Billing 101: Best Practices [webinar recap]

In this month’s CLE, lawyer Jordan Turk shared billing best practices so you can run a modern and ethical law firm. You can watch the full webinar here and download the slides. Check out the presentation overview before you dive in:

Part 1: Billing 
Organization and consistency are key. The longer you wait to bill a client, the less likely they are to pay you. 

• Improving your billing processes and procedures

• Suggested authorization forms and third-party payor addendums 

• Helpful technology to automate processes 

• How to handle difficult clients 

Part 2: Collections  
An overview of aging A/R and why it’s often a silent killer of law firms.  

• Tips on invoice follow-up 

• How to collect on aged A/R 

Part 3: Surcharging 
Most states allow for this, but you cannot mislead clients. 

• Check with your local jurisdiction 

Part 4: Trust Accounts 
An overview of ethical handling of client funds.

• IOLTA review 

• Proper separation of earned and unearned fees 

Part 5: Three-Way Trust Account Reconciliation 
Get this right from the start to avoid snowballing errors.  

• Steps for doing a three-way reconciliation 

Remember: removing barriers for the client will help you get paid faster. Invoice quickly, consistently, and offer multiple payment options whenever possible.