Here is a man who started out with $500 in cash and now has an income of not less than $15,000 a year. He says if he was without money to-morrow he would work the local weekly and real estate business together.
PLAN No. 604. THIS LAWYER MADE MONEY BY KEEPING A DAILY RECORD
It is safe to say that nine-tenths of the members of the bar do not keep daily records. This often determines whether or not the lawyer is a success or failure.
When an estate is put into an attorney’s hands he should in these matters have a daily record, and his charge should be based on this record. But most attorneys go before the court, state generally how much time has been consumed, and ask for say, $500; but instead of such an allowance they usually get $100. The attorney might be entitled to the $500 but he has nothing definite to show. In all probability the heir and executor of the estate consumed much of his time, and had an account of his time been kept and even a plumber scale of wages applied, he might be entitled to $1,000.
The following is the kind of record one attorney used with profit to himself. He had a loose leaf 81⁄2x11, punched for filing away.
| Attorney | ||||
| Daily Record | ||||
| Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Year, 191. . . . | Posted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | ||
| Hours | Name of person or work done | Subject matter | Who charge | |
| 8.30 A.M. to 6.00 P.M. Memorandum. | ||||
If attorneys would keep records of this kind it would do away with loafers, etc. in his office. At the end of each month do as the doctor does—render a bill for services. In no event should a charge be made for less than $5.00
If the bar of your community has no minimum fee get busy and have one established and after this understanding is reached tell your clients what the bar association requires and see that the newspapers give proper publicity to your minimum fees. This kind of work will bring about a better and more intelligent bar in your community as it makes their work more profitable and they would put more time on reading law and less on thinking about where the next dollar is coming from.
Plan No. 605. She is Busy Every Moment