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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.

Attorney realizing a misstep has occurred

3 min read

How to Avoid Common Co-Counsel Relationship Missteps

Picture of Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Sep 7, 2023 10:00:00 AM

Co-counsel relationships are sometimes formed “on the fly,” meaning no thorough discussion as to who will be responsible for whatever occurs. This can be disastrous if both attorneys assume the other will meet a critical deadline and then neither...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

17 min read

ALPS In Brief - Episode 72: Do Legal Subscription Services Really Work?

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Aug 24, 2023 11:09:57 AM

ALPS In Brief Podcast

16 min read

ALPS In Brief - Episode 71: Meet Rio!

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Aug 3, 2023 11:04:09 AM

ALPS In Brief Podcast

6 min read

How to Avoid Common Conflict of Interest Traps

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Aug 2, 2023 10:25:00 AM

Particularly in the solo and small firm setting, conflict missteps are often not a “whoops, we missed that name” kind of thing. More often the...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

attorney delivering an engagement letter

3 min read

Why It’s Important to Document Scope of Representation

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Aug 1, 2023 10:24:57 AM

I know lawyers get tired of hearing it and risk folk like me get tired of always having to say it; but there is real value in documenting scope of...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

3 min read

What Non-Engagement Letters Really Do

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jul 31, 2023 10:24:34 AM

Over the years I have found a real disparity among attorneys as to their willingness to write non-engagement letters. You know the one. It’s that...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

a train is featured to serve as a metaphor for the cyber threats barreling towards you at the speed of a train.

4 min read

Why Your Law Firm Needs Social Engineering Awareness Training

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jul 19, 2023 8:00:00 AM

Some time ago I had a conversation with a few lawyers who had come close to being scammed out of several hundred thousand dollars. While I was...

Cybersecurity

16 min read

ALPS In Brief - Episode 70: Don’t Let These Coverage Concerns Surprise You

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jul 13, 2023 1:31:01 PM

ALPS In Brief Podcast Law Practice Management

3 min read

8 Safeguards to Ensure You Can Trust Your Law Firm Employees

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jun 28, 2023 11:56:53 AM

I continue to be surprised at the number of times I learn that a law firm turned over complete oversight of client property to a non-attorney member...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

an attorney and their successor sit down to discuss a law firm succession plan

4 min read

Solo Attorneys: Don't Wait to Figure Out Your Succession Plan

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jun 14, 2023 7:00:00 AM

The two most common excuses I’ve heard over the years for not having a succession plan in place are these. It’s either “my plan is to die at my...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

5 min read

7 Ways To Stay Out of Trust Account Trouble

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: Jun 7, 2023 7:00:00 AM

Trust account problems remain one of the top reasons attorneys are disciplined here in the US. And while there have been and will continue to be...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

4 min read

When Sharing Office Space, Make Sure You Have Your Ducks in a Row

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: May 24, 2023 7:00:00 AM

I once came across a comment on a blog post about attorneys sharing office space that stated malpractice insurance companies and those who write our...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

two unprofessional lawyers are not setting the right impression for their future clients

6 min read

Why First Impressions Matter

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager: May 10, 2023 8:00:00 AM

Like you, I’ve been a consumer for years and the older I get the more I’ve come to recognize the impact of first impressions on my spending...

Solo and Small Firm Resources Law Practice Management

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Mark Bassingthwaighte, Risk Manager

How to Avoid Common Co-Counsel Relationship Missteps

ALPS In Brief - Episode 72: Do Legal Subscription Services Really Work?

ALPS In Brief - Episode 71: Meet Rio!

How to Avoid Common Conflict of Interest Traps

Why It’s Important to Document Scope of Representation

What Non-Engagement Letters Really Do

Why Your Law Firm Needs Social Engineering Awareness Training

ALPS In Brief - Episode 70: Don’t Let These Coverage Concerns Surprise You

8 Safeguards to Ensure You Can Trust Your Law Firm Employees

Solo Attorneys: Don't Wait to Figure Out Your Succession Plan

7 Ways To Stay Out of Trust Account Trouble

When Sharing Office Space, Make Sure You Have Your Ducks in a Row

Why First Impressions Matter

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