| name | billing-summary |
| language | en |
| description | Produces privilege-safe U.S. corporate legal billing summaries from time and expense data. Converts entries into client-friendly narratives with categorized hours, rates, expenses, and milestones while enforcing engagement-letter rules and ethical billing safeguards. Use when asked to create a billing summary, invoice narrative, timekeeper breakdown, expense summary, or fee narrative. |
| tags | ["corporate","summarization","summary"] |
Legal Billing Summary
Generate a client-ready billing narrative that explains fees and expenses clearly while preserving privilege.
Required Inputs
- Billing period (start/end dates), matter name, client name
- Time entries: timekeeper, rate, hours, description, date
- Expense entries: date, vendor, description, amount
- Engagement letter or billing guidelines (rates, caps, task codes, prohibited expenses)
- Milestones or phase labels (if any)
- Write-downs, discounts, or adjustments (if any)
Output Structure
Populate every section below.
1. Header
Matter | Client | Billing Period | Responsible Attorneys | Billing Guidelines Reference
2. Executive Overview
3-6 sentences on the period's major workstreams and outcomes, plus a totals table:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|
| Fees | $ |
| Expenses | $ |
| Total | $ |
| Discount/Write-down | $ |
| Net Total | $ |
3. Timekeeper Summary
| Timekeeper | Role | Rate | Hours | Fees | Notes |
|---|
Notes column: explain scope (e.g., "board governance research," "drafted consent resolutions").
4. Task Category Breakdown
Default categories (override with client task codes if provided):
- Research and Analysis
- Drafting and Document Production
- Client Communications
- Internal Strategy and Case Management
- Negotiation and Counterparty Communications
- Regulatory/Compliance Work
- Filings and Formalities
- Other (define clearly)
| Category | Hours | Fees | Narrative |
|---|
Narrative: explain purpose and outcome in plain English; never reveal legal advice or strategy.
5. Phase View (optional, recommended for long periods)
| Phase / Milestone | Dates | Key Work Performed | Fees |
|---|
6. Expenses
| Date | Category | Vendor | Description | Amount | Justification |
|---|
Include subtotals for material categories (filing fees, expert/consultant, travel).
7. Adjustments and Compliance
- List write-downs, caps applied, or policy-driven exclusions.
- Note block-billed entries and how they were separated.
- Confirm compliance with client billing guidelines.
8. Forward Look (optional)
2-4 sentences on expected next-period activities and cost drivers.
Privilege and Billing Safeguards
- Protect privilege: never include legal advice, mental impressions, or litigation strategy.
- Be specific: avoid vague phrases like "legal research" — always name the topic.
- Tie work to objectives: connect entries to matter goals or compliance requirements.
- Show policy compliance: rates, caps, task codes, approved expenses.
- Flag anomalies: unusual expenses, staffing changes, large time spikes.
- No duplicate billing: do not overlap timekeeper entries for the same task without explanation.
- No administrative padding: exclude admin tasks unless guidelines permit.
- Stay consistent: narrative must match time entry descriptions and invoice totals.
