Indigent Defense

Ethics & Practice: Billing in Appointed Indigent Cases

A Joint Service Project of the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation and the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS), this video reviews principles of appropriate billing by appointed counsel in noncapital criminal and other cases arising under state law in North Carolina. Presenters describe different aspects of the billing process, including the procedures followed by IDS in billing matters, the activities and expenses that are properly billable, the forms that appointed counsel should use, and the records that should be maintained. The accompanying handout includes IDS’s billing rules and policies and other guidance on billing. You may view this video or any portion of it on this site at no charge. Or, you may pay to view the video on the CyberCLE web page of the North Carolina Bar Association and receive 1.25 hours of CLE ethics/professionalism credit.

Click on the segment of the video below that you wish to view. The video is accompanied by a set of written materials on billing. You also may view or print a copy of the slides shown in the video.

Introduction
Joe Cheshire, Chair of the Commission on Indigent Defense Services, discusses the importance of appropriate billing practices in appointed indigent cases.

The Journey of a Fee Application
Elisa Wolper, Chief Financial Officer of IDS, outlines the steps involved with the submission, processing, and payment of a fee application.

What’s Billable
Professor John Rubin of the UNC School of Government discusses a series of hypotheticals illustrating the fees and expenses that appointed counsel may bill for.

Forms
Danielle Carman, Assistant Director of IDS, highlights the key portions of the fee application form and describes how to fill out the forms.

Getting Paid
Matthew Longobardi, Auditor with IDS Financial Services, reviews the payment options for appointed counsel, including the benefits of e-pay.

Record Keeping and Wrap-Up
Danielle Carman reviews IDS recommendations on maintaining case files and billing records, and Joe Cheshire closes the program and encourages appointed counsel to contact IDS with any additional questions or concerns.