billable hour
Lawyer's time unit
A billable hour is an hour of work that can be charged to a client, the standard unit of accounting in law firms and other professional services.
Lawyers track their time in fractions of hours, and billable hour targets often determine compensation and advancement: Associates are expected to bill 2,000 hours annually.
The system incentivizes lengthy work over efficient work, a tension the profession perpetually debates.
- invoiceItemized billing statement
- timesheetRecord of hours worked
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
- legal feesPayment for counsel
- clientOne who hires professionals
client meeting · fee · rate · lawyer · law firm · clock · on the clock · tracking · partner · partner track · associate · paralegal · deadline · overtime · burn rate · consulting · meter · running
billable hourpro bono work
Free professional services
pro bono · volunteer work · unpaid labor · unpaid work · charitable work
billable hourflat fee
Unchanging service charge
fixed fee · contingency fee · retainer · lump sum · subscription model