If you\u2019ve ever been involved in a law firm\u2019s electronic billing process or explored this topic online, you might be wondering: What is LEDES billing?<\/p>\n
LEDES, pronounced like the city (Leeds), stands for “legal electronic data exchange standard.” Just as many industries have billing and accounting best practices, LEDES is a global standard format for legal billing<\/a> and invoicing.<\/p>\n While commonly used with corporate business clients, it\u2019s valuable for all solicitors to understand the basics of LEDES billing. Read on to familiarise yourself with this international standard you\u2019re more than likely to use at some point in your legal career.<\/p>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n LEDES (legal electronic data exchange standard) billing is a globally accepted standardised electronic billing process for the legal industry. These principles help law firms correctly submit invoices, track expenses, and create detailed reports consistently. UTBMS (uniform task-based management system) billing codes are used in the LEDES process and are included on invoices. This way, clients familiar with LEDES billing know exactly what tasks are outlined on a bill.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n First launched in 1998 by the Legal Electronic Data Exchange Standards Committee<\/a>, LEDES billing created a standardised format specifically for electronic legal invoicing. LEDES was released to the legal world in 1998 and facilitated the exchange of legal billing information between law firms and corporate clients.<\/p>\n Today, with growing law firms being 37% more likely to use online payments (according to our 2021 Legal Trends Report<\/a><\/em>), it\u2019s no surprise that LEDES has become increasingly fundamental for thriving law firms around the world.<\/p>\n Part of the reason why LEDES billing is so widely accepted is because it continues to go through enhancements to keep up with technological changes, as the below timeline indicates.<\/p>\n Well known for LEDES billing, the Legal Electronic Data Exchange Standards Committee have also created standardized formats for budgeting, timekeeping, and transmitting IP matter information. Implementing repeatable processes<\/a> is one of many ways legal professionals can save administrative time and free up more hours in the day for billable work.<\/p>\n The LEDES billing process provides standardised codes for solicitors and firm members to use when categorising legal tasks for billing purposes. What some might refer to as \u201cLEDES billing codes” are actually called UTBMS (uniform task-based management system) billing codes. UTBMS is the correct terminology and, as mentioned above, these codes categorise billing activities.<\/p>\n While the LEDES billing process is fairly straightforward across all practice areas, they are generally practice-area and activity-specific. The LEDES Oversight Committee provides more information on global UTBMS codes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Understandably, global billing standards benefit the legal industry as a whole. And, if your firm works with large commercial clients, they may require LEDES-formatted invoices.<\/p>\n However, LEDES billing offers many benefits to law firms, even if their clients don’t require it. Below are just a few of these benefits:<\/p>\n LEDES is a globally recognised billing standard. Using it ensures that your work is meeting these standards no matter the geographies of you, your team, or your clients. Implementing LEDES billing practices can bring peace of mind and ensure that your team and clients are \u201cspeaking the same language.\u201d<\/p>\n LEDES billing provides clear billing and task description instructions. Thus, there\u2019s no risk of entering custom descriptions for each task, which can lead to discrepancies, even on the same file.<\/p>\n For example, different team members might use different descriptions for the same task when entering custom time descriptions (like \u201cphone call with client\u201d or \u201cclient communication\u201d). These discrepancies may require staff members to edit custom time descriptions (taking up valuable time), or, if left as-is, can confuse your clients when they receive their invoices.<\/p>\n LEDES billing can take the guesswork out of record-keeping by standardising billing descriptions across the firm. And, if a client disputes a bill<\/a>, you\u2019ll have a better understanding of what the itemised tasks mean and be in a better position to provide an informed response.<\/p>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n Ready to try LEDES billing? If you\u2019re using the leading legal practice management software, Clio Manage<\/a>, all it takes is a few clicks to enable the functionality.<\/p>\n Enabling UTBMS codes in Clio Manage<\/a> is an easy process. Simply:<\/p>\n Once enabled, all Clio Manage users can apply UTBMS codes. Learn more about how to use these codes in time and expense entries<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also download a LEDES 1998B formatted invoice in just five quick-clicks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhat is LEDES billing?\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t
The history of LEDES billing<\/h2>\n
\n
LEDES billing codes<\/h2>\n
Examples of UTBMS billing codes<\/h3>\n
The benefits of LEDES billing<\/h2>\n
Standardised billing\u2014no matter where you (or your clients) are<\/h3>\n
Comprehensive, clear billing information for clients<\/h3>\n
Worry-free record keeping<\/h3>\n
LEDES billing and Clio<\/h2>\n
Enabling UTBMS codes in Clio Manage<\/h3>\n
\n
LEDES billing and Clio integrations<\/h3>\n