Market Areas > Practice Management > Ethics

Billing Ethics: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Alternatives, Collections and Value Billing

Course Description:

As alternative options multiply, so do the possible ethical dilemmas surrounding legal billing. 

Learn the ethics requirements for fee agreements, including contingent fees, flat fees, and hourly rates in this need-to-know CCM audio conference. 

Our panel of experts will present best practice methods designed to help prevent ethical billing dilemmas. This “ethics education” event will also help you to:

• Comply with your ethical obligation to communicate material information to clients,
• Create billing and collection routines that reduce complaints and billing challenges,
• Collect those slow-paying, hard-earned fees, and
• Avoid the most common mistakes in invoices that make clients file bar complaints (not to mention refuse to pay).

During this critical program, you’ll learn the ethical considerations and issues surrounding:

• Retainer agreements
• Payments
• Billing
• Credit card payments
• Value pricing
• Fixed fees

In this information-packed session, our ethics experts will also cover:

• Compliance with Model Rule 1.5 on the reasonableness of fees
• Alternative billing options that comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct
• Compliance with the written fee letter requirement
• Allowable alternatives for collection of fees

Featured Faculty:

Scott FitzGerald, Partner, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP

Scott is the Managing Partner of the Boston, Massachusetts office of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP, and a Managing Director of Fragomen Global Immigration Services, LLC, with specific responsibility for the firm's India operations. He has practiced exclusively in the field of corporate immigration and nationality law for over 15 years. He provides multinational corporations, including leading technology companies and financial and educational institutions, with strategic counseling on all matters of U.S. immigration and nationality law, regulation, policy and compliance. Scott has previously served as the Managing Partner of the firm's Washington D.C. and Vienna, Virginia offices, as well as an Associate in the firm's New York office. Scott currently serves as co-chairman of the firm’s LCA Compliance Task Force.

Russ Haskin, Director of Consulting, LexisNexis - Redwood

As Director of Consulting at LexisNexis’ Redwood Analytics Division, over the past several years Russ has worked with over 100 law firms ranging from smaller firms to several within the AmLaw 10. With a focus on the business of law, he leads a team that consults with firm leadership on Redwood tools and methodology, business analysis, and process improvement.  In addition, Russ plays a lead role in designing and implementing training and consulting programs.  Prior to joining Redwood, Russ worked for more than seven years in Market Research and Project Analysis at two Fortune 500 companies. 

MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE:

Pricing:

Unable to Attend? Order the CD!

Your CD recording includes the complete audio conference presentation, audience Q&A and presentation materials.

CLE:

CCM provides audio conference attendees with CLE credit processing services. To expedite CCM processing your CLE request, please complete and submit the evaluation form available from CCM at the conclusion of the audio conference. It will be necessary to enter the following information: name of each attorney requesting CLEs with full contact information, including e-mail address, bar number, and the state in which the attorney wants credits. Each attorney requesting credits must submit an evaluation.

Please be advised CCM audio conferences are subject to approval from each CLE issuing organization and approval is not guaranteed (state bar associations in Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania do not grant CLE credits for audio conferences). The approval process takes approximately 6 - 8 weeks for most organizations but can take as long as 3 - 4 months. You will be notified via e-mail with the final status of your CLE application.

Any person applying for CLE credits must attend the audio conference from start to finish (attendance will be taken for compliance reasons). Requests for CLE credits must be received no later than two weeks following the conclusion of the audio conference or live conference. CLE credits are not available for CD recordings.

If you have any questions regarding CLE credits, contact Jill Adler at 631.368.2082 x 21 or jill.adler@meeting-matters.com.

Each CCM event presents a variety of information and is presented for each organization to develop its own approach and methodology.