Trust account problems are one of the top reasons lawyers are disciplined in the U.S. Certainly there are attorneys whose trust accounting activities are egregious—even criminal. But this doesn't account for all of the problems. Far too often, ...

Best practices for handling settlement funds starts with a properly written and executed contingent fee agreement. This document should clearly communicate to the client how funds from a settlement check will be disbursed. In the case when a ...

I’ve been practicing law for nearly seven years, both as a solo and with a firm. During this time, I’ve tried different billing arrangements with varying degrees of success and learned plenty of lessons (often about what not to do). Here is my ...

Do your clients keep asking for a break on fees? Sure, some did it in the past, but lately it’s becoming pro forma. And other than just caving in, it’s hard to know how to respond. If anyone can offer perspective, it’s Susan Hackett. As former ...

Mark C. Palmer | Q: “I’d like to expand my law firm’s flat-fee offerings into new practice areas, but I want to make sure it's a sound financial move and an ethically permissible one.”

In most practice areas, a lawyer’s marketing efforts should focus on generating a strong referral pipeline—from both non-lawyers and lawyers alike. If those efforts are successful, you'll probably need some guidance on referral fees. Here it is.

While clients may not be overjoyed to learn their rates are increasing, they are used to receiving such news. So why not make this an opportunity to communicate clearly, accurately and confidently about where their money is going?

Roy Ginsburg | This is no time to be shy. Clients are never as price-sensitive as you think.

Advice on setting your annual billable rate increase — and how to tell your clients.

If you were to believe everything being written about legal services today, you might think lawyer-client relationships have boiled down to one thing: pricing. Yet in my conversations with clients, fees rarely are the first thing mentioned or ...