Clerical tasks on a fee petition: how courts cut them
Filing, scheduling, copying, and other administrative work are usually treated as overhead. Courts cut or reprice this time when it is billed at attorney or paralegal rates.
- Rulings tracked
- 379
- Median cut for this reason
- 22.5%
- Total fees cut in these rulings
- $34M
Median of the percentage reductions courts stated for clerical work billed as legal work. Totals cover every reduction in those rulings.
What courts say
some of the tasks conducted by Marissa K. Thomas—specifically, sending certified mail, formatting responses, e-filing, filling out summons, and combining prior invoices—should be excluded because they are administrative
Second, filing documents is a clerical task that must be excluded. The amount of time devoted to each task was not detailed. The excluded entry is .3 hours.
Accordingly, I will reduce the fee award by $302 for clerical work.
the Court will excise time entries that are administrative or clerical tasks
this Court reduces the remaining billed hours by thirty percent.
How to keep it out of your fee petition
- Leave purely clerical work off the fee petition.
- Describe paralegal tasks so the substantive work is clear.
- Split mixed entries into their substantive and clerical parts.
More: what a fee declaration needs · fee cuts for bad time records
FAQ
What is clerical work billed as legal work in legal billing?
Filing, scheduling, copying, and other administrative work are usually treated as overhead. Courts cut or reprice this time when it is billed at attorney or paralegal rates.
How much do courts cut attorney fees for clerical work billed as legal work?
When federal courts cut fees for clerical work billed as legal work, the median reduction they applied was 22.5% (114 rulings since January 2024).
How often do courts cut fees for clerical work billed as legal work?
In 21.4% of federal fee rulings that cut a fee since January 2024 (445 rulings).
How do you avoid clerical work billed as legal work on a fee petition?
Leave purely clerical work off the fee petition. Describe paralegal tasks so the substantive work is clear. Split mixed entries into their substantive and clerical parts.
Rulings that cut fees for clerical work billed as legal work
| Date | Court | Case | Practice area | Requested | Awarded | Cut | Recordkeeping reasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2026 | D. Massachusetts | Nichole Sliney Realty Team, Inc. v. Mount Vernon Fire Insurance Company | Commercial | Not stated | Not stated | 15% for records | Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing |
| Oct 9, 2026 | D. Arizona | Perez v. Evolet's Painting Service LLC et al | Wage and hour | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Oct 6, 2026 | D. Arizona | Davalos et al v. Unknown Party et al | Intellectual property | $54,017 | $47,981.63 | 11.2% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Oct 2, 2026 | D. Arizona | Zommick v. Lewis Construction Company LLC et al | Wage and hour | $21,664 | $20,516.50 | 5.3% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries |
| Sep 30, 2026 | E.D. California | G & G Closed Circuit Events, LLC v. Navarro-Gonzalez | $51,122.50 | $18,616.50 | 63.6% | Reconstructed time, Block billing, Clerical work billed as legal work | |
| Sep 29, 2026 | S.D. California | Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable | Immigration | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 28, 2026 | E.D. Pennsylvania | LIN v. LEES HOUSE RESTAURANT INC et al | Wage and hour | $110,935.83 | $9,952.11 | 91% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing, Vague entries |
| Sep 25, 2026 | E.D. New York | Wang v. Keeper Holdings, Inc. et al | Wage and hour | $171,862 | $21,990 | 87.2% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 24, 2026 | E.D. Pennsylvania | HICKS v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA et al | Civil rights | $290,890 | $132,354.95 | 54.5% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing, Missing contemporaneous records |
| Sep 23, 2026 | D. Colorado | Culp et al v. Remington of Montrose, LLC et al | Employment | $303,640.42 | $216,112.71 | 28.8% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 23, 2026 | D. Arizona | Perez v. Evolet's Painting Service LLC et al | Wage and hour | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 22, 2026 | S.D. Alabama | Hancock Whitney Bank v. American Rental & Entertainment, LLC et al | Commercial | $25,841.05 | $10,260 | 60.3% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 18, 2026 | N.D. Texas | Mobu Enterprises Pty Ltd v. John Galt Solutions Inc | Commercial | $447,410.62 | $302,395.80 | 32.4% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 15, 2026 | E.D. Pennsylvania | Malone v. UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. | Wage and hour | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 14, 2026 | D. Utah | W-S et al v. United Healthcare Insurance | ERISA benefits | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 14, 2026 | D. New Mexico | Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Social Security | $4,957.40 | $4,434.20 | 10.6% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 14, 2026 | E.D. Louisiana | Gulf Credit, LLC v. DHD Offshore Services, LLC et al | Commercial | Not stated | Not stated | 10% for records | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing |
| Sep 9, 2026 | E.D. New York | In re Whaleco Privacy Litigation | Consumer protection | $597,553 | $302,547.60 | 49.4% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing |
| Sep 9, 2026 | E.D. New York | In re Whaleco/Potter Handy Data Privacy Mass Actions | $597,553 | $302,547.60 | 49.4% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing | |
| Sep 9, 2026 | Bankr. C.D. California | IN Holdings, Inc and 5310 Holdings, LLC | Bankruptcy | Not stated | Not stated | 50% for records | Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work, Block billing, Block billing, Block billing, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 8, 2026 | E.D. New York | Han v. Shang Noodle House, Inc. et al | Wage and hour | $71,763 | $25,732.41 | 64.1% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries, Missing contemporaneous records |
| Sep 8, 2026 | E.D. New York | Dilfanian v. The New York City Department of Education et al | Employment | $365,400 | $128,370.54 | 64.9% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 8, 2026 | E.D. California | (HC) Estrada Martinez v. Chestnut et al | Immigration | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Bankr. D. Alaska | Aleksey N Kozlov | Bankruptcy | $636,995.50 | $224,106.70 | 64.8% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 31, 2026 | D. Arizona | Cruz v. N.V. & Sons Builders Incorporated et al | Wage and hour | $14,605.63 | $8,588.50 | 41.2% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 27, 2026 | N.D. Texas | Bank of America NA v. Ztar Mobile Inc et al | Commercial | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 27, 2026 | E.D. Kentucky | Bowman v. SSA | Social Security | $6,536.88 | $6,036.88 | 7.7% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 27, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Romspen Investment LP v. Dibert et al | $98,217.61 | $34,228.75 | 65.2% | Clerical work billed as legal work | |
| Aug 26, 2026 | D. Minnesota | Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable | Immigration | Not stated | Not stated | 50% for records | Block billing, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 20, 2026 | N.D. Texas | Mr Cooper Group Inc v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh PA et al | Commercial | $120,000 | $112,463.61 | 6.3% | Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 20, 2026 | N.D. California | Full Standard Properties, LLC v. SJ 6070, LLC | Commercial | $93,226 | $85,980.70 | 7.8% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 19, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Raizender Yachting Ltd. v. M/Y Ponyo et al | Commercial | $73,183.17 | $59,983.07 | 18% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 19, 2026 | N.D. California | Woo v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc | ERISA benefits | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 19, 2026 | E.D. California | Gaines et al v. FCA US, LLC | Consumer protection | $37,365.68 | $7,300 | 80.5% | Vague entries, Block billing, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 18, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Caron et al v. Unlimited Health Care Services, Inc. et al | Wage and hour | Not stated | Not stated | 30% for records | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 12, 2026 | E.D. California | (HC) N.T. v. Wofford et al | Immigration | $3,098 | $2,685.55 | 13.3% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 11, 2026 | E.D. Pennsylvania | Fieger v. HALL et al | Commercial | Not stated | Not stated | See ruling | Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 11, 2026 | D. Hawaii | Privratsky v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company | Commercial | $693,652.50 | $367,524.91 | 47% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 11, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Prime Property and Casualty Insurance Company v. Kepali Group, Inc. et al | Commercial | $772,829 | $501,565 | 35.1% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 10, 2026 | E.D. Texas | Bounds v. Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano | Employment | $110,385 | $88,308 | 20% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries, Block billing |
| Aug 10, 2026 | D. New Jersey | M. A. v. WALL TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION | Special education | $309,007.58 | $284,654.75 | 7.9% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Vague entries |
| Aug 10, 2026 | S.D. California | Eoll v. General Motors LLC et al | Consumer protection | $26,290.80 | $15,109 | 42.5% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Aug 3, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Caron et al v. Unlimited Health Care Services, Inc. et al | Wage and hour | Not stated | Not stated | 30% for records | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jul 29, 2026 | E.D. Louisiana | George v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. | Disability access | $371,600 | $128,375 | 65.5% | Block billing, Vague entries, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jul 29, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Raizender Yachting Ltd. v. M/Y Ponyo et al | Commercial | $73,183.17 | $59,983.07 | 18% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jul 24, 2026 | S.D. Florida | Prime Property and Casualty Insurance Company v. Kepali Group, Inc. et al | Commercial | $772,829 | $501,565 | 35.1% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jul 24, 2026 | D. Arizona | CPUS Mockingbird LP v. Langer | Commercial | $9,966.47 | $9,596.47 | 3.7% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jul 16, 2026 | D. Vermont | Cole v. Foxmar, Inc | Employment | $240,536.75 | $63,411.37 | 73.6% | Clerical work billed as legal work, Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jul 13, 2026 | S.D. California | Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable | Immigration | $26,125 | $13,507.76 | 48.3% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
| Jul 7, 2026 | E.D. Kentucky | Bowman v. SSA | Social Security | $6,536.88 | $6,006.88 | 8.1% | Clerical work billed as legal work |
See all 379 rulings that cut fees for clerical work billed as legal work
Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.