Mark Dubois

August 16, 2013 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Ordinarily, we would think that an attorney-client relationship is a contract, and that is true to some extent, but a real problem for lawyers continues to be the fact that a legally cognizable relationship can begin when a client reasonably believes that a lawyer has agreed (either affirmatively or by inaction) to help them.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

May 16, 2011 | Connecticut Law Tribune

On my best day, I was never as kind, thoughtful, and professional as Lou Pepe. Few of us can say that we come to work each day and treat everyone we deal with the respect and dignity we would expect from them. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. The recent case of Gary White III, of the South Carolina bar, is illustrative of the tension between aggressive advocacy and crossing the line to name calling and insults and what can happen when a lawyer lets the inside monster out.

By MARK DUBOIS

4 minute read

July 11, 2013 | Connecticut Law Tribune

I saw an interesting case the other day out of Ohio that gives some hope to the many lawyers who have been victims of "phishing" scams.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

August 10, 2012 | Connecticut Law Tribune

I visited an interesting booth at the Connecticut Bar Association convention recently. It belonged to a company called Law Cash. I got a bit misdirected at first, and wound up at some booth with a big jug of dollar bills, but they were selling title insurance or something. Law Cash was just down the aisle though.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

April 04, 2011 | Connecticut Law Tribune

After seven-plus years as Connecticut's chief disciplinary counsel, I have decided to follow the advice of some of the folks I have had the unfortunate responsibility to prosecute and do something useful with my time other than bug them.

By MARK DUBOIS

4 minute read

April 16, 2012 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Lots of folks are flocking to the "cloud" these days. Using what one guy calls "cyberlockers" to store your files in a central location will allow you to access your work and personal files from anywhere in the world. The idea is to store everything in the Ethernet and use your PDA, laptop, tablet or other devise as a portal. It is called cloud computing, and it sounds really neat.

By MARK DUBOIS

4 minute read

August 20, 2012 | Connecticut Law Tribune

I got an e-mail the other day from a Connecticut lawyer who is in a country in Africa. He and his partner are there working on a business plan to offer legal services to small business owners in both Africa and the United States who want to do business together. They may be onto something.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

January 11, 2013 | Connecticut Law Tribune

I think that Governor Dannel Malloy's nomination of Andrew McDonald to the Supreme Court is great. And I have no doubt that he will be confirmed. Both houses are controlled by Democrats and McDonald, a former state senator, still has lots of friends in the legislature.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

October 05, 2012 | Connecticut Law Tribune

In a recent column I wrote about the challenges and rewards of caring for an elderly parent. The column got more response than anything I have ever written. One lawyer, retired from practice in Connecticut and instead now practicing in Arizona, was Debbie Weecks. We discussed doing some collaborative work, exploring the issues related to representation of vulnerable or elderly adults.

By Mark DuBois

4 minute read

July 24, 2013 | Connecticut Law Tribune

There is a fascinating dichotomy in thinking developing with regard to just who can offer legal services to the public. A few weeks ago, Governor Dannel Malloy signed a bill which raised the penalty for the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers to a felony.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read