Law Office Manager

Billing & collections

How to raise fees in January without upsetting or alienating clients

The wrong way to up the fees is to think of a rate hike as a means of offsetting costs. Most firms do just that. The attorneys think "well, our salaries are increasing, so we have to recapture that." So the rates go up a percentage across the board. To get the most revenue out of a rate hike takes understanding the many and varied options available to the firm. It also takes … [Read more...] about How to raise fees in January without upsetting or alienating clients

4 ways to keep your cool in the midst of chaos

By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio How well do you think you handle stress at work? I used to think I was pretty good at it, until a few years ago, when I realized I wasn't. I was working for a healthcare technology company that was young and rapidly growing. Every day, my task and responsibility list seemed to grow exponentially. At first it was exciting, but after a while I was … [Read more...] about 4 ways to keep your cool in the midst of chaos

Client survey hits hard on cost satisfaction

Some firms survey their clients in person. Some by phone. Some by mail. But a Missouri insurance defense firm wastes no time. It sends its evaluation form to the claims adjuster at the same time the last bill goes out. And it's appropriate timing, because most of the questions cover the company's satisfaction with the cost of the matter. The response rate is high, reports the … [Read more...] about Client survey hits hard on cost satisfaction

The art of setting fees that suit prospective clients

There's an art to presenting fees to clients. It's not just a matter of quoting an amount. It's a matter of finding out what result the client wants to see and what value the client attaches to that result. It calls for a lot of fishing tempered by a lot of tact, says Brian Kennel of Performance Management Consulting, a law firm practice management consulting group in New … [Read more...] about The art of setting fees that suit prospective clients

The ethics of refusing business and parting company with a client

Attorney-client relationships can get mighty tenuous. And either side can be at fault. Here are three issues that cause great concern: Turning down a prospect, firing a client, and getting fired by a client. They are explained by Michael Downey, a partner with Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis whose practice focuses on professional legal, risk management, and ethics issues. … [Read more...] about The ethics of refusing business and parting company with a client

Model Tool: New matter intake form

Why you need this form: Before accepting a new matter from an existing client, you should obtain as much information about the new case as possible. This process, known as "case screening," can help you avoid many potential problems. How this form helps you: The New Matter Intake Form will not only help you quickly identify whether or not the subject matter is within your area … [Read more...] about Model Tool: New matter intake form

Model Tool: New client intake form

Why you need this form: Before accepting a client, you should obtain as much information about both the client and the subject matter as possible. This process, known as "client screening" can help you avoid many potential problems. How this form helps you: The New Client Intake Form will not only help you quickly identify whether or not the subject matter is within your area … [Read more...] about Model Tool: New client intake form

Model Policy: Client billing

Why you need this policy: Attorneys have every right—and need—to be paid. But getting clients to pay their bills on time is a major challenge that forces you to confront a bewildering array of fee arrangements, billing of non-fee expenses, and ethical constraints stemming from the attorney-client relationship. How this policy helps you: The centerpiece of juggling all of these … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Client billing