{"id":12227,"date":"2019-11-18T14:58:03","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T19:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gutenberg-atl.staging.breakingmedia.com\/legal-innovation-center\/?p=12227"},"modified":"2019-11-18T14:58:03","modified_gmt":"2019-11-18T19:58:03","slug":"how-to-save-time-and-money-with-local-counsel-billing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/legal-innovation-center\/2019\/11\/18\/how-to-save-time-and-money-with-local-counsel-billing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Save Time and Money With Local Counsel Billing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Local counsel can be indispensable when circumstances call for it.\u00a0 Moreover, as a recent article in\u00a0<\/span>Professional Liability Advocacy<\/span><\/a> notes, \u201c[t]o save expense and avoid duplication of effort, local counsel may be told that they should accomplish only those tasks specifically assigned or delegated to them.\u201d\u00a0 Limiting the scope of a local counsel\u2019s engagement can limit expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, <\/span>compiling and invoicing<\/span><\/a> the local counsel\u2019s time and expense entries adds to the significant non-billable administrative tasks law firms must already complete.\u00a0 Disorganization, manual processes, and non-compliant billing can further exacerbate the issue, leading to delays and unnecessary friction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s confusing for the lead counsel attorneys to parse though, imagine trying to explain things to the client. These administrative hurdles and delays can cost time, money, and hassle for clients, as well as for the local and lead counsel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having a <\/span>streamlined organizational system<\/span><\/a> for local counsel management is all but a necessity to avoid confusion and wasted effort between lead and local counsel, while keeping all parties on the same page with the client.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, <\/span>web-based platforms<\/span><\/a> allow for efficient, automated local counsel management and billing. Moreover, many new online legal billing applications come complete with built-in\u00a0analytic functionality\u00a0to not only <\/span>streamline the processing<\/span><\/a> local counsel billing, but also provide feedback on how to better allocate resources in future matters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Managing Local Counsel\u2019s Access<\/b><\/p>\n

To quote the\u00a0<\/span>Association of Corporate Counsel<\/span><\/a> (ACC), \u201clocal counsel will help you with knowledge of local rules, court systems, judges and potential jury considerations,\u201d specifying \u201c[e]specially in cases with higher monetary stakes, local knowledge and insight concerning the public\u2019s perception of plaintiffs and defendants could be invaluable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This usefulness comes at a cost, however.\u00a0 For example, confidentiality and conflict avoidance practices call for limits on local counsel\u2019s access to client billing information. The reality of being on the same side but not necessarily on the same team requires clear divisions in what lead counsel should make local counsel privy to, including as to billing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, the\u00a0<\/span>ACC<\/span><\/a>\u00a0advises maintaining these divisions can help sidestep potential conflicts down the line. At the same time, the information local counsel does need access to must be readily available to them, to avoid unnecessary delays. A management system that allows for this protected integration would be able to marry the two issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Standardization Through Computer-Assisted Billing<\/b><\/p>\n

Local counsel\u2019s knowledge of local laws and rules, not to mention the experience with local judges and courts, make them valuable.\u00a0 However, these procedural differences could extend to misalignments on what constitutes a\u00a0<\/span>reasonable fee<\/span><\/a>, as the amount of time needed to accomplish for example a motion to dismiss in one jurisdiction might differ significantly from another jurisdiction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lead counsel, local counsel and their clients must find a way to get on the same page to maintain the highest levels of efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n

Automation provides<\/span><\/a> the means of standardizing local counsel management, primarily in terms of billing. This is an evolution that the ACC believes could lead to a\u00a0<\/span>significant reduction<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in the non-billable administrative workload on lead counsel and on clients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology<\/span><\/a>\u00a0has caught up to the point of allowing local counsel to easily comply with the <\/span>client\u2019s billing guidelines<\/span><\/a> and other expectations, while also <\/span>integrating with<\/span><\/a> most already existing legal management systems. This blends the accessibility of systems with which firms are already familiar, with the additional functionality that can speed up their processes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Features to Look For With Local Counsel Management Software<\/b><\/p>\n

Ideally, the online system used to manage local counsel would use the latest in <\/span>Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning<\/span><\/a> to cut down on confusion, conflict, and time consumption to save everyone involved more money.<\/span><\/p>\n

Existing technology allows firm management programs to:<\/span><\/p>\n