Tips for billing insurance clients. Particularly how to bull every minute of your time.

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Passing on some coaching I’ve received on how not to get cut. Obviously depends on the client but many insurance companies have software that looks for buzzwords from entries to cut. They will almost always try to cut at least 10% of the bill, but if you do a good job on the cases and threaten to fire them unless they stop the bs nickel and diming, they almost always pay the bill.

You don’t “review”you analyze

You dont “organize” or “prepare”

You don’t leave voicemails or do phone calls, you send and receive correspondence

You don’t “discuss” issues with other lawyers at your firm, you strategize X issue in the case (generally try to roll internal communications into other tasks)

General rule of thumb is to roll certain entries into other substantive tasks. For some reason they don’t want to pay for literally essential and necessary things like more than one attorney discussing their case or an attorney directing paralegals and proofreading exhibit redactions before submissions, etc. Its absurd and attorneys need to stand their ground more instead of groveling to insurance carriers who encourage malpractice because they won’t pay for the tasks necessary to good representation.

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A1, I struggle with that every day. It’s just one of those things we have to try and figure out as best we can. At least while you’re an associate, just bill all your time and let the partner cut. If they ask why xyz took so long, break down what you rolled into the entry. I can’t imagine any partner getting mad at an associate for trying to make sure the firm gets paid for its time.

Word finessing...

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Depends on carrier but they usually have a written list of what they wont pay for. Get that list and dont use any of those words. Get creative with description

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Yes. This is huge. My firm has one of these and basically, as long as you avoid certain phrases or billing codes, you’re fine

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You had it in your question. Bull every minute😁

funny

This comment is the winner for today. Well done. 😂

Billing is an art, not a science.. you have to be very creative. Also, really think about everything you’re doing (as simple as that sounds). If you can realistically put into words what you’re doing for a while, and make sure it sounds billable (lol) you’re doing it right.

That should say, *for a file

Piggy-backing off OP here to ask if anyone can give examples? I always hear this advice but it’s so difficult to actually craft the entries when the time comes. Like, how do I artfully craft an entry for emails with opposing counsel to arrange depositions? No matter what I say, it gets flagged as scheduling.

If anyone has examples of ways they get entries through for anything like the above, you’d be my savior.

You have no idea how much I appreciate you in this moment, lol.

I'll post more as I think of them-- at least, until you regret offering to help in the first place, haha.

Here are a couple off the top of my head (these are my form entries as they currently stand - I have not implemented the advice from anyone on this post just yet, so please don't think I'm already ignoring everyone's suggestions!):

1. REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF COURT FILINGS IN THE CIVIL ACTION, CASE NUMBER ____, FILED AGAINST CLAIMANT ____. ENTRY INCLUDES TIME TO REVIEW RELEVANT PLEADINGS, MOTIONS, AND COURT ORDERS OR JUDGMENT ENTRIES TO ENSURE PROGRESS OF LITIGATION COMPLIES WITH CURRENT ACTION PLAN AND TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC TASKS TO ADDRESS.

2. REVIEW AND ANALYZE MOST RECENT (1) CORRESPONDENCE WITH OPPOSING COUNSEL; (2) CLIENT REPORTS; (3) AND COURT FILINGS TO ENSURE PROGRESS OF LITIGATION COMPLIES WITH THE CURRENT ACTION PLAN AND TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC TASKS TO ADDRESS.

3. DRAFT NONSTANDARD SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS TO X INSURANCE COMPANY TO OBTAIN ALL DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION RELEVANT TO Y IN PREPARATION FOR Z.

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I echo all that has been said here. I’ve been doing this work for almost 2 years and I still struggle with this. I also took some tips from others posting here, so thank you all for that.

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