Tips To Improve Attorney Timekeeping

Timekeeping is a necessary evil for every law firm. Even attorneys who work on contingency fee arrangements need to keep adequate documentation of their time in order to obtain court-awarded fees. Additionally, lawyers who charge on a fixed-fee basis should also track their hours to provide accurate time estimates, confirm they are charging appropriate fees and evaluate profitability on clients. So, how can you encourage your attorneys to better track their time?

Adapt to Personal Styles

For years, attorneys have been harangued about the importance of recording their time contemporaneously. However, instead of insisting they change their behaviors, consider adapting your timekeeping tools to coordinate with those behaviors.