LawBank founder, Jay Kamlet, participates in Colorado Bar Association’s New Solo Series lecture
As part of the Colorado Bar Association’s New Solo Series, LawBank co-founder, Jay Kamlet participated in a lecture alongside Kaci Nice of Burns Brokers and Meranda Vieyra of Denver Legal Marketing. Jay is the Founding Partner of Kamlet Law and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado Law School.
The lecture took place on January 14, 2021 and was titled, “Next Steps for Your Firm: Marketing, Office Sharing and Malpractice Insurance.” Jay covered the office sharing section, as he discussed his experience with starting LawBank. He shared that when he started LawBank, he set out to create an environment where he could be surrounded by exceptional practitioners in every area and stage of law. Jay first launched LawBank in 2012 and it has now grown to three locations in Denver and one in Las Vegas. With a total of 120 practitioners ranging from recent law school graduates to experienced mentors, LawBank maintains an ecosystem similar to those found in traditional law firms. Like other businesses, LawBank has had to adjust to meet the ever-changing needs of professional life during COVID-19. They offer various ways to stay in touch with their network, including hosting virtual happy hours and trivia nights with local bar associations.
Jay discussed challenges he took into consideration when starting LawBank, such as Ethics Opinion 89, which was adopted in 1991 and updated in 2018. This opinion specifically covers office sharing, and Jay used it to construct the physical environment of LawBank. Jay recalled how he invited the authors of Opinion 89 to visit LawBank and view the measures he had taken, such as installing private phone booths, offering distanced workspaces, private conference rooms, and secure file storage. Jay took these measures to minimize potential exposure of confidential client information. Throughout the presentation, he emphasized that keeping confidentiality, conflict and appearance of the firm at front of mind is of utmost importance when it comes to shared office space. Jay’s advice for ensuring you are following rules of confidentiality in a shared environment include using phone booths, secure printing, and private conference rooms. As the founder of LawBank, he takes ownership and reminds tenants of potential inadvertent disclosure. One preventative measure that Jay implemented when starting LawBank was to staff the receptionist and office manager directly through the company versus through one of the attorney tenants. This minimizes the possibility of compromising confidentiality and limits conflicts.
Jay provided other tips for best protecting confidentiality, such as providing each lawyer with a locking cabinet and requiring access cards to enter any file storage areas. In terms of conflicts, he advises to be proactive and notify clients if two opposing attorneys are working in the same shared space. It is important to make sure you have a client’s consent when this situation arises. LawBank has also taken measures to ensure clients know that it is not a law firm, but rather a shared space for lawyers. They have created a disclaimer for LawBank’s website, indicating that LawBank’s members are not part of the same firm. When considering shared office space, this could be a beneficial disclaimer for your business. Jay’s final piece of advice is to always keep ethics in the back of your mind and to reference the relevant ethics opinions. Jay’s presentation concluded with a Question and Answer session, where he addressed plans to open new locations, as well as the demographics of the lawyers that make up LawBank.
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LawBank is the premier community for independent law firms. With private offices, office suites, and cubicle spaces available in Denver and Las Vegas, LawBank is the place for independent law firms to grow and thrive. LawBank members have access to modern amenities, business development opportunities, community events, and vendor discounts. Contact LawBank today to schedule a virtual tour and find the move-in ready solution for your independent law firm.
