How a Time Study Analysis Transformed a Law Firm’s Revenue
When I stepped into my client’s firm—an ambitious, fast-growing boutique law practice—there was one consistent complaint from the owner: “I’m busy all the time, but I’m not making the money I should.”
That’s a red flag I see often as a Fractional COO. It usually means it’s time for a Time Study Analysis. You may have heard of a Cost-Benefit Analysis, this is slightly different. In my world I like to study time before studying costs and benefits.
Step 1: Time Tracking Reality Check
First, we implemented basic time tracking—not just for attorneys, but for all team members. We weren't looking to micromanage; we were looking to understand.
Who was doing what? Who did they hand their deliverables to?
How long did each task take?
Was the work billable?
Was the work even necessary?
In just two weeks, patterns emerged. Senior attorneys were spending hours on tasks paralegals could handle. The admin team was duplicating efforts. Valuable time was evaporating in non-revenue-generating meetings. The biggest find is how involved the owner was in each step. As an owner of a law firm your time isn’t just your billable rate, it is your billable rate PLUS your admin and paralegal.
Step 2: Mapping Time to Revenue
Next, we layered the time data with income analysis. We looked at:
Average value per case type
Hours spent vs. income generated
Retainer efficiency
Bottlenecks in onboarding, case prep, and closing
The results were eye-opening.
A third of the team’s hours were going toward clients who generated less than 10% of the firm’s income. Meanwhile, high-value clients were getting inconsistent communication and slower turnaround times.
Step 3: Operational Shift
With those insights, we took action:
Delegated lower-value tasks to properly trained staff
Created clear SOPs for case management
Rebalanced the firm’s intake strategy toward higher-value clients
Introduced a “stoplight” dashboard for time and revenue alignment
The Outcome: More Money, Less Chaos
Within 90 days:
The owner was able to focus on business development 5 more hours per week.
The owner had more time AWAY from work.
Monthly revenue increased by 22%
Staff morale improved—people were doing the right work in the right seats
Final Thoughts
A Time Study Analysis isn’t just about tracking hours—it’s about making strategic operational decisions that align your time with your goals. As a Fractional COO, I help firms get out of the weeds and back into control. Sometimes
Because when your time is focused on what drives revenue, your firm thrives.
Curious what a Time Study Analysis could reveal about your business? Let’s talk.
