Associates at law firms often have an array of tasks in addition to billing hours to clients. Responsibilities such as expense reimbursements, time entry, and other administrative chores can reduce the time available for billing. Some law firms do not offer any concession to make the process of billing more efficient. There is a need for law firm managers to evaluate potential inefficiencies associates may encounter, and ensure that billing hours are as seamless as possible for associates.
Many associates have experienced situations where partners could have made their work easier but chose not to. For example, during travel for various associate attorney roles, such as appearing for depositions or court conferences for multiple clients, associates have to submit expense reimbursements. This task is often more difficult than it should be, as the law firm’s expense report system may require additional manual calculations.
For instance, it was reported at one firm that associates had to divide every expense by the number of clients and make an entry for each one. This method required considerable time, which otherwise could have been spent more productively, such as on client tasks. Despite the associates communicating this issue to the firm partners, they were told there was no room for modifications in the program due to the substantial costs already incurred on it.
Another example of unnecessary difficulties, is procedural hurdles set up by law firms. For instance, some firms require all phone calls, photocopies, etc. to be billed to specific clients. The process of inputting long client numbers before making a call or using a copier is not only time-consuming but also causes loss of productivity.
A positive change came when a law firm decided to stop charging clients for local calls and print jobs below a certain number of pages. This news was welcomed by associates, as it positively affected their productivity and morale by eliminating tedious procedural tasks.
In conclusion, law firms need to recognize and address the inefficiencies that prevent associates from reaching their full potential in billable hours. Law firm managers should ensure that any barriers to efficiency are removed, making it as easy as possible for associates to focus on client tasks and secure revenue for the firm.
For more detailed information, you can read the full feature at Above The Law.