Q. My client has just been indicted on 13 counts of fraud and every reporter in town has called me for comment. Should I call them back?  A. Before fielding their questions, ask yourself whether silence is “golden” …

Q. After his client denied any text messages about this case, defense counsel sent me a thumb drive with hundreds of them, including some attorney-client communications. May I use these? A. Even at war with the other …

Q. As we head to the beach for a two-week vacation, my wife and kids want me to leave my cell phone behind so I won’t be distracted with client calls. Is this a good idea? Legal …

Q. In charging clients by the hour, aren’t we rewarded for inefficiency and penalized for expeditious resolutions? Is there a more ethical way to bill our clients for legal services? A. Though there is nothing unethical about …

Q. Rather than focus on charges that may be tough to beat, my client repeatedly insists that she wouldn’t be prosecuted at all if she were white. As a white woman, how can I get her off this racist rant? …

Advances in prosthetic limbs have given amputees a chance at resuming a higher quality of life. However, some insurers have denied coverage for prosthetics for bad faith reasons. Losing a limb can be a devastating experience. However, modern medicine has advanced to the point where amputees can recover much of

Q. In a profession with a higher incidence of mental illness and addiction than society at large, are we doing enough to care for our colleagues? A. Like lawyers themselves, our profession places a low priority on wellness …

Q. If I don’t take retainers, I won’t need a trust account at all. Can’t I avoid this whole problem by billing for my work after it’s completed? A. You can—if you wish to trade one problem for a more …

Q. I read that Maryland’s Bar Counsel tried to deprive accused lawyers of an equal right to discovery in disciplinary cases. Whatever happened to fundamental fairness? A. “Fundamental fairness” is a work in progress — progress that may only be achieved through vigilance in asserting the …

I’m one of those legal dinosaurs that still keeps handwritten ledgers. Are there specific programs I should use? A. Yes. And there are lots of excellent programs to choose from.Just run a search of …

Q. To help me celebrate April Fool’s Day, the local sheriff will have my law partner detained as he walks into court today. When he asks why, the sheriff will say he’s being arrested for the prank he pulled on me last year. Pretty hilarious, huh? …

Q. I handle criminal cases for one flat fee – start to finish. When must I put the fee in trust and when can I take payments along the way? A. The answer should be clearly stated …