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04 May 2011
Posted in
Legal News -
Practice Tips
Learn the benefits for using a detailed statement of work in your law practice.
Benefits of a Statement of Work
Florida Law Practice Tips
A recent article on LegalBizDev discusses the merits of law firms using Statement of Work versus the standard Engagement Letter that is routinely used. Most law firms use some form of an Engagement Letter that briefly outlines the nature of the case to be handled. The bulk of the Engagement Letter actually outlines payment terms, options and all the bad things that can happen if payment is not received. The problem is that not enough ink or time is given to outlining the details of the actual work. This ambiguity and lack of detail can really hurt as it can lead to the law firm having to spend massive amounts of time and resources on things they never planned or wanted to offer for the agreed fee and in a worst case scenario leads to client conflict and nonpayment. The better approach is to use what project managers have been using for years, a Statement of Work. The Statement of Work details every step that is to be taken in the case or in some instances, either places minimum or maximum ceilings on things to be done or hours spent. Clarity is a good thing as having everyone on board knowing what is to be expected from all sides leads to productive happy times. Another approach that can be used for a Statement of Work is to offer a menu of sort, an a la carte of possible options for cases but selecting only those items that will be needed at that moment with their prices. The goal in either strategy is to form a clear and understandable agreement, the give and take, the ying and the yang for the essence of the deal. To read more about this article, click here.
About the Author: Patrick Russell is a practicing Miami Florida lawyer and a law technology fan. If you need help or tips with legal software or technology solutions to make your legal practice easier and more efficient, do not hesitate to contact by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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