The Oklahoma Bar Journal May 2026

Example 1: Poor/Unclear Billing Statement (What Not To Do) Date Description Time Amount 3/10 Rsch 1.8 $810.00 3/11 Draft re above 2.4 $1,080.00 3/11 Rev/edits 1.2 $540.00 3/12 Doc review 2.0 $900.00 3/13 Conf w/ A.L. 0.6 $270.00 3/13 Misc 0.5 $225.00

BILLING COMPARISON EXAMPLES Example 1: Poor/Unclear Billing Statement (What Not To Do) No explanation of what research was done or why it mattered Heavy use of initials and abbreviations No indication of attorney judgment, strategy or outcome The client cannot tell how value was delivered Example 2: Clear, Ethical, Client- Centered Billing Statement (Best Practice) Uses plain-language descriptions the client can understand Shows lawyer judgment, review and verification (especially when efficiency tools are used) Connects tasks to strategy, risks and next steps Demonstrates value, not just task completion THE IMPACT OF EFFICIENCY Technology, including gen erative artificial intelligence, is accelerating this shift. Tasks that once took hours can now be completed more quickly. Research can be performed faster. Drafting can be streamlined.

Example 2: Clear, Ethical, Client-Centered Billing Statement (Best Practice) Date Description of Services Time Amount

Legal research on Oklahoma and 10th Circuit case law addressing wrongful termination and retaliation claims; verified all authorities and applicability to client’s fact pattern Drafted memorandum outlining potential claims and defenses, including risks and recommended strategy; reviewed and edited for accuracy and tone Reviewed personnel records and termination documents; analyzed inconsistencies relevant to causation and damages Attorney review and revision of research summaries produced with research assistance tools, Westlaw CoCounsel; independently confirmed citations and conclusions Client strategy call to explain findings, answer questions and discuss next steps

3/10

1.0

$450.00

Document Flat Fee

3/11

$675.00

3/12

1.2

$540.00

3/13

0.8

$360.00

3/13

0.6

$270.00

MAY 2026 | 67

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL