A guide to attorney billable hours charts and how to calculate time increments
Learn more about the benefits of using an attorney billable hours chart to track your work for clients. This guide explains what a lawyer billable hour chart is, why you need it, and best practices for using one.
If you’ve ever wondered how law firms keep track of every minute spent on client work, the answer is often an attorney billable hours chart.
What is an attorney billable hours chart?
This chart is a reference tool that helps attorneys convert the time they spend on tasks into billable units.
Most firms use increments of 6, 10, or 15 minutes. So instead of guesstimating, you’re logging time in a consistent way that clients understand and accept.
Think of a billable hours chart as your translator—it takes the time you work and converts it into invoice-ready entries.
That means more transparency for clients, more accurate billing, and ultimately, better cash flow for your firm.
Why lawyers and attorneys need a billable hours chart
Let’s be honest—attorneys juggle a lot. One minute you’re on a client call, the next you’re reviewing contracts, then jumping into court prep.
Without structure, time tracking can get messy fast. That’s where a lawyer billing chart makes life easier. It helps you:
- Standardize time tracking across the firm.
- Cut down on billing disputes.
- Improve revenue accuracy.
- Stay compliant with client billing guidelines.
Whether you’re using a legal billing chart on paper or a digital time tracking tool, consistency is the real secret to building trust and keeping profitability on track.
Attorney billable hours example with time increments
So how does this look in practice?
Let’s say you spend 18 minutes drafting a contract. On a 6-minute increment chart, that gets recorded as 0.3 billable hours.
Here’s a quick reference chart using 6-minute increments:
| Minutes Worked | Billable Hours |
| 6 | 0.1 |
| 12 | 0.2 |
| 18 | 0.3 |
| 30 | 0.5 |
| 60 | 1.0 |
This system ensures that every task—whether it takes a few minutes or an entire hour—is accounted for in a fair, standardized way.
Why do lawyers bill in 6-minute increments?
The 6-minute increment model (sometimes called tenths of an hour) is the most widely used approach in legal billing.
Why? Because it strikes a balance between precision and practicality.
With 6-minute increments, attorneys can:
- Capture short tasks without underbilling.
- Keep detailed records that hold up in audits.
- Match client expectations and industry standards.
Of course, some firms use 10-minute (0.167 hours) or 15-minute (0.25 hours) increments, but 6-minute billing remains the go-to for most law firms.
Best practices for lawyer billable hours
Using an attorney billing chart is only part of the equation.
To really maximize efficiency and accuracy, you should follow these best practices:
- Track time immediately after finishing tasks.
- Use timers or digital tools to automate entries.
- Review daily to catch and correct errors.
- Train staff on firm billing guidelines and increments.
- Audit billing data regularly for compliance.
By combining consistent charts with modern legal billing software, you can reduce admin headaches and improve billing accuracy across the board.
Managing attorney billable hours with Sage
Tracking time by hand works—but why make it harder than it needs to be?
Sage Timeslips is designed specifically for attorneys and makes managing billable hours seamless.
With Sage, law firms can:
- Automate time tracking and billing.
- Customize increments and billable hours charts.
- Generate professional invoices and detailed reports.
- Integrate with practice management systems.
Whether you’re a solo practitioner or part of a larger firm, Sage Timeslips ensures you get paid for every billable minute—without drowning in paperwork.
