Practicing With Professionalism - South Carolina Bar Association

c. The ability to check conflicts with a new client matter will be an (
integral part ofthis record ofclient information:
(l) Check for conflicts before the initial consultation with the
client when confidential information will be received; and
(2) Additional conflicts checks will be required as additional
parties become known.
4. A record ofclosed files must be maintained and retained even after the
return, disposal, or destruction ofclient files:
a. Prepare a file retention .plan to include storage considerations,
regular review, and destruction or other disposal according to the
plan;
b. Consider having a fee agreement that addresses client file retention
and destruction;
c. Consider making the file retention policy part of initial and
ongoing commlmication with the client, including the fee
agreement;
d. Consider addressing the issue of costs for copying files in the
attorney's fee agreement. See CBA Ethics Opinion 104, Surrender
ofPapers to the Client Upon Termination ofthe Representation;
(
e. Acree, "File Retention: How to Manage All that Data," 20 Colo.
Law. 3, p. 481;
f. Colo. RPC 1.15 requires complete records of accounts holding the
property ofclients or third persons to be kept for a period ofseven
years along with receipt and disbursement records of all deposits
and withdrawals from the accounts.
C. Timekeeping, billing, and collection require your attention to keep your
practice alive.
1. Choose a timekeeping system and train all timekeeping employees to
adhere to it;
2. Set a regular billing cycle, inform the clients of the cycle, and set
aside stafftime necessary to process billing and collections;
3. Inform the clients of costs to be charged to them, maintain accurate C.
cost records, and bill the costs to the clients; .
Professionalism CLE (2004)