How to draft bills clients rush to pay

cover image

Where to find it

Law Library — 2nd Floor Collection (2nd floor)

Call Number
KF316 .M67 2018
Status
Available

Authors, etc.

Names:

Summary

Since the publication of the second edition of How to Draft Bills Clients Rush to Pay, new technologies have emerged in timekeeping and billing to help you more easily prepare bills that are clear and informative to your client. It is written by veteran attorneys who have each been a partner in smaller "Main Street" law practices, and who have had the opportunity to use all the tips in this book. This new edition and expanded edition of a practice-proven guide updates and expands on the tactics covered in previous editions to help you draft and format easy-to-understand invoices for your client, making them more likely to pay--on time and without complaint. Along with samples of effective bills and related forms, the authors of this book guide you on how to: - Build the lawyer-client relationship- Focus on the initial client activities that set the stage for successful billing - Communicate value- Establish fees and budgets using billing technology- Utilize timekeeping technology to keep good records- Put the commandments on drafting bills into action

Contents

  • About the Authors p. vii
  • Acknowledgments p. ix
  • Chapter 1 Building the Lawyer-Client Relationship p. 1
  • Introduction p. 1
  • The Missouri Motivational Study p. 2
  • Setting the Stage p. 3
  • The First Meeting p. 4
  • Timing Fee Discussions p. 4
  • Estimating and Discussing the Fee p. 5
  • Figure 1.1 Bill Delineating Specific Work and Accompanied by Hourly Time Statement (Conventional Style) p. 8
  • Retainers p. 13
  • Figure 1.2 Bill Delineating Effort (Narrative Style) p. 14
  • The Fee Agreement p. 16
  • Presenting a Written Estimate p. 17
  • Billing Frequency p. 17
  • Chapter 2 Establishing Fees and Budgets and Using Billing Technology p. 19
  • Avoiding Fee-Schedule Mentality p. 20
  • Establishing Hourly Fees p. 20
  • Recovering Costs p. 21
  • Using Substantive Systems and Forms p. 22
  • Budgeting and Establishing Rates p. 23
  • Budget the Team p. 24
  • Billing Technology p. 24
  • Changing Your Billing System p. 25
  • Chapter 3 Communicating Value p. 27
  • Project Effort on Paper p. 28
  • Delineate Work Done p. 28
  • Figure 3.1 Bill Delineating Effort p. 29
  • Use Blocking and Punctuation to Project Effort Visually p. 30
  • Figure 3.2 Bill Referencing Discussions to Convey Concern p. 31
  • Use Verbs to Convey Action p. 32
  • Use Smaller Billing Paper When Possible p. 32
  • Figure 3.3 Bill Using Blocking and Punctuation to Project Effort p. 33
  • Figure 3.4 Bill Using Frequent Action Verbs p. 34
  • Project Honesty, Legal Ethics, and Competence p. 36
  • Figure 3.5 Bill Projecting Values and Competence, Printed on 5$$$-by-5½-Inch Stationery p. 37
  • Project Fairness p. 37
  • Format the Bill Appropriately p. 38
  • Draft an Inviting Statement p. 39
  • Personalize the Bill p. 41
  • Figure 3.6 Personalized Bill: Sample 1 p. 41
  • Figure 3.7 Personalized Bill: Sample 2 p. 42
  • Chapter 4 Employing Other Techniques That Project Effort p. 43
  • Copy the Client on All Key Matters p. 43
  • Give the Client Undivided Attention during All Meetings p. 44
  • Keep Good Records of Completed Work p. 45
  • Use a Proper Timekeeping System p. 45
  • Timekeeping in Action-The Harris Morgan Manual System p. 45
  • Using Technology for Timekeeping p. 46
  • Develop the Habit p. 47
  • Make It Easy to Pay p. 50
  • Chapter 5 Putting the Commandments on Drafting Bills into Action p. 51
  • A Summary of Highly Effective Techniques p. 52
  • Why Clients Return to You p. 54
  • Chapter 6 Alternative Fee Arrangements p. 57
  • When and Why to Consider Alternative Fee Arrangements p. 57
  • Why the Hourly Rate Bill Is Here to Stay p. 59
  • Postscript Miscellaneous Timekeeping and Billing Tips p. 63
  • First-Let's Talk about Fees p. 63
  • Contemporaneous Timekeeping p. 64
  • Review Your Hourly Rates Once a Year and Determine Whether the Rates Should Change p. 64
  • When Changing Your Rates, Offer Clients the Opportunity to "Buy" Hours in Advance p. 65
  • Consider Whether You Should Charge for Internal Expenses and How p. 65
  • Determine If the Types of Work You Do Justify Multiple Hourly Rates p. 65
  • Data-Mine Your Files and Bills to Identify Types of Matters That Are Candidates for Alternative Billing Methods p. 66
  • Give a Client Choices p. 66
  • Look at Substantive Systems and Use Alternative Fees p. 66
  • Retainer Policies p. 67
  • Consider Evergreen Retainers p. 67
  • Written Fee Agreements for Each Engagement-Even for Existing Clients p. 68
  • Send Your Client a File for Each Matter p. 68
  • Appendices
  • Appendix A Ethics and Fees p. 69
  • Appendix B Alternative Fee Arrangements p. 77
  • Appendix C Forms p. 85
  • Appendix D Resources p. 91
  • Index p. 93

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