Practice Management | By Lawyers
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Practice Management

FED

This publication provides all the essential resources needed to efficiently manage a law firm.

2 Matter Plans

Overview

The commentary covers core aspects of legal practice management, including ethics, the lawyer-client relationship, and practical matter management tools like risk and financial management, client communication, and costs and billing. It also addresses employment-related topics, including the employment relationship, recruitment, training, and staff retention.

The comprehensive Legal Practice Health Check Self-Diagnostic Tool enables firms to assess their current performance and set informed goals for future development.

The 101 Staff Handbook contains a complete set of essential policies and procedures for law firms. Practice managers can adopt these directly or use them as a framework to create tailored, firm-specific policies.

Precedents in this publication include:

  • Library of position descriptions;
  • Library of policies:
    • Computer, email, and internet usage;
    • Corporate social responsibility;
    • Flexible work;
    • Risk management;
    • Working from home;
    • Workplace discrimination, bullying, and harassment;
  • Business Plan;
  • Asset Register;
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2 Matter Plans Included

  • Item icon ALERTS - Nil
  • Item icon Full Commentary - Practice Management
  • Folder icon Reference materials
    • Item icon AI Prompts
    • Item icon Electronic Signing and Remote Witnessing
    • Item icon 101 Staff Handbook
  • Item icon Overview
    Practice management and business skills are mandatory requirements of Canadian legal professionals and a key component of their annual continuing professional development. The need to improve the profession's management skills stems from many negligence claims against law firms involving management ...

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  • Folder icon A. The practice
    • Item icon File cover sheet - Practice management
    • Item icon The practice
      There are a number of issues to consider when determining the most appropriate business structure for the firm including:

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    • Item icon Business structures
      A practice can be set up as a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited liability partnership, or professional corporation. See Law Society Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L-8, Legal Profession Act., S.B.C. 1998, Chapter 9 or Legal Profession Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. L-8. The law societies also ...

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    • Item icon The role of the principal
      A principal of a law firm is required to take on many roles, particularly if the law firm is a solo practice or small in size, where delegation of major decision-making is limited. In larger practices, principals can delegate or share decision-making tasks, serving firstly as fee earners working ...

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    • Item icon Management of the practice
      Policies and procedures The foundation for the management of the business of a legal practice is to have policies and procedures which record and effectively automate operations.

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    • Item icon Team management
      The importance of managerial controls cannot be overstated. Good management policies are critical to sound firm operations and profits. Profit is not necessarily related to size, location, or how busy a firm is. Research shows that busy firms are often poor profit performers due to poor managerial ...

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    • Item icon Data management
      Privacy law requirements The federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (S.C. 2000, c. 5) (PIPEDA) provides for mandatory reporting of applicable data breaches and a range of other important rules concerning the handling of personal information.

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    • Item icon PIPEDA breach report form
    • Item icon Letter to client with data breach notification
    • Item icon Matter management
      File notes File notes are a critical item in terms of risk management. Without effective file notes, the practice is exposed. File notes record what happens on a matter, including the instructions received, the advice given, and what actions were taken. They can represent critical evidence to ...

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    • Folder icon Library of retainer instructions
      • Item icon Retainer instructions - General
      • Folder icon Alberta
        • Folder icon Business sale and purchase
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Sale of business
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Purchase of business
        • Folder icon Business structures
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Corporations - Incorporation
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Corporations - Disputes
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Trusts
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Partnerships
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Joint ventures
        • Folder icon Civil litigation
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Civil matters
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Debt collection
        • Folder icon Estate administration
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Estate administration
        • Folder icon Family
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Divorce
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Family law agreements
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Property division
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Children
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Enforcement - Family
        • Folder icon Real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Sale of real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Purchase of real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Commercial leases
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Mortgages
        • Folder icon Wills and lifetime planning
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Wills - For an individual
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Wills - For a couple
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Powers of attorney and personal directives
      • Folder icon British Columbia
        • Folder icon Business sale and purchase
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Sale of business
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Purchase of business
        • Folder icon Business structures
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Corporations - Incorporation
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Corporations - Disputes
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Trusts
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Partnerships
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Joint ventures
        • Folder icon Civil litigation
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Civil matters
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Debt collection
        • Folder icon Estate administration
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Estate administration
        • Folder icon Family
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Divorce
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Family law agreements
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Property division
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Children
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Enforcement - Family
        • Folder icon Real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Sale of real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Purchase of real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Commercial leases
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Mortgages
        • Folder icon Wills and lifetime planning
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Wills - For an individual
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Wills - For a couple
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Powers of attorney, representation agreements, and advance directives
      • Folder icon Ontario
        • Folder icon Business sale and purchase
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Sale of business
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Purchase of business
        • Folder icon Business structures
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Corporations - Incorporation
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Corporations - Disputes
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Trusts
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Partnerships
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Joint ventures
        • Folder icon Civil litigation
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Civil matters
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Debt collection
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Small Claims Court Civil
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Small Claims Court Civil - Debt collection
        • Folder icon Estate administration
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Estate administration
        • Folder icon Family
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Divorce
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Domestic contracts
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Property division
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Children
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Enforcement - Family
        • Folder icon Real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Sale of real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Purchase of real estate
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Commercial leases
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Mortgages
        • Folder icon Wills and lifetime planning
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Wills - For an individual
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Wills - For a couple
          • Item icon Retainer instructions - Powers of attorney and advance directives
    • Item icon Document management
      Firm documents Documents, including letters, precedents, and pleadings, must be standardized for consistency and to save the time and effort involved in constant re-invention.

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    • Folder icon General deeds, agreements, execution clauses, and statutory declarations
      • Item icon Deeds and Agreements
      • Folder icon Deeds
        • Item icon Confidentiality deed
        • Item icon Deed for general use
        • Item icon Deed of assignment of agreement
        • Item icon Deed of gift
        • Item icon Deed of guarantee
        • Item icon Deed of release
        • Item icon General deed of indemnity
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for deeds
          • Item icon Amendment clause
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for terms of agreement - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for terms of agreement - One party
          • Item icon Costs clause
          • Item icon Counterparts clause
          • Item icon Dispute resolution clause
          • Item icon Events beyond control clause
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction clause
          • Item icon Interpretation clause
          • Item icon No assignment clause
          • Item icon Notices clause
          • Item icon Severance clause
          • Item icon Waiver clause
          • Item icon Whole agreement clause
      • Folder icon Agreements
        • Item icon Agreement for general use
        • Item icon Heads of agreement
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Formal
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Informal
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for agreements
          • Item icon Amendment clause
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for terms of agreement - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for terms of agreement - One party
          • Item icon Costs clause
          • Item icon Counterparts clause
          • Item icon Dispute resolution clause
          • Item icon Events beyond control clause
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction clause
          • Item icon Interpretation clause
          • Item icon No assignment clause
          • Item icon Notices clause
          • Item icon Severance clause
          • Item icon Waiver clause
          • Item icon Whole agreement clause
      • Folder icon Execution clauses
        • Item icon Execution clauses - Agreements and contracts
        • Item icon Execution clauses - Deeds
      • Folder icon Statutory declaration
        • Item icon Statutory declaration
      • Item icon Standard annexure note for documents
  • Folder icon B. The employment relationship
    • Item icon Employing the right people and treating them well
      The key to any successful business is to employ the right people and keep them happy. Ensure employees understand they are valued, and their role is important to the organization. Employee dissatisfaction with their workplace outweighs the cost of paying higher wages, providing better work ...

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    • Item icon Recruitment
      Staff costs are the biggest overhead for any law firm, so recruitment must be given due priority and adequate resources. It is false economy to save money on recruitment if that means costing the business time and money later because of internal disharmony, poorly performing team members, or poor ...

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    • Folder icon Library of position descriptions
      • Item icon Blank position description
      • Item icon Accounts clerk
      • Item icon Administration manager
      • Item icon General manager or Chief executive officer
      • Item icon Executive assistant
      • Item icon Financial controller
      • Item icon Human resources manager
      • Item icon Lawyer
      • Item icon Law clerk
      • Item icon Legal secretary
      • Item icon Library and information services manager
      • Item icon Marketing manager
      • Item icon Paralegal
      • Item icon Precedents manager
      • Item icon Senior associate
      • Item icon Trainee
      • Item icon Word processing operator
    • Item icon Application for employment
    • Item icon Interview notes
    • Item icon Onboarding
      A clear onboarding policy assists to seamlessly onboard new employees and reflects that the firm is organized and welcoming toward the new employee. An effective onboarding policy may include the following:

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    • Item icon New employee induction letter
    • Item icon New employee information sheet
    • Item icon New employee checklist
    • Item icon Education and training
      Employees do best when they have a clear path of advancement, whether toward partnership or gaining additional experience or certifications through attending training courses. Although everyone in the team may not be striving toward life-changing career advancement, the firm should offer ...

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    • Item icon Work health and safety
      Under Canadian law, employers owe a duty of care to their employees. Firms can apply the following strategies to ensure compliance with health and safety statutes and obligations.

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    • Item icon Example - Flexible work policy
    • Item icon Example - Working from home policy
    • Item icon Internet usage
      An internet usage policy assists all members of a legal practice in understanding the firm’s rules and guidelines about the use of equipment, the office network, and the internet. This protects the firm as well as the employee. Employees are to be aware that browsing inappropriate sites and ...

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    • Item icon Example - Computer, email, and internet usage policy
    • Folder icon Existing staff forms
      • Item icon Leave request form
      • Item icon Accident form
    • Item icon Bullying, discrimination, and harassment
      Bullying Firms can better address workplace bullying by adopting a strong policy with supporting procedures and clear communication channels.

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    • Item icon Example - Workplace discrimination bullying and harassment policy
    • Item icon Performance reviews
      Performance reviews require careful attention from principals, human resources managers, or other employees responsible for performance evaluations. Reviews should be a private discussion between the responsible person and each team member to hear their view on the conduct of the practice, to ...

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    • Item icon Performance review form
    • Item icon Staff leaving
      It must be accepted that the career path of some staff members will take them out of the firm, especially young lawyers. No matter how well employees are treated or how highly they are valued, some will need or want to move on. It can be frustrating to have invested in recruitment, training and ...

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    • Item icon Example - Reference letter
    • Item icon Example - Confirmation of employment
    • Folder icon Staff issues and termination
      • Item icon Recording the details of a meeting with an employee
      • Item icon Individual grievance procedure
  • Folder icon C. The lawyer/client relationship
    • Item icon New client enquiries
      Lawyers receive many enquiries from potential clients; some that result in opening a file and a matter proceeding, and others that do not. Just as a record of any initial conversations with clients who proceed to instruct the firm is kept on the client’s file, it is also important to record the ...

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    • Item icon New client enquiry form
    • Item icon Verification of identity
      The Federation of Law Societies of Canada published a Model Rule on Client Identification and Verification (Model Rule), setting out recommended processes to be followed by lawyers when verifying their client's identities, subject to limited exceptions. The substance of the Model Rule has been ...

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    • Item icon Client details, verification, and source of funds
    • Item icon The importance of a written retainer
      A written retainer agreement or letter should always be used. When functioning on a restricted scope retainer or providing legal services on a contingency fee basis, lawyers must document the specific parameters of their engagement with the client. Confirming the scope of the retainer with the ...

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    • Folder icon Library of retainer agreements
      • Item icon Retainer agreement
      • Item icon Retainer agreement - Alberta
      • Item icon Retainer agreement - British Columbia
      • Folder icon Contingency fee agreements
        • Item icon Retainer agreement - Contingency fee - Alberta
        • Item icon Retainer agreement - Contingency fee - British Columbia
        • Item icon Retainer agreement - Contingency fee - Ontario
      • Folder icon Library of scopes of work
        • Folder icon Business structures
          • Item icon Scope of work - Incorporation
          • Item icon Scope of work - Joint ventures
          • Item icon Scope of work - Partnerships
          • Item icon Scope of work - Trusts
          • Item icon Scope of work - Share sale
        • Folder icon Civil litigation
          • Item icon Scope of work - Civil Litigation
        • Folder icon Estate administration
          • Item icon Scope of work - Estate administration
        • Folder icon Family
          • Item icon Scope of work - Children
          • Item icon Scope of work - Divorce
          • Item icon Scope of work - Enforcement - Family
          • Item icon Scope of work - Enforcement - Family - Defending
          • Item icon Scope of work - Family law agreements
          • Item icon Scope of work - Property division
        • Folder icon Real estate
          • Item icon Scope of work - Sale of real estate
          • Item icon Scope of work - Purchase of real estate
          • Item icon Scope of work - Commercial leases - Acting for landlord
          • Item icon Scope of work - Commercial leases - Acting for tenant
          • Item icon Scope of work - Mortgages - Acting for the lender
          • Item icon Scope of work - Mortgages - Acting for the borrower
        • Folder icon Sale and purchase of business
          • Item icon Scope of work - Sale of business
          • Item icon Scope of work - Purchase of business
        • Folder icon Wills and lifetime planning
          • Item icon Scope of work - Wills
          • Item icon Scope of work - Powers of attorney and advance planning
    • Folder icon Library of scopes of work
      • Folder icon Business structures
        • Item icon Scope of work - Incorporation
        • Item icon Scope of work - Joint ventures
        • Item icon Scope of work - Partnerships
        • Item icon Scope of work - Trusts
        • Item icon Scope of work - Share sale
      • Folder icon Civil litigation
        • Item icon Scope of work - Civil Litigation
      • Folder icon Estate administration
        • Item icon Scope of work - Estate administration
      • Folder icon Family
        • Item icon Scope of work - Children
        • Item icon Scope of work - Divorce
        • Item icon Scope of work - Enforcement - Family
        • Item icon Scope of work - Enforcement - Family - Defending
        • Item icon Scope of work - Family law agreements
        • Item icon Scope of work - Property division
      • Folder icon Real estate
        • Item icon Scope of work - Sale of real estate
        • Item icon Scope of work - Purchase of real estate
        • Item icon Scope of work - Commercial leases - Acting for landlord
        • Item icon Scope of work - Commercial leases - Acting for tenant
        • Item icon Scope of work - Mortgages - Acting for the lender
        • Item icon Scope of work - Mortgages - Acting for the borrower
      • Folder icon Sale and purchase of business
        • Item icon Scope of work - Sale of business
        • Item icon Scope of work - Purchase of business
      • Folder icon Wills and lifetime planning
        • Item icon Scope of work - Wills
        • Item icon Scope of work - Powers of attorney and advance planning
    • Item icon Conflicts of interest
      Baseline rule A lawyer is generally prohibited from representing a client where there is a significant risk of a conflict of interest.

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    • Item icon Conflict of interest check
    • Folder icon If required - Authority to previous lawyer
      • Item icon Authority to previous lawyer for file
    • Item icon Handling cash
      In Canada, lawyers are generally prohibited from receiving $7,500 or more in cash from a single client. Clients and third parties providing cash on their behalf are included in this category. A lawyer is not required by law to take payment in cash. Acceptable payment types should be specified in ...

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    • Folder icon If required - Costs disclosure update and a non-engagement letter
      • Item icon Letter to client updating costs disclosure
      • Item icon Non-engagement letter
    • Item icon Fees and billing
      Billing models The three most popular fee models for Canadian lawyers are:

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    • Folder icon Library of example invoices
      • Item icon Invoice example - Alberta
      • Item icon Invoice example - British Columbia
      • Item icon Invoice example - Ontario
      • Item icon Invoice example for a contingency fee agreement - Alberta
      • Item icon Invoice example for a contingency fee agreement - Ontario
    • Item icon Ending the relationship
      A lawyer cannot withdraw from legal representation unless a good cause and reasonable notice have been given to the client. Notification is essential to reasonable notice unless the client cannot be located after reasonable efforts have been made. There are no hard and fast rules about what ...

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    • Item icon Client satisfaction survey
    • Item icon Letter to client enclosing survey
    • Item icon File review form
    • Item icon Safe custody receipt
    • Item icon File closing checklist
    • Item icon Negligence claims
      In addition to professional discipline proceedings by law societies, Canadian lawyers may face negligence claims for a breach of ethical obligations and are therefore required to carry liability insurance. Negligence claims can arise from carelessness, violation of contract, or violation of ...

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  • Folder icon D. Ethics
    • Item icon Ethics
      Introduction Ethics are an everyday consideration. The rules of professional conduct discussed in this section cover many aspects of a lawyer’s work and relate to the lawyer’s dealings with clients, other lawyers, the legal system, and society.

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    • Item icon Confidentiality – A fundamental trust between lawyers and clients
      Baseline rule Only the client has the right to waive confidentiality. Unless required by law or order of a court of competent jurisdiction, a lawyer must keep all information about a client's affairs strictly confidential, and not disclose them to any third party, including the law society ...

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    • Item icon Errors and omissions
      In the event a lawyer makes an error, they are obliged to inform the client of the error, as well as the client's options. A lawyer in this situation must also notify their insurance provider of the possibility a claim may be brought against them. This is both an ethical obligation and a ...

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    • Item icon Supervision and delegation
      A lawyer may assign work to a non-lawyer if the non-lawyer is qualified to do the work under supervision. The lawyer must supervise the non-lawyer personally and periodically evaluate their work to ensure it is completed correctly and on schedule. Unqualified individuals should not give legal ...

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    • Item icon Responsibility to the profession and the community
      Courtesy and professionalism The ideals of civility and decency, as elusive as they are, remain important ethical standards for lawyers. Lawyers are expected to be courteous, civil, and honest with everyone they interact with when practising law.

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    • Item icon Duties to courts and tribunals as an advocate
      Advocacy Practising advocacy ethics means representing a client honestly, fairly, courteously, and respectfully in court.

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    • Item icon Ethical marketing
      Marketing of professional services Advertising for legal services should:

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  • Folder icon E. Policies, management, and planning
    • Item icon Managing firm information
      The flexible nature of LEAP allows firms to open specific matters to administer firm practice management and compliance issues. Access to the matters can be restricted to relevant team members if required allowing for complete control and the prevention of unauthorized viewing of sensitive ...

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    • Item icon Legal practice health check self-diagnostic tool
      The first step is to assess how the practice is currently performing and identify what can be improved and the potential risks and issues. A firm health check should be conducted regularly to monitor the firm’s progress and success. The benefits of conducting periodical health diagnoses include:

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    • Item icon Legal practice health check self-diagnostic tool
    • Item icon Strategy and leadership
      Law firms should develop a strategic framework for the practice encompassing a vision, mission statement, and values. Without a strategic framework, the firm can become directionless and lose its purpose, with its principals and staff having contradictory values. Leadership is key in successfully ...

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    • Item icon Mission statement
      The mission statement gives more detail about what the firm does and how it plans to do it. The mission statement should tie in with the vision statement. For example:

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    • Item icon Example - Mission statement
    • Item icon The business plan
      It is essential to have a plan. Failing to plan is, in fact, planning to fail. For small law firms, especially at first, the key point with a business plan should be to keep it simple. The business plan can be enhanced and made to fit the firm better as the business grows. But without at least a ...

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    • Item icon Example - Business plan
    • Item icon Example - Risk management policy
    • Item icon Example - Corporate social responsibility policy
    • Item icon Marketing
      Everything the firm does Each year a firm has thousands of client touchpoints: in the office, on the phone, through emails, et cetera. Every touchpoint has a branding and marketing effect.

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    • Item icon Marketing planner
    • Folder icon If required - Staff handbook
      • Item icon 101 Staff Handbook - Firm copy for personalization
  • Folder icon F. Financial management
    • Item icon Financial management
      Sound financial management is critical to the success of any business, including a law practice. There is a high correlation between practices with poor financial management and increased professional negligence claims. Principals who do not manage finances effectively, typically do not understand ...

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    • Item icon Fee earner productivity
      The fee earners must be assessed for their contribution to profitability within the legal practice. Key performance indicators can be used as benchmarks. These might include file volume, file velocity, the quality of the work, contribution to client relationship management and development or ...

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    • Item icon Managing working capital – Unlock lock-up
      The income statement and balance sheet examine the practice’s working capital and lock-up. The owners need to assess how long it takes for the client engagement to convert the legal work in progress (WIP) to a bill. Next, the owners must assess how long it takes to convert that bill into cash. The ...

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    • Item icon Business performance chart
    • Item icon Asset register
      An asset register for the firm allows for the tracking of fixed assets and provides an estimate of their worth. It assists with taxation, insurance and potential sale-of-business compliance and provides an appropriate place to record detailed information such as serial and model numbers. An asset ...

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    • Item icon Asset register
    • Item icon Asset register entry slip
    • Item icon Bank accounts
      Ideally, a law practice should have a separate operating account from any personal accounts held by the lawyer. There is a difference between an operating account and a trust account. The operating account is where the practice's revenues are placed and from which the practice's expenses are drawn. ...

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    • Item icon Goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax
      A firm is required to register with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and collect and remit the harmonized sales tax (HST) on all billings and disbursements if revenue exceeds a specific amount. Depending on the income level, HST remittances are paid monthly, quarterly, or annually. Taxes are owed by ...

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    • Item icon Bookkeeping for beginners
      If you are horrified at the thought that your credit balance at the bank is, in fact, a debit balance in your accounting ledger, then skip this section and invest in a computerized accounting system, hire a bookkeeper, and regularly visit your accountant. For those willing to take their courage in ...

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    • Item icon Petty cash reconciliation sheet
    • Item icon Bank reconciliations
      The bank account balance is not always the true picture of what is happening in the business. Likewise, the balance shown on the bank statement is not always the true balance of the bank account. The discrepancy might include:

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    • Item icon Manual bank reconciliation
    • Item icon Budgeting
      It is important to prepare a budget to plan for the direction of the business and to have something to aim for – remember, those who aim for nothing generally get what they aim for.

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    • Item icon Reading financial statements
      A profit and loss report is also referred to as a statement of financial performance. A balance sheet is also referred to as a statement of financial position.

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    • Folder icon Trust accounting
      • Item icon Trust accounts
        Lawyers should be familiar with the requirements of maintaining a trust account and adhere strictly to them. If the firm is using LEAP software, then access to compliant accounting software is included in the subscription.

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      • Folder icon Law Society of Ontario
        • Item icon LSO Portal
        • Item icon Trust Accounts
        • Item icon Report on Opening or Closing a Trust Account (Subsection 4(1)5 of By-Law 8) – Law Society of Ontario
        • Item icon Letter to bank directing interest to be paid to Law Foundation of Ontario
      • Folder icon Law Society of Alberta
        • Item icon The Lawyers Portal
        • Item icon Practice Management
        • Item icon Accountant’s Report
        • Item icon Applications and forms
      • Folder icon The Law Society of British Columbia
        • Item icon Member Portal
        • Item icon Trust accounting
      • Item icon Authority for trust account withdrawal by electronic funds transfer
      • Item icon Closing a trust account
        An account must have a zero balance before it can be closed. Lawyers are obligated to restore any assets kept in trust for their clients, and if necessary, may petition to transfer any unclaimed funds to the law society trust fund. As soon as all money has been paid out, the lawyer can ask their ...

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