Attorney Billing 101 (2025 Edition)

Michael S. LeBoff
Michael S. LeBoff
Klein & Wilson LLP

Michael S. LeBoff brings nearly 25 years of business trial practice to Klein & Wilson, handling and winning high-stakes trials and arbitrations.

Jeanne Huey
Jeanne Huey
Hunt Huey, PLLC

Jeanne has been fighting for businesses and individuals for more than twenty years in both state and federal courts.

On-Demand: November 13, 2024

2 hour CLE

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Program Summary

Session I - Billing Tips for Young Lawyers – Michael S. LeBoff

For any attorney that bills hourly, proper billing practices are essential for firms to survive. This session will explore best practices for recording and billing time. While intended primarily for younger lawyers, the session is of value to all lawyers that routinely bill time to their clients. The session will cover the best practices for recording and describing work in their billing entries, rules relating to billing, and strategies for collecting fees and avoiding fee disputes.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Best practices for recording and describing time
  • Rules relating to billing clients
  • Strategies to maximize collection and avoid fee disputes

Session II - Efficiency Meets Ethics: Billing for the Modern Practice - Jeanne M. Huey

This session drills down into the ethical best practices using the ABA Model Rules and recent ABA Formal Ethics Opinions as a guide. We will look at the key provisions regarding the legal fees being charged for the scope of work in our fee agreements, as well as the important information regarding billing processes and AI that should be in every fee agreement. In the context of billing for our work and getting paid, we will discuss how competence and the duty to be competent in the technology we use applies to billing and client payments, how to handle disputed funds, the ethics and how-to of referral fees, the AI efficiency paradox and how to bill for and notify the clients about the use of AI in our firms, and the duty to train and supervise staff regarding AI use and billing.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Understand the importance and review examples of engagement letter provisions concerning legal fees and costs, the scope of work being done, and your invoicing and billing process
  • Learn about how to ethically bill for, supervise, and notify clients about the use of AI in your firm under ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 512, and consider using AI to make both your work and your billing practices more efficient
  • Understand how to handle disputed funds under ABA Model Rule 1.15(e) Referral Fees under ABA Model Rule 1.5(e), and advance fees under ABA Formal Opinion 505 to ensure compliance with ethics rules

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Michael-S.-LeBoff_Klein-&-Wilson_myLawCLEMichael S. LeBoff | Klein & Wilson LLP

Michael S. LeBoff brings nearly 25 years of business trial practice to Klein & Wilson, handling and winning high-stakes trials and arbitrations.

Michael represents clients of all sizes in a wide variety of business cases, including shareholder, partnership and joint venture disputes, trade secret claims, fraud, breach of contract, business torts, real estate, attorney fee disputes and legal malpractice actions.

Michael attended Loyola Law School on a full academic scholarship, graduating second in his class of nearly 400 students. At Loyola, Michael received countless academic awards and served as an editor for the Loyola Law Review.

After graduating from law school, Michael clerked for the former Chief Judge of the Central District of California, Manuel L. Real, where he saw firsthand the importance of always being prepared before entering the courtroom. Following his clerkship, Michael developed his trial skills working at some of the finest law firms in Orange County where he had the opportunity to go up against Klein & Wilson in a complex joint venture litigation. Having developed mutual respect for each other’s skills and civility, Michael joined Klein & Wilson in 2016. Less than two years later, he was named the first new partner in the firm’s 25-year history.

Michael also served as in-house litigation counsel for ACC Capital Holdings, the parent company of large, nationwide financial services companies. As in house counsel, he managed nationwide litigation and worked daily with outside counsel to develop and implement cost-effective litigation strategies. Michael also reviewed and approved outside counsel bills and reported to senior management on significant litigation activities. In this role, Michael learned the importance of billing efficiencies and litigation results.

He currently serves on Council for the American Bar Association Litigation Section. Michael previously served as a co-chair of the Professional Liability Litigation Committee of the ABA’s Litigation Section from 2019 to 2022 and as co-chair of the Section’s Young Lawyers Leadership Program from 2022 2023. Michael also served as co-chair of the section’s largest committee, the Commercial and Business Litigation Committee, and co-chaired its Ethics Subcommittee.

In 2019, Michael was elected to the Orange County Bar Association’s (“OCBA”) Board of Directors and reelected to a second term in 2022. Mike was recently appointed to OCBA’s Future of the Profession Task Force and the Professionalism and Ethics Committee. He has also served on the OCBA’s Audit Committee since 2019. Michael previously served as the Chair of the OCBA’s Business Litigation Section and Banking and Lending Section.

Michael frequently speaks and writes on topics relating to legal malpractice and legal ethics.

 

Jeanne Huey_FedBarJeanne Huey | Hunt Huey, PLLC

Jeanne has been fighting for businesses and individuals for more than twenty years in both state and federal courts. After a career with a major regional law firm representing businesses ranging from multi-nationals to small local companies, Jeanne turned her attention for a number of years to serving those going through divorce and living with its aftermath.

Chosen to serve as a member, then panel chair and finally district chair of the District 6 Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas in addition to business litigation Jeanne’s practice now focuses on legal ethics and professional responsibility. She helps lawyers navigate the disciplinary process and counsels law firms and individual attorneys on matters of professional responsibility and malpractice. She brings to this practice the same commitment to excellence and the needs of her clients that she has always brought to business and other cases.

Jeanne is the author of the “Legal Ethics Today” blog found at legalethicstoday.com. She is also a frequent speaker on ethics and professionalism issues to local and national bar associations. She is the web content editor for the Ethics and Professionalism Committee of the American Bar Association Litigation Section and the program coordinator and immediate past chair of the Dallas Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Section.

Agenda

Session I – Billing Tips for Young Lawyers | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

  • Best practices for recording and describing time
  • Rules relating to billing clients
  • Strategies to maximize collection and avoid fee disputes

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – Efficiency Meets Ethics: Billing for the Modern Practice | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

  • ABA Model Rule 1.1
  • ABA Model Rule 1.2
  • ABA Model Rule 1.5
  • ABA Model Rule 1.6
  • ABA Model Rule 1.15
  • ABA Model Rule 5.1, 5.2
  • ABA Formal Ethics Opinions
    • Opinion 505
    • Opinion 512

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics

Arkansas

Approved for CLE Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics

Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
1 General , 1 Professional Responsibility/Ethics

California

Approved for CLE Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics

Colorado

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics / Professionalism , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour, 1 CLE Hour

Delaware

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Enhanced Ethics

Florida

Approved via Attorney Submission
1 General Hours, 1 Ethics Hours

Receive CLE credit in Florida via attorney submission.
Georgia

Approved for CLE Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 General , 1.2 Ethics or Professional Responsibility Education

Iowa

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics

Idaho

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Illinois

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Professional Responsibility

Indiana

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 NLS Credit , 1 Ethics

Kansas

Pending CLE Approval
1 Law Practice Management , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Kentucky

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
1 Law Office Management , 1 Ethics

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour, 1 CLE Hour

Maryland

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour, 1 CLE Hour

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Ethics credits can ONLY be earned through Live-Webcast programs, the Maine Board of Bar Examiners does not approve Ethics through On-Demand sessions.
Michigan

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour, 1 CLE Hour

Minnesota

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics

Missouri

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1.2 General , 1.2 Ethics

Mississippi

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics

Montana

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Professional Fitness and Integrity

North Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Professional Responsibility

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney’s behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
60 Ethics / Professionalism Minutes, 60 Ethics / Professionalism Minutes

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 General , 1.2 Ethics / Professionalism

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Nevada

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 General , 1.2 Ethics / Professionalism

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “B”.
Ohio

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Professional Conduct

Oklahoma

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Oregon

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics

Pennsylvania

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Rhode Island

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

South Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour, 1 CLE Hour

Tennessee

Approved for Self-Study Credits
1 General , 1 Dual

Texas

Approved for CLE Credits
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

Virginia

Not Eligible
1 General Hours, 1 Ethics / Professionalism Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Law Practice Programming , 1 Ethics

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
1 Other (Office Management) Hour , 1 Ethics Hour

Receive CLE credit in Washington via Attorney Submission. myLawCLE will supply Washington state attorneys with instructions on how to gain credit.
Wisconsin

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Law Practice Management

West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
1.2 General , 1.2 Ethics / Professionalism

Wyoming

Pending CLE Approval
1 General , 1 Ethics / Professionalism

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