Exam 5: Legal Fees Timekeeping and Billing

Legal services that are provided free of charge to a client who is not able to pay for the services.

Actual time that a paralegal or attorney spends working on a case and that is directly charged to a client's account.

A rate that is set by taking into account the mix of attorneys working on the matter.

A false representation of a present or past fact made by a defendant.

A record of detailed information about the legal services professionals provide to each client.

A plan that a person can purchase that entitles the person to receive legal services either free or at a greatly reduced rate.

Unearned monies provided before work begins to use against the attorney's future fees and expenses.

A type of fee agreement that is based not on the time spent to perform the work but on the basis of the perceived importance of the services to the client.

Fees given to the prevailing parties pursuant to certain federal and state statutes.

A report showing cases (e.g., criminal, personal injury, bankruptcy, etc.)to determine which are the most profitable.

A fee that is billed at the beginning of a matter, is not refundable to the client, and is usually paid at the beginning of the case as an incentive for the office to take the case.

A fee for legal services that is billed to the client in 60-minute increments based on an agreed-upon rate.

Fee collected if the attorney successfully represents the client.

Time that cannot be directly billed to a paying client.

Term referring to when corporate and government law practices contract with law offices (i.e., outside of the corporation or government practice)to help them with legal matters, such as litigation, specialized contracts, stock/bond offerings, and so forth

A report showing all cases that have outstanding balances due and how long these balances are past due.

A separate bank account, apart from a law office's or attorney's operating checking account, where fund belonging to the client are deposited.

The process of tracking time for the purpose of billing clients.

The process of issuing invoices for the purpose of collecting monies for legal services performed and being reimbursed for expenses.

The process of earning a profit from legal services that are provided by law office personnel (usually partners, associates, and paralegals).

Term for the money the law office or attorney is entitled to deposit in the office's or attorney's own bank account.

General administrative costs of doing business, including costs such as rent, utilities, phone, and salary costs for administrators.

When law firms bill clients using means such as the Internet.

Monies that are paid up front by the client as an advance against the attorney's future fees and expenses. Until the monies are actually earned by the attorney or law office, they belong to the client.

Reports used to help analyze whether the office is operating in an efficient and effective manner.

A fee for legal services that is billed as fixed amount.