Course description
You may be a good lawyer, but you also need to be a good business person - it is all very well completing a splendid job for your client but unless you are on top of your billing procedures it is all in vain.
There is the aspect of the firm’s profitability, retaining the confidence and goodwill of your client and importantly keeping to the rules to avoid the attention of the regulatory bodies which this virtual classroom seminar will explore.
Join leading trainer Paul Tobias as he discusses the SRA review of firms and billing procedures, examples of cases in the SDT, and important issues such as preparing completion statements, invoicing clients by email, avoiding doing work for nothing and turning away unprofitable clients. Cross selling other services will also be explored, along with Law Society guidance, accounts rules, and much more.
Upcoming start dates
Outcome / Qualification etc.
Training Course Content
Introduction
You may be a good lawyer, but you also need to be a good business person - it is all very well completing a splendid job for your client but unless you are on top of your billing procedures it is all in vain.
There is the aspect of the firm’s profitability, retaining the confidence and goodwill of your client and importantly keeping to the rules to avoid the attention of the regulatory bodies which this virtual classroom seminar will explore.
What You Will Learn
This live and interactive session will cover the following:
- SRA review of firms and billing procedures
- Transparency failures - SRA steps up enforcement. RSA v AWH Legal/ Sal & Co/ Renney & Co [15 January 2021]
- Examples of cases in the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
- Will your bill get paid? Important items include preparing and presenting your completion statements, invoicing clients by email, avoiding doing work for nothing and turning away unprofitable clients
- Keeping in touch with your clients after completion, ‘cross selling’ other services, charging for copies, file and document retention
- SRA Code of Conduct, referral fees, 'false profits'
- Law Society Guidance and 2019 Protocol - ‘Price and Service Transparency’, client care information and publicising solicitors’ charges
- Council of Licensed Conveyancers on fees
- New SRA Accounting Rules
- VAT on disbursements and SDLT implications - the danger of tax savings schemes
- UK Finance Conditions - with a look at panels, mortgagees’ costs and separate representation
- The ultimate sanction - you can be struck off for ‘overcharging’
- What can a client do in challenging a bill - 'Solicitor accused of playing golf while charging £300 an hour wins libel damages' - Consumer Credit Act implications? The Legal Ombudsman
- The retainer letter and contractual bias - Minkin v Cawdery Kaye and Proctor v Raleys Solicitors - letter of explanation not good enough?
- Your business philosophy - why does a client instruct you anyway? Is it always the fee?
- Partnership problems - how do you agree to share the fees and payments between partners
- A typical explanation of a ‘quote’ from a leading firm to prospective clients
Expenses
MBL Seminars Limited
MBL is a leading learning and development provider for professional service firms. Over the past 18 years, more than 198,000 people across 23,000 different organisations spanning 81 countries, have chosen us to deliver their training. With over 800 expert speakers...