CEB Contributor
Mary Grace Guzmán
is a dedicated ethics and professional responsibility attorney at ArentFox Schiff, with a proven track record of achievement in individual cases and investigations, program and procedure design, and litigation assistance related to professional misconduct cases. As a thought leader in the area of professional responsibility, she is frequently tapped to speak and write on developing issues in the area and has experience teaching and training on the nuances of the topic.
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New Tech Competence Requirements for California Attorneys
May 10, 2021
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics, Privacy & Information Security
If you've read my prior articles for CEB, you may have recall my
Preventing Data Breaches: Better Practices for Law Firms' Use of Technology
June 21, 2021
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics, Privacy & Information Security
As I discussed in my
Understanding California’s New Conflict of Interest Rules (Part 2 of 4)
October 26, 2020
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
This article is Part Two in a four-part series.
Understanding California's New Conflict of Interest Rules (Part 4 of 4)
December 14, 2020
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
This article is Part 4 of a four-part series.
Reframing Your Relationship with Your Rules of Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics
July 13, 2020
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
When I share with fellow lawyers that I practice legal ethics, they consistently say to me, “I hope I never need your services, because I hope to never get in trouble with the State Bar.”
Understanding California’s New Conflict of Interest Rules (Part 1 of 4)
September 28, 2020
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
This article is Part One in a four-part series. Check back soon for Part Two.
Using Social Media Ethically in Your Practice
August 10, 2020
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
In early to mid-March, many of us faced new challenges of keeping our practices afloat while adhering to the local and statewide ordinances imposed to help control the spread of COVID-19. These changes have affected all aspects of how we practice law. For many of us, we relied on face-to-face activities like bar association events, professional networking events, or other in-person activities to promote our practices. Many of us don't rely on paid advertisements or enroll in referral services to reach potential clients, but the pandemic is now challenging us to think creatively about how we reach potential clients while observing our ethical responsibilities.
Understanding California's New Conflict of Interest Rules (Part 3 of 4)
November 16, 2020
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
When the California Supreme Court adopted the 2018 California Rules of Professional Conduct, the new rules outlined an attorney’s Duties to Former Clients (
How To Incorporate Rule 1.4(a)'s Communication Guidance Into Your Daily Practice
March 14, 2022
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
One of the most challenging skills to master as a lawyer is communication with a client and opposing counsel. When learning this skill, many lawyers often advise associates or colleagues to write as if the email or letter would be read by a respected family member who has high expectations of decorum and politeness.
It's Probably Time to Update Your Engagement Letter
April 5, 2021
Mary Grace Guzmán
Business Transactions, Law Practice Management
When was the last time you read your engagement letter line by line, from beginning to end? No, really, when did you do this last? Do you recall the last time you updated your engagement letter? You can answer honestly, because you're probably reading this in the comfort of your office. Maybe updating your engagement agreement has been at the top of your to-do list for a while. Well, now is as good a time as any.
Take a Break To Improve Your Law Practice
August 2, 2021
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management
The goal of risk management for lawyers and law firms is to prevent malpractice issues, State Bar complaints, or client loss. While risk management often emphasizes best practices to incorporate the Rules of Professional Conduct through the use of technology, case management systems, and protocols, one aspect of risk management that's often ignored is attorneys' ability to seek proper mental rest by taking breaks from their practices.
Rule 1.18 and the Intake Process
September 27, 2021
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
Earlier this year, the State Bar of California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct issued
Ethical Compliance and Third-Party Payors
December 8, 2021
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
California Rules of Professional Conduct (CRPC),
Early 2022 Risk Management Recommendations for Law Firms
February 10, 2022
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
January just ended, and many attorneys just submitted their MCLE compliance reports. Before 2022 steamrolls into summer, here are some risk management and ethical concerns for attorneys to consider or to attend to. Taking the time to review your law firm’s internal practices, technology, business goals, or conflicts considerations doesn't need to take place at the beginning of the year; better practices encourage all attorneys and law firms to annually assess their infrastructure and statutory ethical duties.
Keep Rule 8.4.1 in Mind in Your Professional Communications
November 1, 2021
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
California Rules of Professional Conduct (CPRC),
Cell Phones, Tablets, Texts, and Your Client’s Confidentiality
June 28, 2022
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics, Privacy & Information Security
I was traveling recently. As I waited for my plane to board, I sat in the terminal and watched as many folks worked on their computers or had very confidential conversations in a very public space. Without getting into any details, one person sat next to me and loudly discussed confidential work on their cellphone. I could not help but hear the details, and by the time I hopped on my plane, I knew that person's client’s name, what issues were being discussed, and the opposing parties. I wanted to interrupt them and inform them of their mistake, but I feel certain that my well-intended free ethics advice wouldn't have been well received. So I instead have turned this experience into this article.
How To Handle Attorney Impairment in California
May 11, 2022
Mary Grace Guzmán
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
In law school, many attorneys learned that if an attorney is impaired, an associate or subordinate attorney may have a duty to report the impaired attorney to their state bar. Yet the California Rules of Professional Conduct (CRPC) have never adopted
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How to Avoid Conflict of Interest in Your Law Practice
Mary Grace Guzmán
January 29, 2021
The consequences of a conflict can be severe: loss of clients and damage to reputation, loss of fees, exposure to sanctions and even malpractice liability. For attorneys, it is crucial to understand the basic conflicts rules and their permutations and exceptions, and also to understand the possible methods for avoiding or dealing with them as well as the approaches the courts may take to them.
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
Debrief, Improve, Repeat (Ethical Considerations When Teaching a CLE Course)
Mary Grace Guzmán
July 20, 2020
This program aims to highlight how speakers can improve on their public speaking skills by reflecting on their past presentations and using feedback to improve their presentation skills, improve their public speaking and networking skills, and raise their professional profile. The speaker also discusses the ethical considerations an attorney must take into account when teaching a CLE course.
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
How To Hang Your Shingle: Managing Risk
Mary Grace Guzmán
February 25, 2020
Taking on the responsibility of starting your own legal practice doesn't need to be terrifying, but you do need to watch out for problems that are particularly common to solo and small firm practices. In this program you will learn about the ethical pitfalls solos and small firms can fall into, how to avoid them, why malpractice insurance is important, and what to do if you can't afford it.
Law Practice Management, Legal Ethics
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