# LEDES Billing Format

> Legal Electronic Data Exchange Standard for invoicing, a standardized electronic billing format required by many corporate legal departments and insurance companies, ensuring consistent time entry data structure for automated processing and cost management.

- **URL:** https://www.ledes.org/
- **Category:** Time Tracking Practice
- **Tags:** Legal, Billing, Standards, Electronic, Compliance
- **Updated:** 2026-03-18 00:29
- **Canonical page:** https://timetrack.works/bg/items/ledes-billing-format

## Details

## Overview

LEDES (Legal Electronic Data Exchange Standard) is a standardized electronic billing format widely used in the legal industry. Many corporate legal departments and insurance companies require law firms to submit invoices in LEDES format for automated processing.

## Common Formats

- **LEDES 1998B**: Most common format for electronic billing
- **LEDES 1998BI**: Includes additional invoice-level data
- **LEDES 2000**: More detailed task and activity codes

## Why It Exists

Provides consistent structure for:
- Automated invoice processing
- Cost analysis and reporting
- Budget tracking
- Outside counsel management
- Data aggregation across firms

## Required Data Fields

- Client/matter numbers
- Date of service
- Attorney/timekeeper ID
- Hours worked
- Rate
- Amount
- Task codes (what type of work)
- Activity codes (specific activities)
- Expense codes

## Time Tracking Implications

Law firms must:
- Use LEDES-compliant task codes
- Track time in appropriate increments
- Include required narrative details
- Maintain consistent coding
- Export data in LEDES format

Most legal time tracking software includes LEDES export functionality.

## Pricing

Free standard — using LEDES format has no cost, though software must support it.

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