Supervision - Legal Practitioners' Liability Committee

Poor or no supervision often coupled with ineffective delegation are the underlying causes of many claims. The benefits of effective supervision include better trained staff able to do more complex work, less errors and improved professional reputation and happier healthy staff and great office culture.

Articles
Resources
Checklists
Videos
Podcasts

Essential strategies for cultivating a risk management culture in a remote work environment

Supervision 01 Nov 24

Cultivating a risk management culture within a firm is an essential part of effective supervision.

Are you doing enough to supervise staff?

Supervision 31 Jan 24

Effective supervision embeds ethical behaviour and sets the standard and culture of a law firm.

Urgent steps for moving to remote working

Cyber security, Verification of Identity, Engagement/retainer management, Supervision, Resources and information 05 Aug 20

From midnight Wednesday 5 August 2020, most law firms in the Melbourne metropolitan area will be required to close their office and work remotely in accordance with Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions. This article outlines the key actions you should take now to ensure commitments are met and any employees effectively supervised during this period.

Efficient habits cut risk

Supervision 10 Jul 20

Today's fast-changing work environment makes good production systems and processes essential for efficiently producing quality work. Building on our previous focus on the engagement habit, this year LPLC will put a spotlight on developing positive habits that help practitioners to ensure work is done effectively, efficiently and safely.

Step up supervision in times of crisis

Supervision, Professional Responsibility 12 Jun 20

With much of the profession working remotely due to COVID-19, the landscape around supervision of employees has changed, and with that change comes new challenges. This means that reasonable supervision may now require a different approach to communication, training and/or remote access to the firm's systems if you want to overcome them.

Success often comes at a price

Supervision, Resources and information 04 Dec 19

A successful firm will grow over time, but claims may arise when systems and processes fail to grow and change with it. Does your firm have a strategy for growth?

Experienced lawyers also need supervision

Supervision, Professional Responsibility 11 Aug 17

Principals need to be proactive in supervising all employees, including experienced lawyers and clerks, to ensure the firm’s policies and procedures are followed and matters are progressed in a timely manner.

Delegation and supervision are essential claims prevention skills

Supervision 21 Oct 16

LPLC regularly receives notification of claims where the main cause is ineffective delegation and/ or poor or no supervision.

The cost of neglect

Verification of Identity, Engagement/retainer management, Supervision, Professional Responsibility 02 May 14

Legal practices cannot manage risk effectively without proactive supervision of employed lawyers and clerks. Some practitioners find it difficult to supervise as actively as they would like, especially when busy with their own work and supervision time is neither billable nor recognised for internal reporting purposes. Consider the following case studies.

Good people make mistakes

Engagement/retainer management, Supervision 01 Oct 10

This article from 2010 covers some common practice management issues that LPLC often sees in claims.

Client file audit tool

Engagement/retainer management, Supervision, Resources and information 14 Nov 24

Regular file audits are a crucial aspect of effective practice management, ensuring compliance with key procedures. By conducting audits, the firm can proactively identify and mitigate risks, improve processes, and maintain consistently high-quality work across all client matters. These audits not only highlight unmanaged risks but also reveal opportunities to enhance practices and procedures.

Delegation/supervision instruction sheet

Supervision 07 Jun 16

An office management instruction sheet to help practitioners keep track of delegation and supervision.

Tips for effective supervision

Supervision, Professional Responsibility 07 Jun 16

This checklist covers tips and resources practitioners can use to manage regular and effective supervision.

Client file audit tool

Engagement/retainer management, Supervision, Resources and information 14 Nov 24

Regular file audits are a crucial aspect of effective practice management, ensuring compliance with key procedures. By conducting audits, the firm can proactively identify and mitigate risks, improve processes, and maintain consistently high-quality work across all client matters. These audits not only highlight unmanaged risks but also reveal opportunities to enhance practices and procedures.

Delegation/supervision instruction sheet

Supervision 07 Jun 16

An office management instruction sheet to help practitioners keep track of delegation and supervision.

Tips for effective supervision

Supervision, Professional Responsibility 07 Jun 16

This checklist covers tips and resources practitioners can use to manage regular and effective supervision.

Supervision

Supervision, Professional Responsibility 25 Sep 17

Supervision is not a ‘nice to do’ if you have time. There is a general obligation to supervise in rule 37 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015. In Rule 37.1 a solicitor with designated responsibility for a matter must exercise reasonable supervision over solicitors and all other employees engaged in the provision of legal services.

Reframing Supervision As The Greatest Compliment

Supervision, Professional Responsibility 19 Jan 22

In this episode of More Thank Knowing The Law join LPLC’s Chief Risk Manager Heather Hibberd and Leadership Development Specialist Anna Hinder from Searl Street Consulting as they discuss how all practitioners, no matter their seniority, can benefit from good supervision.

Systems for success: Driving a culture of good work habits

Personal Injury, Supervision, Professional Responsibility 15 Nov 21

Paul Zaparas from Zaparas Lawyers - a firm that specialises in personal injury law - joins Chief Risk Manager at LPLC, Heather Hibberd to explore how a good business philosophy, coupled with fine tuned systems and processes, can have a positive impact on risk management without compromising the bottom line.

Small firms, big changes and the impact of COVID

Supervision, Professional Responsibility 03 Nov 21

In this episode of More Thank Knowing The Law join LPLC’s Chief Risk Manager Heather Hibberd and Helen Suke, Principal at Suke and Associates - a boutique family law firm - as they reflect on the challenges brought about by the COVID pandemic and discuss the changes the firm has had to embrace in order to adapt and succeed.

More Than Knowing the Law season 1

Cyber security, Engagement/retainer management, Supervision, Professional Responsibility 12 Oct 21

Just knowing the law is not enough to guarantee success as a lawyer. More Than Knowing the Law is a podcast series from the Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee that explores how to minimise and manage risk through building good business culture and approaches. In each episode join Heather Hibberd, LPLC’s Chief Risk Manager, and an expert guest, as they share stories and provide insights to help you build YOUR successful legal practice.

Get risk advice about Practice Management issues

+61 3 9672 3800 lplc@lplc.com.au