Suzanne R. Westerheim, Attorney and Counselor to the Legal Profession

01/18/2023

This year I am celebrating my 25th Anniversary as an Attorney and Counselor to the Legal Profession. Many thanks to all of my current and former clients for their trust in me and to all of you who have sent them my way. I appreciate your support!

04/08/2020

Now is a good time to take to have your fee agreements updated. A well written fee agreement is one of a lawyer’s best tools to avoid client disputes and grievances. I frequently see fee agreements that have provisions that are actually disciplinary rule violations. I will review your fee agreements to insure they are disciplinary rule compliant and contain the provisions you need to reduce the risk of future client disputes. I will also work with you on a fee to fit your budget. Check my website for contact information. www.legallyethical.com

03/30/2020

This article, which was written by my good friend Chuck Lundberg, contains good advice for getting through these difficult times. As always, I am here to assist you with your legal ethics questions. My home office number is 214-340-3872. Stay safe and well.

In a span of less than two weeks, the coronavirus outbreak has caused unprecedented disruption in la...

03/16/2020

As the legal community moves to respond to the Covid-19 crisis, you may have questions about how this affects your obligations to your clients. I am here to assist you with these and any other legal ethics matters you may have. My office has been in my home for many years. Many matters can be handled primarily and sometimes solely by phone and email. Please do not hesitate to call if I can be of assistance.

10/18/2018

Come out tomorrow to learn about changes resulting from the Sunset Review. Hope to see you there.

11/05/2017

Check out my latest article on law firm websites on page 18 of this month’s headnotes:

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Ethics: Has Your Firm’s Website Been Approved? Arbitrating the Brokerage Case: the Basics Do You Market on the Internet? Effective Corporate Compliance on a Budget Five Steps to Take Now to Comply with GDPR Internal Investigations: When To Hire Independent Counsel Just Ho...

04/28/2017

I will be speaking at the DBA's Annual Evening Ethics Seminar a/k/a Ethics Fest on Thursday, May 4, 2017. You can register here: http://www.dallasbar.org/event/evening-ethics-program

Judges Panel: Ethical Conduct in and out of the Courtroom -  Hon. Robert D. Burns III, Criminal District Court No. 1; Hon. David L. Horan, U.S. Magistrate Judge; moderator 

10/06/2016

It's time to change the way we amend our disciplinary https://www.law360.com/articles/848562/texas-hard-stance-on-verein-names-may-spur-rule-changes

A Texas ethics opinion out last week found that certain naming conventions of Swiss verein member law firms may violate state ethics rules, a bombshell that some experts say illustrates the need for updates to Texas’ long-unchanged rules of conduct.

03/31/2016

Never copy your client on emails with opposing counsel. Forward the email to your client instead. https://lawyerist.com/103166/bcc-client-email/

The New York State Bar Association recently released an ethics opinion that, at first, blush, seems unnecessary: it warned you, gently, not to bcc your client on correspondence to opposing counsel. This seems rather far afield for an ethics opinion, particularly as that bcc is often a convenient way…

05/28/2015

New business cards. It was way past time for an update.

10/13/2014

I was in Austin Friday for a hearing before a panel of Texas Board of Law Examiners on a character and fitness issue. I am very pleased that after the hearing the panel approved my client.