Law Office Management Assistance Program, Best Practices

RODNEY S. DOWELL, Esq., DIRECTOR
Email: rodney@masslomap.org
Toll-Free: 888-54LOMAP
888-545-6627
Telephone: 857-383-3250

BEST PRACTICES

The following suggested practices will improve the quality of your clients, promote client relations, and increase profitability.

1. Always ensure that there are no conflicts of interest between existing clients and a prospective client, or between prospective clients.

2. Manage the client's expectations by understanding the client's true goals, and then establish with them realistic goals.

3. Conduct a frank discussion regarding the anticipated cost for your legal services and anticipated expenses for which they will be responsible.

4. Have a signed engagement letter, regardless of the type of service provided, which clearly establishes the scope of services to be provided, how fees will be calculated and invoiced, when payments are due (and if interest will be charged), and how the retainer will be applied to invoices.

5. Require the client to advance an appropriate retainer before you begin to provide service. This establishes the client's commitment to the engagement, it assures you that the client values your efforts, and it demonstrates that the client accepts his/her obligation.

6. Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! Respond to your client within 24 hours, send monthly status reports, and copy all documents and communications to the client until they ask you to stop.