Basic legal work + low quality...

Along with opposing attorneys who like to make personal attacks on my clients, few things bother me more than observing crappy legal work in some of the most basic and easy areas of the practice. Two areas I've dwelt on recently have been Illinois powers of attorneys and legal representation in residential real estate closings. Basic estate planning and real estate transactions can be great areas for new solos...but do great work!

It's nearly never the proper thing to do to just use the form Illinois Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney for Property. Tailor that the document to serve your clients best interests...things like gifting and estate planning should be included to empower agents. With real estate, use tax reproration agreements the year after a tax reassessment...there's big money to be saved if a property's taxes sky rocket.

Being a great lawyer begins with doing the basics well!