While retirement is usually planned, the sudden death or disability of an attorney requires contingency planning.

It’s especially important for private-practice attorneys to designate a representative on their ARDC registration documents or certify that they have made a similar designation in a succession plan or comparable agreement. The representative would be able to take limited fiduciary action if the designating attorney loses the capacity to run his or her firm, abandons the practice, or dies, thus preventing the negligence of client matters.

The ISBA’s video, “Do You Have a Substitute Attorney in the Event of Your Disability or Death?”, provides an overview of the necessary steps solo attorneys should take to ensure their clients are safeguarded.

The video is one of many member resources available at Practice HQ, the ISBA’s one-stop microsite for practice management and technology information. Organized by the life cycle of a law practice, Practice HQ can help you start a firm, build, manage, protect, or wind down. Practice HQ content is members-only; you must log in to the ISBA website for full access.