Improving your practice is a great goal, but it’s not always easy to figure out what changes will have the biggest impact. While there are plenty of tactics you can use, integrating your payment processor with a practice management solution is a game changer. By adopting a fully integrated solution, you reduce your overhead costs and increase efficiency. The right … Read More
Journal Entry Fundamentals for Legal Professionals
For legal professionals, maintaining accurate financial records is not just about tracking income and expenses; it’s about ensuring that every financial transaction is documented to support regulatory compliance and promote sound financial management. Journal entries serve as the foundational records that capture the details of every financial transaction, allowing your law firm to monitor cash flow, manage client funds, and … Read More
Cash vs. Accrual Accounting: Which Is Best for Your Law Firm?
Cash and accrual basis accounting are both methods for recording law firm transactions. The most significant difference between cash and accrual basis of accounting is how the transactions are logged. Choosing an accounting method is crucial for any business, helping ensure accurate financial reporting and enabling better decision-making. Effective law firm accounting, which includes adopting the most appropriate accounting method … Read More
Commingling Funds: Understanding the Risks and Legal Implications
State Bar Rules dictate how law firms should manage client funds, and when lawyers inadvertently or purposely mix client funds with personal or business ones, it is known as commingling. Rules on managing client funds vary by state. Most jurisdictions require attorneys to keep client funds separate from their own. However, some states allow you to accept client fee advances … Read More
CRM Best Practices for Law Firms: Engaging and Retaining Clients
Digital marketing costs for lawyers have increased in recent years, due to more competition between law firms for cost-per-click advertising and stricter data privacy laws. Today, the average law firm spends $500 to $2,000 to acquire one new client. To ensure a profitable bottom line, it’s in a law firm’s best interest to retain more clients. Clients tend to stick … Read More
Boosting Client Satisfaction with Efficient Billing Practices
There’s nothing like a confusing invoice or a complicated payment process to take the shine off great work. Yet for many law firms, billing frustrations are commonplace. Consider that a 2023 Thomson Reuters survey reports that the average law firm has an 18% realization loss because of billing-related issues. Or that according to the same survey, clients are increasingly pushing … Read More
Optimizing Utilization Rates: Strategies & Best Practices for Law Firms
Successful law firms work to enhance productivity and profitability while delivering exceptional client service. Tracking and optimizing utilization rates is a significant help in this effort. What is utilization in the legal industry? Utilization means looking at how much of your working day is spent doing things that directly bring in money. Billable hours are essential in determining a law … Read More
Crafting Compelling Law Firm Website Content: Key Elements & Tips
Maintaining a robust online presence helps your law firm increase brand awareness and attract clients. A well-crafted professional website serves as your virtual storefront, giving potential clients their first impression of your firm. Your website must communicate your firm’s expertise, services, and impact through high-quality content. Effective law firm website content will engage visitors, build trust, and convert leads into … Read More
Designing Your Law Firm’s Digital Front Door: The Power of a Professional Website
Think of your law firm’s website like a digital front door. It needs to get the attention of potential clients, make a positive first impression, and provide useful information that sets you apart from your competitors. But if you’re a small firm or solo practitioner, getting a new, professional website off the ground may be an overwhelming project. What’s more, … Read More
A Lawyer’s Guide to Proper IOLTA Account Management
Properly managing IOLTA accounts is crucial to maintaining ethical standards and complying with legal requirements. However, the complexities and variations in IOLTA regulations can present significant challenges, particularly for solo practitioners and small law firms. Streamlining IOLTA trust account management is essential for regulatory compliance. It also frees up valuable time to focus on core legal tasks and client service, … Read More