Common mistakes lawyers make when dealing with limitation periods include miscalculating the date of accrual of the cause of action, overlooking statutory exceptions, relying on incorrect assumptions about extensions, and failing to document crucial dates or acknowledgments properly. Many also delay filing suits or appeals due to poor time management or lack of a structured tracking system. To avoid these errors, lawyers should establish a disciplined, step-by-step approach: first, determine the exact date the cause of action arose; second, refer to the appropriate article under the Limitation Act; third, calculate the limitation period precisely, accounting for tolling factors like disability, fraud, or acknowledgment; and finally, set conservative internal deadlines for filing. Best practices include using digital calendaring tools, maintaining limitation registers, cross-verifying computations with colleagues or seniors, and filing well before the statutory cutoff. By combining strict time management, meticulous documentation, and early preparation, lawyers can ensure compliance with limitation laws and prevent cases from being dismissed as time-barred.
