How it works
Every line, checked against what you agreed to.
CheckMyLawBill compares your attorney's invoice with your own fee agreement, your rate notices and published billing standards. Every flag shows what it was checked against and why, so you can ask a clear question and let the firm explain or correct it.
| Date | Description | Hrs × rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/21 | TSReceipt and review of Mediation Brief and exhibits of Okafor. | 0.2×250 | $50.00 |
| 11/21 | TSInitial receipt and review of Defendant Hale's mediation brief. | 0.2×250 | $50.00 |
| 11/21 | RBReview Hale Mediation Brief.TS reviewed this brief the same day: what did a second review add? | 0.3×250 | $75.00 |
| 11/21 | RBReview Okafor Mediation Brief.Same question: reviewed twice on one day | 0.3×250 | $75.00 |
| 11/21 | RBSend Briefs to client.Sending documents is clerical work, here at the partner's rate | 0.2×250 | $50.00 |
| 11/26 | TSFurther preparing and finalizing supplemental mediation brief to address exact damage amounts (NO CHARGE)Written off and marked “no charge.” That's how it should look | 0.8×250 | $0.00 |
| 11/27 | RBConference call with TS regarding tasks to be completed.The firm's own lawyers coordinating: is that billable under the agreement? | 0.4×250 | $100.00 |
Decode a real bill
What the flags on this bill mean.
Two lawyers, the same two briefs, the same day
One attorney reviewed both opposing mediation briefs on 11/21, and the partner reviewed the same two the same day. The question: what did the second review add?
Sending documents at a partner's rate
“Send Briefs to client” is clerical work. Unless the agreement says otherwise, the question is whether it belongs on the bill at a lawyer's rate.
The firm's lawyers, talking to each other
A call between the partner and another attorney about tasks to be completed. Only one of them billed it, which is the fair way to do it if it's billed at all. The question: is internal coordination billable under the agreement?
A line that passes
0.8 hours marked “NO CHARGE” at $0.00. A fair check says so, because a firm that writes off its own work deserves the credit. Filtering on the printed amount, not the rate, is how it knows.
The codes, decoded
Every line on the full statement carries a task code and an activity code, such as L160 for settlement and A104 for review and analysis. One of these statements even labels its subtotal rows “DO NOT USE.” CheckMyLawBill translates each code into plain English.
What we check
The checks, and the standards behind them.
Your fee agreement comes first. Where it is silent, we check against published standards and cite the one we used. California sources are listed here; the same universal checks apply in every state.
| Check | What we compare | Published standard |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rates | The rate on each line, by timekeeper and date, against your agreement and any rate-change notice. Flags past time billed at a newer rate. | State Bar of California, Arbitration Advisory 1995-02: Standards for Attorney Fee Billing Statements |
| Clerical and administrative work | Scanning, filing, scheduling, copying and similar tasks billed at an attorney's or paralegal's professional rate. | State Bar of California, Arbitration Advisory 2016-02: Analysis of Potential Bill Padding and Other Billing Issues |
| Billing for billing | Time spent preparing, correcting or explaining invoices, or answering your questions about them. | New York State Bar Association, Ethics Opinion 1299: time spent explaining a lawyer's invoices |
| Block billing and vague entries | Entries that bundle several tasks under one time figure, or descriptions too general to evaluate. | State Bar of California, Arbitration Advisory 2016-02: Analysis of Potential Bill Padding and Other Billing Issues |
| Staffing and duplication | Two people billing for the same meeting or call, and the same work appearing twice. | State Bar of California, Arbitration Advisory 2025-01: Determination of a “Reasonable” Fee |
| Increments and minimum charges | Billing increments and minimum charges (such as a tenth of an hour for every email) against what your agreement says. | State Bar of California, Arbitration Advisory 1995-02: Standards for Attorney Fee Billing Statements |
| Matter and entity | Which matter and which client or company each entry is billed to, and invoices with no matter number. | California Business and Professions Code §6148: bills must state the amount, rate and basis of each fee |
| Payments and trust money | Where each payment, retainer and trust withdrawal was applied, against your written instructions, and whether the trust ledger shows it. | California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.15(d)(4): a lawyer must promptly account in writing for funds held for a client |
| Costs and math | Each cost against the vendor's own receipt and your agreement, and the arithmetic on every line, subtotal and running balance. | California Business and Professions Code §6148: bills must state the amount, rate and basis of each fee |
State Bar arbitration advisories are guidance for fee arbitrators, not binding law; the full list is on the State Bar's advisories page.
What you get
A clear, polite email to the firm's billing department.
Questions, not accusations. Organized so the billing department can answer each one, and written so it doesn't strain the relationship with your lawyer.
- A plain-English explanation of every entry and code
- The agreement term or standard each flag was checked against
- The arithmetic, line by line
- A free re-check when the firm sends a corrected or explained invoice
Hello,
Thank you for the February 14 statement. Could you help me with a few questions before I pay it?
- Both mediation briefs were reviewed on 11/21 by TS and again by RB. Could you tell me what the second reviews covered?
- Please confirm whether the 11/21 entry “Send Briefs to client” is billable under our agreement at RB's rate.
- Please confirm whether the 11/27 call between RB and TS about tasks to be completed is billable under our agreement.
Thank you for your help.
The email for the real statement above, names changed.
What you bring
Your bill and your agreement.
- The invoice: a PDF, a photo or an email forward
- Your fee agreement or engagement letter (once)
- Any letters or emails announcing a rate change (once)
- Retainer or trust statements, if you have them
Your documents are used only to check your bills. We don't sell them, we don't share them, and we delete them when you ask.