Give 'Em the Slip: It's Time to Move Off of Old School Time Slips

Even at this late date, there are a number of law firms that continue to rely on paper-based time slips to track time. 

 

If you’re one of those law firms, here’s why that’s bad: A paper slip can be easily lost or destroyed.  Using paper slips requires a second input, into another system, or separate document, either of which operations invites the potential for error.  It’s also highly inefficient: rather than adding time directly to a system that can produce invoices, there are multiple people and steps involved, which adds time unnecessarily to your already busy practice life. 

 

There is, of course, a better way, which is to adopt an electronic-based, single-entry system for timekeeping.  The question, of course, is: which system? 

Well, there are a number of options, and likely any would be better than a paper-based model.  Both standalone time & billing software and law practice management/case management software feature manual timekeepers, ie – you click a button and start and stop a timer  (Double billing is prevented, because starting a second timer stops the last one – you can come back to it, though.)  If you don’t use a legal-specific software, most accounting softwares feature time trackers.  There are also ‘passive’ time trackers, that log your time spent on devices (these are cloud-based applications, that can track across your various devices); these softwares can be standalone tools, or may be integrated with other products.  There are also available apps for capturing time entries for emails or document drafting.  The upshot is: if you’ve got a need for time tracking, there’s a technology tool with an answer specific to you need. 

 

And, if you’re aggregating time within a system through which you invoice, it’s easy to generate bills filtered for time periods, and to send bills in large batches, using basic document assembly features.  You’ll also have a multitude of options for invoicing, including automating payments. 

 

Now, this does require a mindset change for many attorneys, who, in a revised time and billing model, will enter time directly, rather than passing that obligation along to a staffperson.  But, with automations available, that’s a whole lot easier than it might sound. 

 

If you’re still using paper-based time and billing mechanisms, but are willing to convert to software tools, the only real question is what you’ll do with all that extra time and money? 

 

. . .

If it feels like time is not on your side, we can help. 

Through a unique partnership between the bar association and Jared Correia's Red Cave Law Firm Consulting, National Creditors' Bar Association members now have access to experienced law practice management consultants at a special discount rate. To get started, visit Red Cave's NCBA landing page, and start running your law practice like a business.