Make a list of those items you would delegate to a nonbillable staff member (if available to you).

Question

It is important for paralegals to understand responsibilities and use good judgment in
delegating billable versus nonbillable items. You are a paralegal working for a large
defense firm, and you estimate needing approximately 6.5 billable hours each day this
month in order to meet your billable-hour goal. Today, your tasks set before you and
the estimated time to complete each task include the following:
• Organize newly received medical records (1.5 nonbillable hours, or “nbh”).
• Summarize newly received medical records (1.5 billable hours, or “bh”).
• Finish deposition outline (2.0 bh).
• Request medical records payment from accounting (.30 nbh).
• Deliver copying project to the photocopying department (.30 nbh).
• Docket trial and pretrial deadlines (.50 bh).
• Draft subpoenas for employment records (1.5 bh).
• Draft notice of deposition and serve via e-mail to opposing counsel (.40 bh).
• Draft correspondence to opposing counsel forwarding settlement agreement and
settlement check (.50 bh).

Answer 1

• Organize newly received medical records—Although this task may be billable time for
some paralegals, many clients will not pay for what they classify as an administrative
task. It is best to err on the side of caution when delegating questionable tasks.
• Request medical records payment from accounting—Although you imagine that it will
only take a few minutes for each part of this task and you could do it on your own, you
know that your coworker stops you in the hallway every time you go to accounting and
wants to chat for ten minutes. It is good judgment to delegate this task to a secretary so
you can concentrate on your billable and priority items for the day.
• Deliver copying project to the photocopying department—Again, use good judgment if
you are routinely delayed in your nonbillable projects.