Beyond the Billable Hour - 2010 Teleconference/Audio File

2.0 MCLE Credits
(2.0 Law Practice Management)

As law firms struggle to maintain profitability, if not their survival, in the current economic climate, the debate over the almighty billable hour has been renewed.  Clients are forcing law firms to explore alternative billing methods, whether they like it or not.  It is not just about saving money.  Now is the time for firms to analyze the different methods and discuss with their clients which ones make sense.

Agenda

• Problems
  Budgeting and Incentive Problems; Difficulty Estimating Costs and Likelihood of Success; Over Promising Resources; The "Tried and True Billable Hour"
  
• Determining Whether Alternative Billing is Appropriate for Your Practice
  Firm's Attitude/Commitment; Skills to Implement; Potential for New Clients; Competition; Practice Areas; Training to Use Alternative Billing
  
• Forms of Alternative Billing Arrangements
  Contingent Fee; Project or Fixed Fee;Variations in Hourly Billing and Discounting Attorney Rates; Hybrid Fee Arrangements
  
• How Technology Can Be Used in Alternative Billing
  
• Responding to RFP's
  
• When Alternative Billing Arrangements May be Inappropriate or Impractical for Your Firm
  
• Ethical and Legal Considerations of Alternative Billing Arrangements
  (Rule 1.5 of the New Rules of Professional Conduct); Implications for Certain Practices; Disclosures

Program Faculty

Joel A. Rose, Moderator

Speakers

Mark Robertson, Esq.
Brett Scher, Esq.

2010 NYSBA CLE Teleconference/Audio File

This program was recorded on February 18, 2010.