ep track of and recognize what can and should be billed to the client when it comes to “administrative/office expenses”. Copying charges, phone calls, postage, research costs and other expenses may be billed back to the client. It is now becoming a common enough practice that your client will likely not think twice about absorbing these costs once you explain that such expenses will be passed along to them when they retain you. Such cost shifting may be a bit more administrative work, but it will allow Most attorneys do not think of themselves entrepreneurs. However, a law practice is a business and accordingly, you should be looking for ways to generate profit wherever you can. Cutting costs is one way to create more profits for you. Here are at least 3 painless ways that you can cut costs.

The cost of paperwork You know this well – creating draft after draft of documents, along with mailing, faxing and copying them all. More and more offices now rely on recycling in-office paperwork. Have staff use blue markers to “red-line” through the used sides of paper that can be reused for faxing, copying etc. If an important document needs its own page copy it. Another paperwork reducer is using e-faxes. (A personal favorite of mine.) And always consider whether documents can be faxed or emailed, rather than wasting paper. Draft documents should only be printed on recycled paper. Another tip - attorneys often print out multiple copies of things, utilizing expensive printer cartridges, when it would be much cheaper to simply make a photocopy

Duplication of legal resources If your Lexis or Westlaw services allow you to access certain periodicals or other publications online, you will not then need to also obtain the print version. Often, it is less expensive to invest in the additional database than to keep on purchasing the updates to the hardbound books. It may feel comfortable to hang onto the older, more comfortable way of doing things, but I find that attorneys usually underestimate how intelligent and resourceful that they can be. You may want to also look into your local law school or court law library. For infrequently used resources, it will be less expensive to make a trip to such facilities. You should also look into bar association resources, as well as discounts that may be offered through them. Finally, for small firms or sole practitioners, it is often beneficial to pair up with other practitioners and pool your resources.

Bill Your Clients Lastly, it is important to keep track of and recognize what can and should be billed to the client when it comes to “administrative/office expenses”. Copying charges, phone calls, postage, research costs and other expenses may be billed back to the client. It is now becoming a common enough practice that your client will likely not think twice about absorbing these costs once you explain that such expenses will be passed along to them when they retain you. Such cost shifting may be a bit more administrative work, but it will allow y

taff use blue markers to “red-line” through the used sides of paper that can be reused for faxing, copying etc. If an important document needs its own page copy it. Another paperwork reducer is using e-faxes. (A personal favorite of mine.) And always consider whether documents can be faxed or emailed, rather than wasting paper. Draft documents should only be printed on recycled paper. Another tip - attorneys often print out multiple copies of things, utilizing expensive printer cartridges, when it would be much cheaper to simply make a photocopy

Duplication of legal resources If your Lexis or Westlaw services allow you to access certain periodicals or other publications online, you will not then need to also obtain the print version. Often, it is less expensive to invest in the additional database than to keep on purchasing the updates to the hardbound books. It may feel comfortable to hang onto the older, more comfortable way of doing things, but I find that attorneys usually underestimate how intelligent and resourceful that they can be. You may want to also look into your local law school or court law library. For infrequently used resources, it will be less expensive to make a trip to such facilities. You should also look into bar association resources, as well as discounts that may be offered through them. Finally, for small firms or sole practitioners, it is often beneficial to pair up with other practitioners and pool your resources.

Bill Your Clients Lastly, it is important to keep track of and recognize what can and should be billed to the client when it comes to “administrative/office expenses”. Copying charges, phone calls, postage, research costs and other expenses may be billed back to the client. It is now becoming a common enough practice that your client will likely not think twice about absorbing these costs once you explain that such expenses will be passed along to them when they retain you. Such cost shifting may be a bit more administrative work, but it will allow

e much cheaper to simply make a photocopy

Duplication of legal resources If your Lexis or Westlaw services allow you to access certain periodicals or other publications online, you will not then need to also obtain the print version. Often, it is less expensive to invest in the additional database than to keep on purchasing the updates to the hardbound books. It may feel comfortable to hang onto the older, more comfortable way of doing things, but I find that attorneys usually underestimate how intelligent and resourceful that they can be. You may want to also look into your local law school or court law library. For infrequently used resources, it will be less expensive to make a trip to such facilities. You should also look into bar association resources, as well as discounts that may be offered through them. Finally, for small firms or sole practitioners, it is often beneficial to pair up with other practitioners and pool your resources.

Bill Your Clients Lastly, it is important to keep track of and recognize what can and should be billed to the client when it comes to “administrative/office expenses”. Copying charges, phone calls, postage, research costs and other expenses may be billed back to the client. It is now becoming a common enough practice that your client will likely not think twice about absorbing these costs once you explain that such expenses will be passed along to them when they retain you. Such cost shifting may be a bit more administrative work, but it will allow

ntelligent and resourceful that they can be. You may want to also look into your local law school or court law library. For infrequently used resources, it will be less expensive to make a trip to such facilities. You should also look into bar association resources, as well as discounts that may be offered through them. Finally, for small firms or sole practitioners, it is often beneficial to pair up with other practitioners and pool your resources.

Bill Your Clients Lastly, it is important to keep track of and recognize what can and should be billed to the client when it comes to “administrative/office expenses”. Copying charges, phone calls, postage, research costs and other expenses may be billed back to the client. It is now becoming a common enough practice that your client will likely not think twice about absorbing these costs once you explain that such expenses will be passed along to them when they retain you. Such cost shifting may be a bit more administrative work, but it will allow

ep track of and recognize what can and should be billed to the client when it comes to “administrative/office expenses”. Copying charges, phone calls, postage, research costs and other expenses may be billed back to the client. It is now becoming a common enough practice that your client will likely not think twice about absorbing these costs once you explain that such expenses will be passed along to them when they retain you. Such cost shifting may be a bit more administrative work, but it will allow you to pass on a substantial portion of your costs – and ultimately generate a higher profit margin for you in your practice.