Financially Legal is a podcast with accompanying articles on the financial aspects of the business of law. Host, Emery Wager, talks with law firm leaders, academics, business professionals and thought leaders to provide compelling and provocative insights at the intersection of finance, economics, and law.

Episode 5: Can you sell legal services by subscription? Should you? An interview with Jon Tobin from Counsel for Creators

Posted by Dan Lear on April 29, 2020

Subscriptions services for a law-firm? It might be what your clients are looking for.

Jon Tobin is running one of the most innovative law firms you’ve never heard of. Counsel For Creators is an LA-based law firm for creatives and entrepreneurs that sells a subscription to clients. In this episode of Financially Legal we expand upon many of the topics we cover in our 5-part series about subscription legal services (which includes a number of shout-outs to Jon) and talk with Jon about the inspiration behind his subscription legal services plan, how he made it a reality, how (amazingly) it’s morphing into a profitable, self-sustaining community, how he calls his clients "members," and what’s next for his bold firm.  

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Topics: Credit Card Fees, Financially Legal Episodes


Episode 4: Can one small company change the world? Can one small law firm? An interview with Dan Price

Posted by Dan Lear on April 14, 2020

Dan Price is a big deal. Full stop. And we got him on the podcast!

Dan is the i
nspirational CEO of Gravity Payments. In 2015 Dan raised the salaries of each of his employees at Gravity Payments to $70,000 annually and, in doing so, he became an overnight business celebrity. He’s been on the Today Show, been interviewed by Trevor Noah, and keynoted hundreds of business conferences around the world. He breaks down how he thinks about company culture, why Gravity Payments is investing in Confido Legal, and how he thinks lawyers can change the world.

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Topics: Credit Card Fees, Financially Legal Episodes


Three Things I Learned from the HTM Coronavirus Growth Symposium and Why You Should Attend

Posted by Dan Lear on April 6, 2020

Starting back on March 23, RJon Robins of How To Manage a Small Law Firm held a series of free daily phone conversations with lawyers  in response to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. RJon was his typically direct but his message was hopeful: there is opportunity out there for lawyers and law firms .

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Topics: Firm Financials, Business of Law, Confido Legal News


Confido Legal's Dan Lear Featured on the Clio Daily Matters Podcast

Posted by Emery Wager on April 1, 2020

In this episode of Clio Matters, Dan discusses different ways firms are navigating the new remote work environment. He lists helpful technology resources and tells us whose ideas he's leaning on amidst the chaos (Nate Silver and RJon Robins of How to Manage a Small Law Firm to name a few).  

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Topics: Firm Financials, Credit Card Fees, Key Performance Metrics, IOLTA, Confido Legal News


Episode 3: Why do trust accounts even exist? And why should we care?

Posted by Dan Lear on March 25, 2020

We get nerdy this episode talking accounting, trust accounting, and regulatory jazz with Lainie Hammond.  Lainie runs a law firm in Washington State helping lawyers with issues related to IOLTA trust account compliance.

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Topics: Firm Financials, Financially Legal Episodes, IOLTA


Five Ways to Shore Up Your Law Firm's Finances Now

Posted by Dan Lear on March 23, 2020

Our lives and livelihoods have changed dramatically over the last two weeks. We’re all hopeful for a swift and significant rebound, but proactive measures will carry the day. Action in crisis can provide a feeling of purpose and normalcy amidst the potentially overwhelming uncertainty. It can also be the difference between going under and thriving.    

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Topics: Firm Financials, Credit Card Fees, Business of Law


State Rules on Charging Clients a Fee for Paying With Credit Cards

Posted by Emery Wager on March 19, 2020

There are three sets of rules lawyers need to navigate  when deciding whether to charge clients a fee for paying with a credit card:

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Topics: Firm Financials, Credit Card Fees, Business of Law


Covid 19 Financial Resources for Firms and Their Clients

Posted by Emery Wager on March 19, 2020

Whether your firm is in need of financial assistance or you are working to advise clients through these difficult times, we've compiled a list of local, state and national Covid 19 financial relief programs. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Business of Law


Episode 2: The Agile Attorney

Posted by Dan Lear on February 29, 2020

Today, we're excited to have a conversation with John E. Grant, the Agile Attorney. John is a compelling thinker when it comes to law firm economics, law firm efficiency, and law firm productivity. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Financially Legal Episodes, Key Performance Metrics


Episode 1: Intro to Financially Legal

Posted by Dan Lear on February 29, 2020

Welcome to the very first episode of Financially Legal, with your host, Dan Lear, head of partnerships and marketing at Confido Legal. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Financially Legal Episodes


Oklahoma is Latest State Looking to Allow Credit Card Surcharges

Posted by Emery Wager on February 13, 2020

Oklahoma Attorney General, Mike Hunter, in a recent opinion said a state ban on surcharging is most-likely unconstitutional. Surcharging is the practice of charging an additional fee when clients pay by credit card.

Clients should know what it costs law firms to accept credit cards, and those clients should have the option to save money by paying with less expensive methods. Since card brand surcharging rules prevent firms from charging more for the surcharge than the amount of the transaction, it ends up not being a money-making scheme but a clear way to communicate how much those airline miles really cost.

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Topics: Firm Financials, Credit Card Fees, Business of Law


The Real Cost of Accounts Receivable

Posted by Emery Wager on February 3, 2020

Getting clients to pay isn’t easy. As more invoices remain outstanding, accounts receivable creeps upward. As an attorney responsible for the firm's financial success, it's important to understand the real cost of accounts receivable. Here's a simple way to estimate those costs.

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Topics: Firm Financials, Business of Law


Understanding Credit Card Processing Fees for Law Firms

Posted by Emery Wager on January 15, 2020

For many law firms, credit card processing fees are a sizeable item on the income statement. Because there are a wide variety of different types of processing fees, it can be difficult to figure out exactly how much you’re paying. It's also why, at Confido, we try to simplify this process as much as possible, primarily by offering a fair and transparent pricing structure while providing all the important information in a one-page monthly statement without the jargon. In this article we'll cover the three different categories of processing fees as well as the most commonly-used credit card processing pricing models. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Credit Card Fees, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Oklahoma?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is probably, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in West Virginia?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is probably not. See below for all the details. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Tennessee?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is yes, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in North Dakota?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is yes, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Nebraska?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is maybe, but probably not. See below for details.  

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Montana?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is yes, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Missouri?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is yes, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Mississippi?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is probably not. See below for all the details. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Minnesota?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is yes, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Michigan?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is probably not. See below for all the details. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Maine?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is not unless it is done by raising prices by the amount of the charge and then discounting those prices for clients that pay by means other than card. Below are more details. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Louisiana?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is yes, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Kentucky?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is yes, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Kansas?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is not unless it is done by raising prices by the amount of the charge and then discounting those prices for clients that pay by means other than card. Below are more details. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Iowa?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is maybe, but probably not. See below for details.  

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Indiana?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is maybe, but probably not. See below for details.  

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


Can Law Firms Charge Clients for Credit Card Fees in Delaware?

Posted by Emery Wager on January 1, 2020

Introduction

The short answer is yes, but there are certain rules and regulations to understand. 

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Topics: Firm Financials, Accounting, Surcharging, Business of Law


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