Daniel J. Siegel

December 19, 2024 | The Legal Intelligencer

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses are not often the fodder of columns, but this is an exception. Particularly since the pandemic, it has become, shall we say, looser and doesn’t always meet its goals. Not that it ever had; it’s just worse now.

By Daniel J. Siegel

6 minute read

October 17, 2024 | The Legal Intelligencer

Lawyers have indeed been warned about the scam and many other variations. But, yet, somehow, they still fall prey.

By Daniel J. Siegel

6 minute read

August 29, 2024 | The Legal Intelligencer

The 50% impairment rating was the highest rating required in the country. That meant that most workers in Pennsylvania would find that, after receiving 104 weeks of wage loss benefits, most IREs would determine they were less than 50% impaired. Therefore, they could only receive a total of 500 more weeks (about 9.5 years). That was it. They would still receive medical benefits but no more wages.

By Daniel J. Siegel

11 minute read

June 24, 2024 | The Legal Intelligencer

For legal ethicists, this new territory presents familiar ethical quandaries. They unanimously agree that competence mandates a thorough understanding and education in any new technology prior to its use.

By Daniel J. Siegel

8 minute read

April 19, 2024 | The Legal Intelligencer

Pennsylvania's newly proposed Rule of Professional Conduct 1.20 makes succession planning mandatory. It is a very good start, but hopefully, after public comment, the Disciplinary Board will revise and improve it.

By Daniel J. Siegel

8 minute read

February 19, 2024 | The Legal Intelligencer

The headline was clear and scary. "Cyberattack Hits Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts." Yes, another attack on the courts. The attack disabled online docket sheets and the electronic case document filing portal. Court officials claimed that there was no evidence that the hackers had stolen data.

By Daniel J. Siegel

8 minute read

October 19, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5 governs the types of fees attorneys can charge and outlines the way fee agreements must be tailored. The Pennsylvania Rule is modeled after ABA Model Rule 1.5.

By Daniel J. Siegel

9 minute read

August 24, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

Without question, opening a solo practice can be both rewarding and demanding. It is also a challenge for those attorneys who have always been supported by a large staff and by others, who do the bookkeeping and who handle other "chores" that are now part of "your job." As I have said many times, a solo is a managing partner but also a janitor.

By Daniel J. Siegel

13 minute read

June 29, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

Although many attorneys have yet to acknowledge the importance and benefits of technology, they cannot ignore the role of technology any more than they can return to the days before computers and smartphones.

By Daniel J. Siegel

13 minute read

April 27, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

This column will address two recent situations, one relating to multijurisdictional practice in New Jersey and the other to bank defaults and IOLTA, both of which raise questions we have heard before.

By Daniel J. Siegel

12 minute read