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The Happier Attorney: A Comprehensive Guide to Charging Flat Fees for Legal Services
The greatest threat to the integrity of the legal system is a broke and unhappy attorney.
Whether you are new to the practice or have been practicing law since the Ford Administration, you should be paid— in full— for the work you perform. You should be paid for your superior judgment, your skills, your ability to negotiate, and your knowledge—not how many hours you took to draft a pleading. The Happier Attorney: A comprehensive Guide to Charging Flat Fees for Legal Services is a step by step guide that will teach you:
• What hourly billing is really costing you in money and more importantly time.
• Why hourly billing is bad for clients and horrible for attorneys.
• Why clients love flat fees.
• How you can obtain a collection rate of 100%.
• How flat fees improve your work product.
• How flat fees will increase your income significantly.
• How flat fees will save you so much time you won’t know what to do with your time.
• How flat fees will decrease staff time and costs.
• How to manage one’s time so that you can meet your responsibilities and have lots of time outside the office.
• How to ethically and easily address any issues that arise from flat fee billing.
In the nearly 19 years of owning her own practice, and well over a decade of using exclusively flat fees, even for family law litigation, Brita Long is in a unique position to share everything that you would want and need to know when you are considering moving from hourly billing to flat fees.
The relief of only working as many hours as you want to work and still make the money you want to make, and have earned, is only a few hours away.
Whether you are new to the practice or have been practicing law since the Ford Administration, you should be paid— in full— for the work you perform. You should be paid for your superior judgment, your skills, your ability to negotiate, and your knowledge—not how many hours you took to draft a pleading. The Happier Attorney: A comprehensive Guide to Charging Flat Fees for Legal Services is a step by step guide that will teach you:
• What hourly billing is really costing you in money and more importantly time.
• Why hourly billing is bad for clients and horrible for attorneys.
• Why clients love flat fees.
• How you can obtain a collection rate of 100%.
• How flat fees improve your work product.
• How flat fees will increase your income significantly.
• How flat fees will save you so much time you won’t know what to do with your time.
• How flat fees will decrease staff time and costs.
• How to manage one’s time so that you can meet your responsibilities and have lots of time outside the office.
• How to ethically and easily address any issues that arise from flat fee billing.
In the nearly 19 years of owning her own practice, and well over a decade of using exclusively flat fees, even for family law litigation, Brita Long is in a unique position to share everything that you would want and need to know when you are considering moving from hourly billing to flat fees.
The relief of only working as many hours as you want to work and still make the money you want to make, and have earned, is only a few hours away.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2019
37 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 3, 2025
Excellent guidebook
I was honored to be able to receive an advanced copy to read prior to launch. I have the first edition which I skimmed. I had already decided to use flat fees.
This book showed me what a fool I have been not to have read every word. I read this one in a short period of time.
Before getting to the meat, I like that Brita uses easy language. I am always complaining that authors lose people when the grade level for the book/essay/short story is written too high. The readability level is on target.
The history of the billable hour was fascinating. I didn't know the history and I am glad that was included. It made the case for going back to a system that values predictability in cost.
I started my solo practice just 8 short years ago and have been using flat fees for 6 of them. This book has shown me that my pricing is too low, which I knew, but still didn't increase them. Not anymore. I always say the price is the price, but I have played it safe. That's over.
I have gained so much insight into what I am NOT doing correctly. I can not wait to implement the changes that I need.
This book has changed the way I move with my flat fee practice going forward.
Excellent book.
I was honored to be able to receive an advanced copy to read prior to launch. I have the first edition which I skimmed. I had already decided to use flat fees.
This book showed me what a fool I have been not to have read every word. I read this one in a short period of time.
Before getting to the meat, I like that Brita uses easy language. I am always complaining that authors lose people when the grade level for the book/essay/short story is written too high. The readability level is on target.
The history of the billable hour was fascinating. I didn't know the history and I am glad that was included. It made the case for going back to a system that values predictability in cost.
I started my solo practice just 8 short years ago and have been using flat fees for 6 of them. This book has shown me that my pricing is too low, which I knew, but still didn't increase them. Not anymore. I always say the price is the price, but I have played it safe. That's over.
I have gained so much insight into what I am NOT doing correctly. I can not wait to implement the changes that I need.
This book has changed the way I move with my flat fee practice going forward.
Excellent book.
February 3, 2021
Everyone Needs this Book
Seriously! Everyone practicing law needs to read this book. I think there would be far fewer unhappy attorneys. The idea of abandoning the billable hour is absolutely radical to some, but every argument she’s making makes sense. The clients I have suggested it to appreciate the transparency, and I save so much time and feel much less irritated about doing tasks knowing that I will be compensated for them. I don’t have to argue with clients about bills after they go out which ruins my entire day and eats up time I can’t bill. No more forgetting to track time then seriously underestimating the time I spent. She writes in a clear, conversational yet authoritative tone that’s easy to follow and an absolute breeze to read
Seriously! Everyone practicing law needs to read this book. I think there would be far fewer unhappy attorneys. The idea of abandoning the billable hour is absolutely radical to some, but every argument she’s making makes sense. The clients I have suggested it to appreciate the transparency, and I save so much time and feel much less irritated about doing tasks knowing that I will be compensated for them. I don’t have to argue with clients about bills after they go out which ruins my entire day and eats up time I can’t bill. No more forgetting to track time then seriously underestimating the time I spent. She writes in a clear, conversational yet authoritative tone that’s easy to follow and an absolute breeze to read
February 2, 2021
This book is a fantastic introduction to a refreshing alternative to hourly billing that benefits both the client and attorney. Brita helps you understand why the status quo does not work anymore and takes it to the next level as she walks you through the reasons why flat fee billing works for all parties. Her book is a must read game changer which provides a decidedly better path forward. It is a wicked quick, enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book for attorneys who want or need a different approach to billing.
June 11, 2022
Excellent read; I am a huge fan!
As a new attorney who does not have it in my personality to enjoy being my own collections agent, I thoroughly appreciate what Brita Long is teaching through her book “The Happier Attorney.” The book is well-thought out and I will certainly be implementing more and more of Brita’s ideas and advice into my own practice.
As a new attorney who does not have it in my personality to enjoy being my own collections agent, I thoroughly appreciate what Brita Long is teaching through her book “The Happier Attorney.” The book is well-thought out and I will certainly be implementing more and more of Brita’s ideas and advice into my own practice.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews