The Attorney's Office Tools
the average lawyer in that field), still provide a description of the service and time spent and then show a "n/c" for a "no charge" on the bill, or show a discount (either in a percentage or a dollar amount) right on the bill and call it a "professional courtesy." If you know you committed an error, even one that is not fatal to the case, cut or waive your fee before being asked to do so, in order to show accountability and contrition. Always carefully proof-read and edit your bills before they are mailed, because you can be sure that some of your clients will scrutinize your bills again and again. To encourage payment of your bills, consider accepting
payment by credit cards, both at your office and through your website, and have a message on each of your bills advising your clients of that payment method. Also, you may arrange to bill a client’s credit card on a regular basis with his or her written pre-authorization. Your bills can also provide incentives, such as offering discounts for early payment, and if your retainer agreement so provides, charge interest as a finance charge on overdue balances. Also, if you use "evergreen retainers," have your bills clearly show your client’s obligation to replenish the retainer and to what amount.
Collecting Your Accounts Receivables (Your Clients’ Past-Due Balances)
Te first trick, of course, is never to allow a client to
accrue a high outstanding balance; require a sufficient initial retainer, utilize "evergreen retainers," and timely request clients to replenish their balances when necessary. Working against busy attorneys in this endeavor is the fact that most attorneys rarely set aside the time to effectively monitor all of their clients’ accounts, not to mention the fact that only in the practice of law is a professional sometimes required to continue providing services even after a client has long since stopped paying. Be as motivated to monitor the status of your current clients’ fees as you are to obtaining new clients and keeping up with case work. Tere is a difference of opinion as to whether the lawyer
should call the client him or herself about past-due balances or whether he or she should delegate that task to a lower- billing associate or staff person. I believe that it is far more effective for the lawyer to call; he or she is the one most familiar with the services provided, and it sends a strong message to the client that outstanding balances are not taken lightly. During a phone call in which a payment is requested, it is important that the lawyer also discuss any outstanding substantive matters, so that the client does not feel as if the lawyer is only concerned with being paid. On the other hand, it is most important that the call is made as soon as a balance starts accruing, and if the only way that this task will actually be done is to delegate it, then do so, but be sure to have a very
Legal Nurse Consulting The NMAS Group
Providing over 30 years of focused, cost-effective medical litigation support
• On-site Physician support/access • Single and multi-claimant litigation • Personal injury
• Worker’s compensation • Long Term Care
●
● ●
● Merit reviews ●
Medical /Nursing malpractice Toxic Tort
Medication issues Wrongful Death
Ph: 301-519-0300
Legalnurse@nmas.com
Making Sense out of Complex Medical Issues The National Medical Advisory Services Group
www.nmas.com
Trial Reporter / Spring 2010 51
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76