P2P

50 P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | W I N T E R 2 0 2 4 The complexity of legal billing and time-tracking has made it a complex area for AI to address until recently. Previous solutions could digitize time entries but couldn't capture the entire workflow needed to support legal billing. What makes recent AI developments stand out is their ability to integrate multiple context-aware steps— essentially handling the process end-to-end. Only in the last few years have AI models become capable of nuanced judgment and complex decision-making, which are crucial for time-tracking automation. From discerning billable work to customizing narratives, these AI capabilities create an "intelligent" billing assistant capable of adapting to each law firm's—and each client's— unique needs. Automatically Assigning Task or Activity Codes By learning common coding practices and following ABA standards, AI can automate task or activity code assignments based on work type and client-specific needs, minimizing repetitive billing steps. In many ways, AI is becoming the ideal billing assistant— attentive to preferences, quick to learn, and diligent about applying new insights. In the past, billing practices were passed down manually through training, settings, and manual reviews. Today, AI can process explicit and implicit signals, building a nuanced understanding of each lawyer's approach to time-tracking.

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