Many brilliant lawyers continue practicing well beyond retirement age. But, in recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s time to discuss how and why we should confront cognitive decline in our profession. If you suspect a senior partner is cognitively impaired, what is your obligation? According to this frequently published topic from the American Bar Association, “confronting cognitive decline early and thoughtfully can honor the senior lawyer’s legacy,

Solo and small-firm attorneys often don’t feel the pressure to retire, but you can be certain that your clients, support staff and junior partners are anxiously awaiting word. Little to no communication on your retirement leaves those around you fearing the worst. You could watch your clients and employees walk away within nine to 18 months if rumors and innuendo control the narrative. We all know or have heard about the lawyer that just can’t say goodbye to the practice of l

Is a party’s AI research privileged in litigation? It depends. In February 2026, two federal courts reached seemingly opposite conclusions about whether use of AI tools by parties to litigation is protected by the attorney-client or work product privilege. One court found that a pro se plaintiff’s use of AI was privileged and another court found that a criminal defendant’s use of AI was not. In Warner v. Gilbarco , the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Mic

Young lawyers ask me all the time how to deal with all of it. The pressure. The long hours. The mistakes you replay at 3 a.m. The emails you’re scared to open. The partners you’re trying to impress. The clients who expect miracles. The feeling that everyone else has it figured out – and you don’t. Here’s the truth they don’t tell you in law school: This job is hard because it’s supposed to be hard. You are being forged, not punished. Every awkward deposition. Every

No one wants a bar complaint or a malpractice claim on their record. It happens. And what happens next can be equally troublesome if you don’t know what to do or behave badly out of frustration, panic or ignorance. If you think you have a claim or a potential claim, report the issue immediately to your carrier. Don’t discuss your malpractice coverage or liability with the claimant. Don’t refer the claimant to your malpractice carrier. If a suit is brought against you, you mus

When our IT partners make us aware of the latest phishing campaigns, we believe it’s important to share risk awareness with our insureds. Cybercriminals are now impersonating LastPass, a password manager that allows a group of coworkers to protect passwords, credentials, secure documents and more. With LastPass, every employee gets a personal password vault where they can store or edit their login information across all devices and major browsers. Attackers are sending em