This session is intended for those in management, and/or those handling claims against law firms and lawyers, to consider:-

1.    Practical aspects of managing risk – what are the sources of liability for solicitors and legal professionals (e.g. negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, confidentiality breaches)

-    common causes of professional negligence claims:-

o    missed deadlines (e.g. limitation periods)
o    poor communication or advice
o    errors in drafting
o    failure to follow client instructions
o    conflicts of interest and failure to clearly identify who the firm is acting for

-    impact of liability on the firm (reputational, financial, regulatory)

2.    Mitigating risk through technology

-    document automation and error reduction

-    practice management systems for:-

o    key date tracking
o    time recording
o    file audits and workflows
o    client identification and conflict checks

-    use of AI for due diligence, contract review and client onboarding (KYC/AML)

-    cyber-security and data protection tools

-    risk of data breaches as a liability issue

-    risk of over-reliance on technology – need for human oversight

3.    The role of insurance coverage – overview of professional indemnity insurance

-    what does it cover and what are the limits/exclusions?

-    the importance of accurate proposal submissions

-    the claims process – what to do if something goes wrong

-    cyber-liability insurance is a growing necessity

4.    Training and culture
-    building a risk-aware culture within the firm

-    regular CPD and legal updates for all staff

-    supervision structures

-    encouraging early reporting of potential issues and near-misses

-    the role of knowledge management in reducing avoidable errors