billing-summary
Produces privilege-safe U.S. corporate legal billing summaries from time and expense data. Converts entries into client-friendly narratives with categorized hours, rates, expenses, and milestones while enforcing engagement-letter rules and ethical billing safeguards. Use when asked to create a billing summary, invoice narrative, timekeeper breakdown, expense summary, or fee narrative.
Best use case
billing-summary is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Produces privilege-safe U.S. corporate legal billing summaries from time and expense data. Converts entries into client-friendly narratives with categorized hours, rates, expenses, and milestones while enforcing engagement-letter rules and ethical billing safeguards. Use when asked to create a billing summary, invoice narrative, timekeeper breakdown, expense summary, or fee narrative.
Teams using billing-summary should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/billing-summary/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How billing-summary Compares
| Feature / Agent | billing-summary | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Produces privilege-safe U.S. corporate legal billing summaries from time and expense data. Converts entries into client-friendly narratives with categorized hours, rates, expenses, and milestones while enforcing engagement-letter rules and ethical billing safeguards. Use when asked to create a billing summary, invoice narrative, timekeeper breakdown, expense summary, or fee narrative.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Legal Billing Summary Generate a client-ready billing narrative that explains fees and expenses clearly while preserving privilege. ## Required Inputs 1. Billing period (start/end dates), matter name, client name 2. Time entries: timekeeper, rate, hours, description, date 3. Expense entries: date, vendor, description, amount 4. Engagement letter or billing guidelines (rates, caps, task codes, prohibited expenses) 5. Milestones or phase labels (if any) 6. Write-downs, discounts, or adjustments (if any) ## Output Structure Populate every section below. ### 1. Header Matter | Client | Billing Period | Responsible Attorneys | Billing Guidelines Reference ### 2. Executive Overview 3-6 sentences on the period's major workstreams and outcomes, plus a totals table: | Metric | Amount | | --- | --- | | Fees | $ | | Expenses | $ | | Total | $ | | Discount/Write-down | $ | | Net Total | $ | ### 3. Timekeeper Summary | Timekeeper | Role | Rate | Hours | Fees | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | Notes column: explain scope (e.g., "board governance research," "drafted consent resolutions"). ### 4. Task Category Breakdown Default categories (override with client task codes if provided): - Research and Analysis - Drafting and Document Production - Client Communications - Internal Strategy and Case Management - Negotiation and Counterparty Communications - Regulatory/Compliance Work - Filings and Formalities - Other (define clearly) | Category | Hours | Fees | Narrative | | --- | --- | --- | --- | Narrative: explain purpose and outcome in plain English; never reveal legal advice or strategy. ### 5. Phase View (optional, recommended for long periods) | Phase / Milestone | Dates | Key Work Performed | Fees | | --- | --- | --- | --- | ### 6. Expenses | Date | Category | Vendor | Description | Amount | Justification | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | Include subtotals for material categories (filing fees, expert/consultant, travel). ### 7. Adjustments and Compliance - List write-downs, caps applied, or policy-driven exclusions. - Note block-billed entries and how they were separated. - Confirm compliance with client billing guidelines. ### 8. Forward Look (optional) 2-4 sentences on expected next-period activities and cost drivers. ## Privilege and Billing Safeguards - **Protect privilege**: never include legal advice, mental impressions, or litigation strategy. - **Be specific**: avoid vague phrases like "legal research" — always name the topic. - **Tie work to objectives**: connect entries to matter goals or compliance requirements. - **Show policy compliance**: rates, caps, task codes, approved expenses. - **Flag anomalies**: unusual expenses, staffing changes, large time spikes. - **No duplicate billing**: do not overlap timekeeper entries for the same task without explanation. - **No administrative padding**: exclude admin tasks unless guidelines permit. - **Stay consistent**: narrative must match time entry descriptions and invoice totals.
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