Skip to content
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Managing Invoice Line Items in LeanLaw

How to manage individual line items on LeanLaw draft invoices — including editing descriptions, adjusting hours and amounts, write-downs, moving entries, and handling non-billable items.

Each time entry, expense, and fixed fee on a draft invoice is an editable line item. LeanLaw gives you granular control over every item before it goes to the client — from adjusting a description to writing down hours to moving an entry to a different matter.

 

Opening a Line Item for Editing

In the draft editor, click on any individual line item to open its edit view. From there you can modify:

  • Description text (what appears on the client's invoice)
  • Hours (for time entries)
  • Amount (for expenses and fixed fees)
  • Billable status (toggle an item non-billable without removing it from the invoice)
  • Invoice user (who is credited for the item in revenue reports)

 

Editing Descriptions on Line Items

The description field is client-facing — it appears on the invoice exactly as written. To edit:

  1. Click the line item to open its edit panel.
  2. Update the Description field. You can use Snippets here if set up.
  3. Save the item.

 

Adjusting Hours on a Time Entry Line Item

To change the hours billed on a specific time entry:

  1. Click the time entry line item to open its edit panel.
  2. Adjust the Hours field to the desired billable amount.
  3. Save the item. The invoice total updates automatically.

 

Write-Downs (Pro Feature)

A write-down reduces the billed hours of a time entry without altering the hours worked. This preserves accurate internal tracking while adjusting what the client is billed. Write-downs are available for LeanLaw Pro and Elite subscribers.

To apply a write-down:

  1. Open the draft invoice and locate the time entry.
  2. Click the entry to open its edit panel.
  3. Find the Write-Down field and enter the number of hours to reduce.
  4. Alternatively, adjust the Amount field and LeanLaw calculates the write-down automatically.
  5. Save the entry. The write-down value must be less than the hours worked.

📋 Write-down reporting: Written-down hours appear in the Productivity reports (by Timekeeper and by Client/Matter) — showing hours written down, their dollar value, and the percentage of potential revenue impacted.

 

Moving an Entry to a Different Client or Matter

If a time entry or expense was logged against the wrong matter, you can move it from within the draft:

  1. Check the checkbox next to the item(s) to move.
  2. Click the Update dropdown.
  3. Select Move to different client/matter.
  4. Choose the destination client and matter.
  5. The entry moves out of this invoice and into the destination matter's Ready to Bill queue.

 

Save for Later vs. Mark as Billed

Action

What It Does

Save for Later

Removes the item from this draft invoice and returns it to the Ready to Bill queue. Use this to defer an item to the next billing cycle without losing it.

Mark as Billed

Permanently marks the item as billed and removes it from the billing workflow entirely — without adding it to an invoice. This can only be undone individually on the Time Entry page, not in Bulk. Use only for items that should never be invoiced.

Make Non-Billable

Keeps the item on the invoice but marks it as $0 / non-billable. The item appears on the invoice for transparency, but doesn't contribute to the total.