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LEDES Codes Billables in LeanLaw

How to use LeanLaw's LEDES to track and verify coded time entries and expenses — including downloading LEDES files from draft invoices and finalized invoices.

LeanLaw provides a way to work with LEDES billing data: a direct LEDES file downloads from both draft invoices and finalized invoices in Manage Invoices so you can submit the files directly into your LEDES vendor.

 

Downloading LEDES Files from Draft Invoices

You can preview and download a LEDES file while an invoice is still in Draft status — useful for reviewing the file before finalizing and sending to the client:

  1. Go to Billing → Drafts (or Review/Approved tabs).
  2. Open the draft invoice.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the draft.
  4. Click the LEDES button to download the LEDES file for that invoice.

📋 Note: The LEDES file downloaded from a draft invoice reflects the current state of the invoice — including any edits made to codes or descriptions since the draft was created. Download again after any edits to get the most current version.

 

Downloading LEDES Files from Manage Invoices

For invoices already submitted to QuickBooks, LEDES files are available from the Manage Invoices tab:

  1. Go to Billing → Manage Invoices.
  2. Find the invoice.
  3. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) → LEDES (or use the bulk LEDES export from the Deliver dropdown).
  4. The LEDES file downloads as a text file (.txt).

 

For bulk LEDES export:

  1. Check the checkboxes next to multiple invoices.
  2. From the Deliver dropdown at the bottom of the screen, select LEDES.
  3. LeanLaw generates a ZIP file containing individual LEDES text files for each invoice.

📋 LEDES with expense attachments: If expense attachments are enabled and the invoice has expense receipts, use the LEDES & Expenses button (instead of LEDES alone) to download the LEDES file and expense attachment ZIP together in one action.

 

LEDES File Format Reference

LeanLaw generates LEDES files as plain text (.txt) files structured according to the LEDES specification. Key characteristics:

  • Delimiter: The pipe character (|) separates columns. Each line item is a separate row.
  • Header row: The first row defines column names. The second row is the invoice summary. Subsequent rows are line items.
  • Invoice status label: Controlled by the Default Invoice Description setting (Draft / Interim / Final) or a custom override.
  • LEDES 98b vs 2000: The two formats differ slightly in column structure. 98b is more widely used; 2000 includes the separate tax ID field.