Hourly vs. Flat Fee Billing in an Era of Uncertainty and Change

Hourly vs. Flat Fee Billing in an Era of Uncertainty and Change

Hourly vs. Flat Fee Billing in an Era of Uncertainty and Change (Live Seminar & Recording)
04/17/2025 02:00 PM ET - 03:30 PM ET
$199.00
Hourly vs. Flat Fee Billing in an Era of Uncertainty and Change (Seminar Recording)
$179.00
Live Event Date: 04/17/2025
Format Length CLE Eligible
Web Seminar 90 min. Yes

Most immigration lawyers bill clients on a flat fee basis rather than hourly. However, uncertain legal policies and rapidly changing processes can render fixed fees woefully inadequate and unsustainable for a legal practice. In this era of ever-evolving policies and procedures, is it time for immigration attorneys to consider migrating to hourly fees? Or would it be better to continue with fixed fees? The AILA 2022 Marketplace Study results showed that 87% of AILA members bill primarily on a fixed fee basis, but hourly billers generate 19% more revenue. Our faculty of experts will discuss the pros and cons of each fee structure in the current legal environment and address related ethical issues. They will also share best practices for firms billing on a fixed fee basis, as well as for those wanting to switch to hourly billing for some (or all) cases and clients.

Featured Topics:

  • Investigating the pros and cons of hourly and flat/fixed fees
  • How to evaluate your current fee structure and choose the most appropriate (and advantageous) approach for your firm
  • Switching to hourly rates: what attorneys need to know and implement
  • Ethical issues, including trust accounting and proper timekeeping
  • Tech tools to make timekeeping, billing, and accounting easier for all firms

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Contact us at cle@aila.org or visit AILA’s Web Seminar Recordings page for more information about receiving CLE credit for a seminar recording.

Christine J. Alden (DL), Miami, FL

Christine J. Alden is a shareholder at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. She is a past chair of the AILA South Florida Chapter and currently serves as the chair of AILA’s Distance Learning Business Subcommittee, and is a member of AILA’s Custom and Border Protection Liaison Committee and AILA’s Standing Committee on Political Engagement (SCOPE). She is a graduate of Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law (1996).

Jesse Evans-Schroeder, AILA Family Section Steering Committee, Tucson, AZ

Jesse Evans-Schroeder is a partner at Green Evans-Schroeder, PLLC, in Tucson, AZ. Her practice focuses on removal defense, appeals, and U.S. District Court litigation. She is a member of AILA’s Family Section Steering Committee. Jesse graduated from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law.

Olsi Vrapi, Albuquerque, NM

Olsi Vrapi helps people live where they want to live, work where they want to work, and hire who they want to hire.

Charity Anastasio, AILA Practice and Ethics Counsel, Washington, D.C.

Charity Anastasio is Practice and Ethics Counsel for AILA. She practiced law in Washington state before becoming a practice management advisor a decade ago. She’s helped hundreds of lawyers better manage their firms and careers, bringing peace of mind and inspiration to AILA members on ethics and practice management issues since 2016. She was named an ABA 2020 Women in Legal Tech Honoree and a 2024 vLex Fastcase 50. Find her at www.linkedin.com/in/charityanastasio.

The speaker's/author's views do not necessarily represent the views of AILA, nor do they constitute legal advice or representation. Practice tips provided are based on the speaker's/author's experiences and the current state of the law. Please be sure to conduct legal research and analysis for your unique situation as the law changes quickly and experiences may differ from your own.