Loss Prevention Manual

The ALAS, Inc. Loss Prevention Manual is a unique, in-depth reference guide of advanced material that focuses exclusively on loss prevention advice for our member firms. In addition to extensive discussions of business intake and conflicts of interest, the Manual discusses issues in specific practice areas and addresses information technology, mergers and laterals, opinion and audit response letters, lawyers serving on client boards of directors, and many other areas of concern to law firm leaders. ALAS, Inc. updates the Manual annually.

Loss Prevention Journals

ALAS, Inc. publishes the Loss Prevention Journal three times a year. The Journal addresses a diverse range of contemporary topics that should be of interest to lawyers at member firms.

Loss Prevention Hotline Bulletins

For issues that are time-sensitive, such as new court decisions, ethics opinions, or administrative regulations, ALAS, Inc. e-mails Loss Prevention Hotline Bulletins to our firms.

E-Newsletter

This periodic bulletin addresses developments that may not merit a separate Loss Prevention Hotline Bulletin, but nevertheless are of interest to our firms.

Management Guides

For issues that merit in-depth treatment, ALAS, Inc. periodically publishes management guides. Recent management guides include: "Preventing Law Firm Management Liability Claims: A Guide for Law Firm Managers;" "Loss Prevention Guidelines for Law Firm Employment Practices;" "Business Intake: A Law Firm Management Guide;" and "The Sarbanes-Oxley Act: A Law Firm Management Guide."

Prototype Lawyers' Manual

We offer our Prototype Lawyers' Manual in both loose-leaf and downloadable online versions. This work includes over 60 sample policies and forms specifically designed to address the concerns of member firms.

The links below will take you to the study guide for the video or DVD listed. Please contact us to request a copy of the video or DVD.

Please note: All video presentations made prior to 2003 are available on VHS only, except for "Preventing Legal Malpractice: New Business Intake" and "Avoiding Patent Malpractice," which are also available on DVD. Video presentations made after 2003 are available on DVD only. For additional DVD programs, please see the ALAS, Inc. Audio-Visual Resource Directory.

Celebrity Client (2010)

This DVD demonstrates that bad things can happen when law firm lawyers are so enamored with the possibility of representing a new client that they fail to conduct adequate due diligence during the business intake process even though the proposed representation has all the earmarks of a potentially dangerous scenario.

Lawyer for the Deal (2010)

Perhaps the most significant conflicts problem is the “lawyer for the deal” situation. The problem typically arises when the firm represents, or is alleged to have represented, multiple parties in a matter. The malpractice plaintiff then contends that it was one of the firm’s multiple clients, and the firm breached its fiduciary obligations by favoring the other clients. This DVD illustrates this danger through vignettes based on actual ALAS claims.

Hoisted by Your Own Petard: Creating a Claim Where None Exists (2009)

"Hoisted by Your Own Petard" examines the frustrating phenomenon where the involved lawyer takes steps after a problem has become apparent, often in an effort to protect a client from the client's own bad decisions, that either create a professional liability claim or make such a claim more difficult to defend.

Handling a Mistake...with the Benefit of Hindsight (2008)

"Handling a Mistake..." features a dramatization of a vigorous cross-examination of a lawyer who reacted poorly to a missed patent filing deadline. It demonstrates how the lawyer's conduct after discovering the mistake can be just as critical as the facts that gave rise to the legal malpractice claim.

Welcome to ALAS: An Introduction to Loss Prevention (2005)

"Welcome to ALAS" explains the fundamental principles of ALAS, Inc. loss prevention for lawyers who are joining one of our firms as a lateral or as the result of a merger. This DVD discusses the major causes of severe malpractice claims against ALAS, Inc. firms, suggests ways that lawyers can minimize the risks of becoming involved in a claim, and explains ALAS, Inc.'s loss prevention and claims reporting procedures.

Sarbanes-Oxley: A Guide For Lawyers (2004)

"Sarbanes-Oxley" provides a fundamental treatment of Sarbanes-Oxley sections and related SEC rules that are important to lawyers. This three-part DVD deals with the lawyer conduct requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 307 and SEC Rule 205, discusses Section 303(a) and SEC Rule 13b2-2(b) and their impact on audit response letters, and covers other sections of the Act that are significant for lawyers.

Preventing Legal Malpractice: New Business Intake (2002)

This presentation aids in improving firms' intake procedures and minimizing the liability risks that can cause serious claims. The four areas addressed are unworthy clients, scope of representation, inadequate expertise and staffing, and conflicts of interest. The presentation features discussion and analysis of actual claims to point out the intake problems that contributed to the claims. The presentation also identified suggested procedures for avoiding similar problems.

Avoiding Patent Malpractice (2001)

This presentation deals with filing errors and problems with conflicts of interest, opinions, and litigation in the patent practice. The presentation offers loss prevention tips for mitigating professional liability risks in this area.

Liability Exposures of Healthcare Lawyers (1998)

This presentation examines significant ethics and malpractice issues confronting health care lawyers. The lawyer liability aspects of health care fraud are discussed as well as conflicts of interest issues in the health care area.