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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.

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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.

2 min read

How to Responsibly Embrace Any and All Digital Tech in the Practice of Law

In many jurisdictions, commentary to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1 Competency states that lawyers are to keep abreast of the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology. With that language in mind, do you actually do so? I ask because...

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13 min read

ALPS In Brief — Episode 46: What if Goat Yoga Isn't Your Thing?

On this episode of ALPS In Brief, at the beginning of Lawyer Wellbeing Week and Mental Health Awareness month, Mark sits down with Liesel Brink,...

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10 min read

ALPS In Brief — Episode 45: Listening to Your Life

There are all kinds of finish lines in life. Some of those will be positive, and others won’t. So go ahead and feel what you feel, but remember the...

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20 min read

ALPS In Brief — Episode 44: It's a Different World — Literally.

Do you feel like you’re living on another planet right now? There’s a reason. Humans are social animals and social distancing and isolation is not...

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3 min read

Why Agreeing to Rent Out Your Law License May Not Be the Best Idea

Solo and small firm lawyers continue to occasionally call in wanting to discuss a business opportunity that has come to be known as a “license...

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3 min read

How COVID-19 and a Recession Could Impact Malpractice Claims

During a recession, and for the three years following, there has historically been a huge spike in paid claims, which is a number that typically...

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1 min read

ALPS COVID-19 Risk Management Alert

While missed deadlines are always a risk management concern, the significant number of uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic only...

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3 min read

How to Write a 'Closing Your Practice' Letter

Occasionally a lawyer will reach out to me wanting clarification on what should be covered in a letter notifying active clients, whose matters the...

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3 min read

Two Letterhead/Advertising Missteps You Don’t Want to Make

I’ll admit that advertising missteps rarely garner much attention from those who enforce the Rules of Professional Conduct. This shouldn’t be much...

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7 min read

ALPS In Brief — Episode 43: The Problem Lies with the Culture

ALPS Risk Manager Mark Bassingthwaighte shares two real-world stories of attorneys struggling with behaviors that often lead to malpractice claims....

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19 min read

ALPS In Brief — Episode 42: 5 Things That Blur Your Company’s 2020 Vision

ALPS Risk Manager Mark Bassingthwaighte sits down with ALPS CEO David Bell to discuss David’s past, ALPS future, why every company should have a...

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3 min read

Ethics and Disaster Recovery Planning

The ABA’s issuance of Formal Ethics Opinion 482 in September of 2018 finally made it quite clear. Lawyers have an ethical duty to develop a disaster...

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4 min read

ALPS In Brief — Episode 41: The Perils of Bad Follow Through

In this episode of ALPS In Brief, ALPS Risk Manager Mark Bassingthwaighte shares an insightful story of a dream cruise, a freak accident, and an...

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