Write clear narrative time entries that hold up to client review
Rewrites rough timekeeping notes into clear, specific billing entries that avoid block billing and survive client and auditor review.
The prompt
Rewrite my rough time notes into billable narrative time entries.
My raw notes: [PASTE - e.g. "smith matter - emails, research, call w/ opp counsel 2.5"]
Client billing guidelines: [PASTE KEY RULES - e.g. "no block billing, 0.1 increments, no billing for internal conferences, task codes required" - or "none"]
Task code set, if used: [e.g. UTBMS codes - or "none"]
Timekeeper role: [partner / associate / paralegal]
For each entry:
- Split block-billed time into separate tasks with separate time, keeping the total unchanged. If I did not give a split, propose one and mark it [CONFIRM SPLIT].
- Start with an action verb and name the specific document, issue, or person (e.g. "Draft opposition to motion to compel, section on proportionality" not "Work on motion").
- Show the purpose or result where it helps value ("to prepare for Thursday's mediation").
- Do not reveal privileged strategy in more detail than needed; invoices can be disclosed in fee disputes or fee-shifting motions.
- Flag entries clients often reject: administrative or clerical tasks billed at professional rates, internal conferences, multiple attendees at one call, vague entries ("review file"), research on basic law, and time over guideline caps.
Return a table: date, original note, rewritten entry, time, task code, and a flag column with the reason. Then list entries I should consider writing down or not billing. Do not change hours on your own or add work I did not describe.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Finance & Accounting prompts
What to fill in
- e.g. UTBMS codes - or "none"
- partner / associate / paralegal
- CONFIRM SPLIT
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the Few-Shot structure (Few-shot prompting). A few-shot prompt includes one or more worked examples of the input and the output you want, so the model can copy the pattern instead of guessing it.
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