ALTERNATIVE LEGAL BILLING – WIN STRATEGIES Hourly billing is the best way to be charged for legal services. About 95 percent of lawyers still perform. their legal work on an hourly basis. If you want something better than the old “bill by the hour” deal, try presenting one of these billing structures. PROJECT BILLING FOR ROUTINE ISSUES If your legal needs include large but repetitive tasks, consider a flat-fee approach. Once you get a project billing estimate, don't hesitate to shop around to compare prices and services with other law firms. A firm may provide a better deal if it expects future work from your company. RESULTS-ORIENTED OPTIONS “Pay-according-to-success” is one choice. It considers fees based on the outcome of the case and the performance of your counsel. Contingency fees turn the matter into a shared risk or shared encouragement, making the law firm your business partner, not just representation. MULTI-LAYERED TASKS If you're shopping for a firm for actual legal work involving a number of legal specialties, consider using blended hourly fees. The firm calculates in advance an “average” rate based on the anticipated time each lawyer spends on the matter. This arrangement helps the client to avoid paying a senior partner's hourly rate for research that should be conducted by a junior associate. Legal “Insurance” The contract fee allows the client to pick up the phone and talk to the lawyer without needing to eye the clock. This approach works like a legal insurance policy. It encourages companies to contact their counsel on non-litigation, non-crisis matters, and to save money in the long run by engaging in more preventive legal action. 1. {A; B; C} is the best way to be charged for legal services. A. Results-oriented billing B. Hourly billing C. Flat-fee billing 2. A flat-fee approach {A; B; C}. A. is suitable for repetitive tasks B. is useless C. is the best choice. 3. {A; B; C} make the law firm share your risk and encouragement. A. Contract fees B. Blended hourly fees C. Contingency fees 4. Legal work involving a number of legal specialties should consider using {A; B; C}. A. blended hourly fees B. insurance fees C. hourly fees 5. You have to eye the clock when you talk to the lawyer when you choose {A; B; C}. A. legal “Insurance” B. the old “bill by the hour” deal C. a flat-fee approach