I track my time and money using hledger. That enables me to do things like dropping my time log into Google Gemini and requesting an analysis. Here are the results.
My time is highly concentrated around active litigation management (roughly 90% of the practice). The other 10% is transactional work. The firm also derives income from flat fee transactional work, which isn’t adequately tracked in the time log; I need to get better on that.
Across all matters, the firm’s top five professional activities break down as follows (percentages are normalized against total logged hours):
1. Discovery (Preparation, Review, & Depositions) — 28%
A substantial portion of my workload involves obtaining and understanding evidence for my cases. This includes drafting first and second discovery requests, reviewing tranches of production, preparing exhibits, preparing deposition questions, and conducting depositions.
2. Drafting & Reviewing Pleadings, Motions, & Briefs — 24%
The firm spent a good deal of time putting together active court filings. Key tasks included drafting complaints, applications for prejudgment remedies (PJR) and temporary injunctions, motions for summary judgment, appeal briefs, and answers/counterclaims.
3. Client & Opposing Counsel Communications — 20%
This category covers the constant flow of daily operational coordination. It encompasses emails, text message threads, phone calls, and conferences with my clients (e.g., trying to talk a client down on employee relations issues or verifying facts about a breach of contract) and negotiating with opposing counsel/adjusters.
4. Court Appearances, Status Conferences, & Travel — 16%
This includes my physical and virtual presence in front of the bench or arbitrators. The firm frequently logged time traveling to various superior courts (Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, Derby), attending short calendars, arguing motions to dismiss, and participating in administrative/scheduling conferences.
5. Legal Research — 12%
A crucial foundational activity where I evaluated case theories and risks. Notable research topics in this log include CUTPA fee awards, the parol evidence rule, Illinois/Delaware UGMA account law, corporate member liability, personal jurisdiction, and trademark risk assessments (e.g., looking into the “BOGA” or “ARMOR GUARD” marks).
