With the second quarter of the year coming to an end, lawyers may not be focusing on unpaid fees as an immediate priority, waiting instead until the year-end "push" to collect. Lawyers may delay uncomfortable conversations with clients about unpaid fees because of the perceived risk of damaging the relationship. Other lawyers may believe that they do not need to address unpaid invoices now because everything will work out by the end of the year.

However, by assessing billing issues at midyear, lawyers can reduce the stress of the year-end collections crunch and identify potential irregularities that otherwise might go unnoticed. Here are some questions lawyers can ask to help ensure they are paid on time, which can also reduce potential exposure, increase fee collection and promote positive client relationships.