from the transfer of property between spouses or domestic partners, where the lawyer assists the client to claim an exemption from duty on the transfer under section 43 of the Duties Act 2000 (Vic), when the client does not in fact meet the exemption criteria.

What often follows is an audit by the SRO who identify that the exemption was not valid, and the client is issued with an assessment for land transfer duty, along with penalty tax and interest.

This article touches on the circumstances that commonly lead to these claims and importantly provides tips to minimise the risk when advising clients that are considering transferring property to a spouse or partner.

Text messages and instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp and WeChat are used by some practitioners to communicate with their clients.

While messaging can be a convenient and efficient communication tool, its use gives rise to a number of challenges and risks for law firms including record retention, data security and confidentiality.

This LPLC article covers these common risks, and provides some tips on how to avoid them.

A recent NSW decision is an important reminder for lawyers that care must be taken when giving undertakings.

Solicitors’ undertakings should only be given where their fulfillment is within the practitioner’s direct control. Undertakings are usually strictly enforced and can give rise to serious consequences if breached.

Our March LIJ article provides a summary of the case and some tips to minimise risk when considering the use of an undertaking.

In 2023 LPLC published an article highlighting important changes in Victorian Property Tax.

Since then, we have received many inquiries about the Vacant Residential Land Tax (VRLT) discussed in that article.

This update provides some more clarity to practitioners dealing with these tax changes, and responds to the most frequently asked questions we receive.