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Glossary

Block billing

For anyone billing by the hour whose invoices get scrutinized by a client, insurer, or fee-shifting court.

Block billing is recording multiple distinct tasks under a single time entry and a single combined duration, instead of breaking each task out separately.

Why it matters for a solo or small firm

Fee-shifting courts and insurance auditors both flag block billing first — it's impossible to tell from '4.5 hrs — research, drafting, calls, emails' whether any one task was reasonable, so the whole entry becomes an easy target for an across-the-board cut.

Example

Blocked: '3.0 hrs — reviewed file, drafted motion, spoke with client.' Unblocked: three separate entries, each with its own duration and narrative.