{"id":"legalops-invoice-vs-billing-guidelines","audience":"legal","category":"legal-compliance","track":"legal","level":"advanced","technique":"verification","title":"Check an outside-counsel invoice against billing guidelines","free":false,"task":"Compare the invoice lines to the billing guidelines. Make a markdown table with columns Line, Billed, Guideline issue, Amount to query, one row per line in order. Show the math in each Amount to query cell (for example \"2.0 x ($480 - $450) = $60\"); write $0 if there is no issue. Follow the guidelines exactly, including the block billing rule. After the table, write one last line exactly in this form: Total to query: $X - for GC review. Do not say whether the invoice is proper or reasonable.","materialLabel":"Guidelines and invoice (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Fairmont & Lowe LLP - Invoice 4471 - Cedar Row matter\n\nBilling guidelines (excerpt):\n- Hourly rate caps: Partner $450, Associate $300, Paralegal $150.\n- Travel time is billed at 50% of the timekeeper's rate.\n- Block billing (one entry covering several different tasks) is not accepted. Query the full amount of the entry and ask for it to be split.\n- Any amount above a cap is queried at the hours times the difference between the billed rate and the cap.\n\nInvoice lines:\n1. Nov 2 - R. Hale (Partner) - 2.0 h @ $480 = $960 - Draft response to document request\n2. Nov 3 - T. Brandt (Associate) - 5.5 h @ $290 = $1,595 - Research, client call and draft email to client\n3. Nov 4 - R. Hale (Partner) - 3.0 h @ $450 = $1,350 - Travel to client site\n4. Nov 5 - K. Osei (Paralegal) - 4.0 h @ $150 = $600 - Organize exhibits\n5. Nov 6 - T. Brandt (Associate) - 1.0 h @ $320 = $320 - Review notice of deposition\n\nNote from the account manager: \"The partner rate went up for everyone in November, it's all standard.\"","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":210}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Block billing missed","why":"The AI only checks rates.","fix":"Say: \"Query the full amount of any entry covering several tasks.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Travel at full rate","why":"The AI skips the 50% travel rule.","fix":"Say: \"Travel time is billed at 50% of the rate.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Verdict given","why":"The AI calls the invoice reasonable or overbilled.","fix":"Say: \"Do not say whether the invoice is proper or reasonable.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"No math shown","why":"The AI gives totals without working.","fix":"Say: \"Show the math in each Amount to query cell.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each part instead, for example: \"each line under 15 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Table columns","patterns":["amount to query","guideline issue"]},{"label":"Show the math","patterns":["show the math","working"]},{"label":"Block billing rule","patterns":["block billing"]},{"label":"Travel at 50%","patterns":["50%","travel"]},{"label":"Exact last line","patterns":["for gc review"]}],"hint":"Name the columns, require math in each cell and fix the last line.","mission":"Flag invoice lines that break the billing guidelines.","musts":["Apply every guideline","Show the math","Last line for GC review"],"rubricLabels":["A markdown table with columns Line, Billed, Guideline issue, Amount to query and five rows in order, with math shown in each Amount to query cell","Amounts to query are: line 1 $60, line 2 $1,595 (block billing, full amount), line 3 $675, line 4 $0, line 5 $20","The last line is exactly \"Total to query: $2,350 - for GC review\" and nothing says the invoice is proper, reasonable or improper"]}