Any tips or template/boilerplate for good billing narratives? I.e. I’ve heard “review of file” doesn’t sound as good and gets disputed more than “review and analysis of X for purpose of Y”

likehelpful
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Always explain what you’re doing and why it matters. “Review and analyze deposition testimony re viability of dispositive motion practice” “letter to opposing counsel re insufficiency of discovery production for good faith efforts” “phone conversation with expert re viability of liability defenses” are some generalized examples. Says what you did and what the purpose was in the overall case

likehelpful

Without overdoing it, it can be helpful to include adjectives like “detailed” or “close” to describe review and analysis in addition to adding the reason if it took a long time. Or if you are looking at something just to get a sense of it but will have to revisit, “preliminary analysis.”

Other words: “evaluate” “compare” “weigh” “direct” or “oversee” or “coordinate” a para or staff to do something

Split research into “inquiry into” for looking up cases” and “analysis of” the case law, then drafting the memo/brief

likehelpful

My old mentor told me to use the following to keep clients happy: “[Verb] [noun] regarding [reason for taking on the task]” or “[Verb] [noun] at the direction of [person who assigned you the task if the reason is confidential]”

likehelpful

One reason to use the “at direction of X” part: clients don’t like to see “Confer with X regarding agreement” on the bill, so if you build it in to the larger task (drafting agreement), it looks better

helpful

“Review, analyze, and revise [document]; internal communications with [attorney] regarding same; conference call with client re: [document]; communications with counsel for [opposing party] regarding same; various calls with counsel for [opposing party] re: [document]” - this could be .6, 5, or 11 hours. Tell them enough so they know what your doing, but never enough to object to the bill. But I’m transactional, I’ve heard litigators have to write book for reading an case

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Just commenting so I can follow because this is a daily struggle.

smart

All of the associates in your office should be coming up with templates and you should all be comparing notes for what works best. A shared google doc or similar file is a solid start. You’re all rowing in the same direction, to a more efficient and more profitable firm which benefits all of you

likesmart

Consider you are the client reviewing the bill. I like to include the “why” it is for their benefit. For example, evaluate defenses to claims for damages to minimize exposure. Use active verbs - negotiate rather than discuss with opposing counsel.

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Evaluate and analyze ___ for the purpose of ___.

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