In order to have a successful, thriving practice it is necessary to get paid for the services you perform. Yet, firms repeatedly report problems with past due accounts. Why is this?

Lawyers can increase the likelihood of being paid for services performed by selecting paying clients, managing client's time and billing expectations well, and establishing and adhering to good time and billing practices.  Moreover, it it important for lawyers to know their options when clients are not paying their invoices.

In this program, you will:

• Learn practical tips for how best to get paid for the services performed and your options when your client’s are not paying your invoices;
• Apply what has been learned to realistic scenarios; and
• Reflect on your time and billing practices and how they can be improved.

Important MCLE Notice: This Program was originally released as a PMBR (2020-2021) module. If you have previously viewed this Program as a PMBR (2020-2021) module and received a Certificate of Completion, you may only claim MCLE credit once for this Program within a 12-month period. The ARDC reports individual attorney attendance to the MCLE Board by the 15th of the month subsequent to the date of completion of the MCLE program (for example, September events will be reported by October 15).

Resources:
Sample Forms

• New Client/Matter Intake Form
• Initial Consultation Interview Form
• Sample Engagement Agreement – Hourly Fee
• Sample Client Engagement Letter – Hourly Fee Arrangement
• Calendaring Slip (Blank)
• Sample Monthly Status Letter
• Table Comparing Time Entries
• Sample 30-Day Follow-Up Letter (Outstanding Invoice)
• Sample 60-Day Follow-Up Letter (Outstanding Invoice)

Articles

• ABALegal Technology Buyer’s Guide for Time and Billing and Management Software
• Killing Time or Billing Time? (Catherine Sanders Reach, NCBA Center for Practice Management (Jan. 7, 2020)
• 5 BillingTips for Young Lawyers (ABA Practice Points, Oct. 27, 2017)
• Top Billing, Illinois Bar Journal (Oct. 2016)

Ethics Opinions

• The duty of confidentiality and withdrawing as counsel in a civil proceeding based on client’s failure to pay fees (ABA Formal Op. 476)