Fee Agreements: Last call!

Posted on 01/11/2017 by beverlym

Looking for tips on how to improve your fee agreements, need an ethics refresher, or want to incorporate terms that help avoid client misunderstandings?

fee-agreements

Fee Agreements: Ethical Dos and Don’ts is a live, in-depth Webinar designed to help you craft better client fee agreements. Topics include:

Laying the Ethical Foundation
Scope of engagement, timing of services, fees, and billing.

Pragmatic Content
Using client cooperation clauses; addressing file ownership, retention, and disposal; charging clients for copies of files; instructing clients about privileged email communication; collecting your fee; and special considerations for solos.

Ethical Limitations
Division of fees, charging interest, attorney fee awards, fixed fees and refundability, contingent fees, nontraditional fees, hybrid fee agreements, advance approval of fees, third party payment and crowdfunding, structured settlements, passing on credit card transaction fees, modification of fee agreements, contractual right to increase fees, resolution of vague terms, withdrawal for nonpayment.

Who Should Attend
Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone interested in improving law firm fee agreements.

Date and Time
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Location
This program is a live, online Webinar. View the webcast on any mobile device or desktop. Listen to audio via computer/device speakers or by telephone. Ask questions and participate in anonymous online polls addressing common issues that arise in creating fee agreements.

Registration Fee
$20.00 – Visit the CLE Events page to register or click here. [Secure payment processing powered by Eventbrite. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.] Program materials included in the registration price.

MCLE Credits
Approved for 1.0 MCLE Ethics Credits in Oregon. OSB MCLE Program Number 6724*4.

Can’t Attend?
Video and audio recordings of Fee Agreements: Ethical Dos and Don’ts will be available to download along with the program materials following the January 18 CLE. Price: $20.00. Contact me for more information.

Fee Agreements: Do It Right

Posted on 12/07/2016 by beverlym

fee-agreements Wondering if your fee agreements are all they could be? Clear, easily understood, ethical, and most importantly – designed to meet your needs and those of
your clients?

Fee Agreements: Ethical Dos and Don’ts is a live, in-depth Webinar designed to help you craft better client fee agreements. Topics include:

Laying the Ethical Foundation

Scope of engagement, timing of services, fees, and billing.

Pragmatic Content

Using client cooperation clauses; addressing file ownership, retention, and disposal; charging clients for copies of files; instructing clients about privileged email communication; collecting your fee; and special considerations for solos.

Ethical Limitations

Division of fees
Charging interest or late fees
Attorney fee awards
Fixed fees and refundability
Contingent fees
Nontraditional fees
Hybrid fee agreements
Advance approval of fees
Third party payment and crowdfunding
Structured settlements
Passing on credit card transaction fees
Modification of fee agreements
Contractual right to increase fees
Vague terms
Withdrawal for nonpayment

Who Should Attend
Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone interested in improving law firm fee agreements.

Date and Time
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

MCLE Credits
Approved for 1.0 MCLE Ethics Credits in Oregon. OSB MCLE Program Number 6724*4.

If you’re looking for tips on how to improve your fee agreements, need an ethics refresher, or want to incorporate terms that help avoid client misunderstandings, attend this CLE.

Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds

Posted on 10/31/2016 by beverlym

Is an in-depth, one hour CLE focusing on the issues surrounding unclaimed funds in IOLTA accounts. Topics include:

Identifying unclaimed funds
Determining residence
Meeting timelines for assessment
Pursuing ethical and statutory due diligence
Reporting and remittance procedures
Avoiding unclaimed funds
Adopting strategies for dealing with lost checks
Handling ethical and legal dilemmas for failure to report or remit

Who Should Attend
Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone who handles trust funds in Oregon.

Date and Time
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location
This program is an online webinar. View the webcast on any mobile device or desktop. Listen to audio via computer/device speakers or by telephone.

Registration Fee
$15.00 – Visit my CLE Events page to register or click here. [Secure payment processing powered by Eventbrite. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.] Program materials included in the registration price.

MCLE Credits
Approved for .50 ethics credits / .50 practical skills.

If you’re unsure how to handle abandoned client funds, don’t understand the procedures involved, or worry that you may have failed to remit funds when required, attend this CLE.

Can’t Attend?
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds will be available to download along with the program materials following the November 16 CLE. Price: $15.00. Contact me for more information.

Do You Know How to Resolve Lawyer Trust Account Issues?

Posted on 09/19/2016 by beverlym

A client’s relative offers to pay for your legal services. Do you know how to structure this third-party payment?
You receive a “retainer” of $5,000 to be accessed only if your client fails to pay her monthly bill – an arrangement commonly known as collecting “last month’s rent.” Are you required to handle these funds in any special way?
Your bookkeeper deposits a settlement payment on Friday, September 16. On Monday, September 19 your client demands his portion of the proceeds. Should you disburse the client’s share of the settlement?
At the conclusion of your initial meeting a client writes you a check for $1500 to prepare a simple estate plan. Should you deposit the check in your IOLTA account or your business operating account? Are you confident that you have all the information needed to make this decision?
For three years you’ve carried a small, uncashed client refund check on your books. You can’t find the client. Should you write it off?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, want to brush up on lawyer trust accounting, or need ethics credits, consider attending Ethical Trust Accounting and Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds. Here are the details:

Who Should Attend

Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone who handles trust funds in Oregon.

Date and Time

Ethical Trust Accounting – Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location

Both programs are online webinars – view the webcasts on any mobile device or desktop. Listen to audio via computer/device speakers or by telephone. A link to downloadable program materials will be sent automatically to all registered attendees.

Registration Fee and Discount for Blog Readers

Ethical Trust Accounting – $25.00. Save 20% by entering the discount code Blog at checkout (your cost: $20.00)
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – $15.00

Program materials included in registration fee. Secure payment processing powered by Eventbrite. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

MCLE Credits

Ethical Trust Accounting – 2.0 MCLE Ethics Credits approved.
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – 1.0 MCLE Ethics Credit pending.

Ethical Trust Accounting will cover:

Establishing regular, pooled, or separate IOLTA accounts
Paying service charges and meeting minimum balance requirements
Avoiding impermissible cushions
Safeguarding client property and protecting against theft
Holding unearned funds in trust until they “clear”
Processing third party payments
Using fixed fee agreements
Paying yourself
Reporting overdrafts
Ethical recordkeeping and reconciliation
Processing credit cards
Retaining records

Remember to enter the discount code “Blog” to save 20% when registering for Ethical Trust Accounting.

Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds

Is an in-depth, one hour CLE focusing on the issues surrounding unclaimed funds in IOLTA accounts. Topics include:

Identifying unclaimed funds
Determining residence
Meeting timelines for assessment
Pursuing ethical and statutory due diligence
Reporting and remittance procedures
Avoiding unclaimed funds
Adopting strategies for dealing with lost checks
Handling ethical and legal dilemmas for failure to report or remit

Can’t Attend These Programs?

Ethical Trust Accounting and Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds will be available to download, along with the program materials, after the live program date. Contact me for further information.

Ethical Trust Accounting and Unclaimed Funds – CLE Events

Posted on 08/23/2016 by beverlym

Who Should Attend

Lawyers, staff, bookkeepers, administrators, office managers – anyone who handles trust funds in Oregon.

Date and Time

Ethical Trust Accounting – Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location

Registration Fee and Discount for Blog Readers

Ethical Trust Accounting – $25.00. Save 20% by entering the discount code Blog at checkout (your cost: $20.00)
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – $15.00

Program materials included in registration fee. Secure payment processing powered by Eventbrite. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

MCLE Credits

Ethical Trust Accounting – 2.0 MCLE Ethics Credits pending.
Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds – 1.0 MCLE Ethics Credit pending.

Ethical Trust Accounting will cover:

Establishing regular, pooled, or separate IOLTA accounts
Paying service charges and meeting minimum balance requirements
Avoiding impermissible cushions
Safeguarding client property and protecting against theft
Holding unearned funds in trust until they “clear”
Processing third party payments
Using fixed fee agreements
Paying yourself
Reporting overdrafts
Ethical recordkeeping and reconciliation
Processing credit cards
Retaining records

Remember to enter the discount code “Blog” to save 20% when registering for Ethical Trust Accounting.

Ethical Dilemmas: Unclaimed Client Funds

Is an in-depth, one hour CLE focusing on the issues surrounding unclaimed funds in IOLTA accounts. Topics include:

Identifying unclaimed funds
Determining residence
Meeting timelines for assessment
Pursuing ethical and statutory due diligence
Reporting and remittance procedures
Avoiding unclaimed funds
Adopting strategies for dealing with lost checks
Handling ethical and legal dilemmas for failure to report or remit

Can’t Attend These Programs?

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Fee Agreements: Last call!