Lawyers often complain about the business side of running a law practice, particularly when it comes to issuing invoices and collecting fees. Some attorneys find conversations with clients about fees to be uncomfortable, and prefer to ignore the issue altogether. However, auditing one’s billing practices and developing a routine can help boost an attorney’s financial viability, support an attorney’s ethical and professional duties, and avoid unnecessary or uncomfortable conversations with a client down the road.
Regular billing not only helps a practice run, but may be required by the rules of ethics. Indeed, Rule 1.03 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct describes a lawyer’s duty to communicate with her client. It provides that “[a] lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.” Generating and sending accurate and honest billing statements on a regular basis can be a part of complying with Rule 1.03.
