In-House Counsel

Update on my poll regarding percentages reduced after review of invoices from law firms

By Rees Morrison

Having launched my first blog poll in late February (See my post of Feb. 26, 2009: Vizu poll on overall percentage reduction in bills reviewed in past six months.), having summarized the results a week later (See my post of March 6, 2009: ?nearly a dozen responses?), and having left the poll open, I can now update the findings.

Six weeks ago, the dozen respondents produced these results: 0-2 percent reduction (41%); 6-8 percent (8%); 9-11 percent (16%); and 12+ percent (33%). As of April 22, 2009, 38 people had completed the poll. The new results show 0-2 percent reduction (36.8%); 3-5 percent (26.3%); 6-8 percent (2.6%); 9-11 percent (23.76%); and 12+ percent (10.5%). Hence, two-thirds of the respondents knocked off five percent or less of the total billed amount, which includes disbursement write-downs. At the other end, the other third reduced bills by nine percent or more.

The other lessons learned are that (1) readers will respond to polls and (2) I need to give them more time to do so.

Full post as published by Law Department Management on April 22, 2009 (boomark / email).