News, Articles, and Practice Tips

Ethical and Risk Management Considerations of Dual Calendaring in a Digital Age: Competence and Diligence Still Govern Attorneys occasionally ask whether they are still expected to maintain both a digital and a paper version of their calendars. With modern platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace offering cloud-based syncing and redundancy, the idea of a […]

As the legal marketplace evolves, so do billing expectations. Many attorneys are experimenting with subscription or “maintenance” models, flat-rate projects, and AI-assisted billing systems. Advancements in AI-driven efficiencies are expected to bring increased value and quality to legal representation, contributing to the importance of reevaluating ethical alternative fee models. Earlier this month, our article “Getting […]

When it comes to legal billing, few topics cause more confusion than retainers and flat fees. Between “classic” retainers, advance fee deposits, and “earned upon receipt” flat fees, even experienced attorneys can find themselves unsure what belongs in the IOLTA and what belongs in the operating account. The distinction matters: mishandling client funds remains one […]

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is a great time to remind law firms of the very real risk of phishing, email compromise, and other cyberattacks.  At OBLIC, we help Ohio lawyers safeguard client information and implement plans to stabilize your practice if a breach occurs. This article covers three tips to help reduce your […]

Many Ohio attorneys are unaware that they must file an annual report with the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds — even when they have no unclaimed funds to report. But with this obligation comes the opportunity to improve access to legal services for Ohioans. When the 133rd Ohio General Assembly passed S.B. […]

The answer: it depends. Whether privilege applies turns on the consultant’s role and the legal context. Below is a brief summary, with links for those interested in a deeper dive, followed by some practical tips. General Rule Attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between a lawyer and client made for legal advice. Involving third parties typically […]

Practical and Ethical Considerations of Debit and Credit Card Payments for Ohio Law Firms As law firms continue to streamline billing and improve collections, many have turned to electronic payments including credit cards, debit cards, and eChecks. While this shift can reduce accounts receivable and offer greater convenience to clients, topline pressure also has attorneys […]

The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct recently issued Opinion 2025-03 Alteration of Judicial Decisions and Entries by Court Staff. The Opinion examined whether a judge may encourage, condone, or ignore an internal court practice of administrative staff making unilateral changes to a decision, opinion, judgment entry, or journal entry after the judge has signed or […]

Popular culture and political pundits may offer reasons why our post-COVID world still seems chaotic. Whatever the reason, the reality is that attorneys are increasingly facing challenging client issues. Here are strategies for dealing with difficult clients.      Avoid getting involved with a difficult client in the first place! Avoiding difficult clients from the outset seems […]

Whether and how to use AI in the practice of law continues to be an emerging issue. Recognizing that this technology has potential for profound impact on the legal system and the practice of law, the Supreme Court of Ohio recently released its Artificial Intelligence Resource Library.    The Court provides this library to serve […]