Skip to the main content.
What Size Law Firm Are You?

We've crafted solutions tailored to your firm

Insurance Glossary

The world of insurance for law firms can be confusing, and difficult to navigate. We've created this glossary because these common insurance terms should be easy to understand.

← Blog Home

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager

Since 1998, Mark Bassingthwaighte, Esq. has been a Risk Manager with ALPS, an attorney’s professional liability insurance carrier. In his tenure with the company, Mr. Bassingthwaighte has conducted over 1200 law firm risk management assessment visits, presented over 600 continuing legal education seminars throughout the United States, and written extensively on risk management, ethics, and technology. Mr. Bassingthwaighte is a member of the State Bar of Montana as well as the American Bar Association where he currently sits on the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility’s Conference Planning Committee. He received his J.D. from Drake University Law School.

A glass house as a metaphor for the risk of assisting your client with their Corporate Transparency Act fulfillment obligations

3 min read

Corporate Transparency Act Risks for Solo & Small Firm Attorneys - A Risk Manager’s Perspective

I’m sure this will come as no surprise; but as a risk manager with a law degree who works for a malpractice insurance company, I’m not one who embraces significant risk. I also believe it isn’t my place to tell any attorney what to do when it comes...

Read More
Lawyer relaxing at desk

3 min read

Why You Never Want to Set the Comfort Trap

My experience consulting over the years with thousands of attorneys who practice in firms of all shapes and sizes across the U.S. has taught me that...

Read More
Lawyer greeting a new client.

5 min read

How to Build and Maintain Effective Attorney-Client Relationships

A number of years ago I had an interesting conversation with a lawyer who had missed a statute of limitations filing deadline on a significant...

Read More
Lawyer realizing her firm is failing

5 min read

5 Reasons Solo Firms Fail

While law firms of all shapes and sizes can fail for any number of reasons, in my experience as a risk manager, there are a few reasons that solo law...

Read More

2 min read

Why You Should Never Minimize the Significance of Client Driven Indemnity Provisions

I continue to get the occasional call from a lawyer wanting to know my thoughts about a new business opportunity. It’s a call that often starts out...

Read More
Confused Lawyer

4 min read

How in the World Can You Not Know Who Your Client Is?

From time to time, I get involved in conversations with lawyers who have called in with a question or concern, and as we talk through the situation,...

Read More
A lawyer  sits on the floor applying for malpractice insurance online

4 min read

What You Need to Know Before Applying for Your 1st Malpractice Insurance Policy

Here at ALPS, we do try our absolute best to make sure the application process is as seamless and convenient as possible. That said, if you have a...

Read More
Strong cybersecurity posture

4 min read

Why It’s Imperative to Maintain a Strong Cybersecurity Posture Even Though It’s a Pain

My cyber security awareness training never stops; and even though much of it is self-inflicted I often feel like I’m still losing ground. In fact,...

Read More

3 min read

Why You Never Want to Get Lazy With Your Time Keeping

This post is directed toward those of you who fail to accurately record your time on a consistent basis throughout the day, day after day. I know it...

Read More