Billing and Collections

Law firms have a strong financial incentive to bill clients promptly. The longer the delay between when a firm performs services and bills client for them, the greater the chance that the firm will collect only a portion of the fees due. The most successful, most profitable firms deliver prompt, clear bills that intelligently roll up relevant data and closely conform to negotiated fee parameters. Similarly, firms that are able to provide more descriptive detail about work performed in their bills face fewer client surprises and complaints.

The Problem

To submit bills in a timely manner, firms must carry out a complex process. It begins with timekeepers entering and releasing their time and includes internal pre-bill review and adjustment processes. Increasingly, firms also look to e-billing software to ensure that final invoices are provided in the form and format specified by their clients.

Attorneys generally view tracking their time as a chore and often wait until deadlines loom before responding. These holdups increase the chances of omission or lack of descriptive detail. These in turn increase the likelihood that management will write down billed time in order to avoid client consternation.

The IntApp Solution -- Time Builder

Time Builder helps firms increase collections and streamlines the billing process by making it easier for attorneys to track and enter time. It does this by providing them with an accurate activity journal generated by automatically monitoring and cross-referencing key productivity applications such as document management, email and phone systems.

Importantly, Time Builder integrates with rather than replaces existing time entry applications. And by allowing users to group multiple activities as a single time submission, it encourages a high level of descriptive detail for more accurate, informative bills. Time Builder enables firms to accelerate the billing process, improve client satisfaction and increase collections.

Bill Generation