How do I bill fees and hours worked on a case?
Correct fee billing starts from per-case time tracking: each logged activity becomes a line on the invoice. Below you see the fee types, the billing steps and what the law requires.
Short answer
- You log each activity (consultation, drafting, hearing) per case, in real time.
- You choose the fee type: hourly, fixed (flat) or success-based, per the engagement contract.
- You issue the fee invoice based on the hours and activities logged.
- You add VAT if you are registered and send the invoice via e-invoicing (RO e-Factura).
- You track payments and outstanding fees per client and per case.
Fee types
How each fee type is billed
| Fee type | How it is computed |
|---|---|
| Hourly | Rate per hour × hours logged on the case |
| Fixed (flat) | Amount set in the contract, per stage or per case |
| Success-based | Percentage of the result, on top of the base fee |
What the law says (briefly)
- The fee is set through a legal assistance contract (Law no. 51/1995, art. 127–128).
- A success fee is allowed, but it cannot be the sole form of remuneration.
- The firm issues a fiscal invoice; since 2024 B2B invoices are sent via RO e-Factura.
Practical example
Example: on a commercial litigation case, the lawyer logs 12 hours at €80/hour and one hearing. The logged hours give €960 in hourly fees; the invoice, with VAT, is issued through 4invoices and sent into RO e-Factura.
Common mistakes
- Estimating hours at month-end from memory instead of logging them in real time.
- Not tying activities to a case, so you don't know what each matter actually cost.
- Forgetting to track outstanding fees and discovering late which clients have not paid.
How 4lawyers helps
- Hourly and activity tracking, tied to the case.
- Fee invoicing through 4invoices, with VAT and submission to RO e-Factura.
- Logged hours stay tied to the client and the case.