A 6-minute billing increment is a common way to record legal time. It divides one hour into ten equal units.
That means:
6 minutes = 0.1 hour
12 minutes = 0.2 hour
30 minutes = 0.5 hour
60 minutes = 1.0 hour
This system is useful because it gives law firms a simple decimal structure for time entries.
What Is a 6-Minute Billing Increment?
A 6-minute billing increment is one-tenth of an hour. Since one hour has 60 minutes, one-tenth of an hour equals 6 minutes.
The formula is simple:
60 minutes ÷ 10 = 6 minutes
So when a lawyer records 0.1 hour, that usually means 6 minutes of work.
6-Minute Billing Increment Chart
Decimal Hours | Minutes |
0.1 | 6 minutes |
0.2 | 12 minutes |
0.3 | 18 minutes |
0.4 | 24 minutes |
0.5 | 30 minutes |
0.6 | 36 minutes |
0.7 | 42 minutes |
0.8 | 48 minutes |
0.9 | 54 minutes |
1.0 | 60 minutes |
This chart is a quick reference for legal timekeepers and billing teams.
Why Law Firms Use 6-Minute Increments
Law firms use 6-minute increments because they are easy to understand and convert into decimal time.
Benefits include:
Simple conversion into tenths of an hour
Easier review in billing systems
More granularity than 15-minute increments
Practical handling of short legal tasks
Consistent reporting across timekeepers
However, the firm should always follow the client agreement and outside counsel guidelines.
Examples of 0.1 Hour Legal Work
A 0.1 hour entry may describe a short but meaningful task.
Examples:
Reviewed client email regarding revised contract comments.
Prepared brief response to opposing counsel regarding deposition schedule.
Reviewed court notice and updated matter team regarding hearing date.
Checked revised clause language and sent comments to supervising attorney.
Reviewed calendar invite and confirmed client meeting materials.
Short entries still need clear descriptions.
Weak vs Better 0.1 Entries
Weak Entry | Better Entry |
Email. | Reviewed client email regarding revised contract comments and prepared response. |
Call. | Joined brief client call regarding timing for document production. |
Review. | Reviewed revised indemnity language and noted issue for partner discussion. |
Follow up. | Prepared follow-up message to opposing counsel regarding proposed deposition dates. |
The better entries explain the work and matter purpose without becoming too long.
6-Minute Billing and Client Guidelines
Not every client accepts the same billing approach. Some clients may allow 6-minute increments. Others may require different rounding rules, actual time, or special review.
Client guidelines may address:
Minimum billing increments
Whether rounding is permitted
Administrative work restrictions
Internal meeting restrictions
Block billing rules
Required billing codes
Description standards
The safest approach is to follow the client’s written billing rules.
6-Minute Billing and Missed Time
Short tasks are easy to miss because they often feel too small to record.
But across a full day, short tasks can add up:
Task | Time |
Client email review | 0.1 |
Quick document check | 0.1 |
Opposing counsel follow-up | 0.1 |
Calendar-related client update | 0.1 |
Short research note | 0.2 |
Total | 0.6 |
That is 36 minutes of work. If the work is billable and permitted by the client, failing to capture it creates revenue leakage.
Common Mistakes with 6-Minute Billing
Common mistakes include:
Forgetting short tasks
Treating vague 0.1 entries as acceptable
Recording time too late
Rounding automatically without checking guidelines
Combining unrelated 0.1 tasks into one unclear entry
Using the wrong matter
Failing to explain the purpose of the work
Short entries should still be accurate, clear, and reviewed.
How MIRA Helps
MIRA helps law firms capture work activity, review time inside Microsoft Teams, and prepare clearer billable descriptions before billing review.
For 6-minute billing environments, this matters because short tasks are often the first work to disappear from memory. Capturing activity earlier gives lawyers a better record to review.
For a connected workflow, explore Automated Time Tracking for Lawyers.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 6-minute billing increment?
A 6-minute billing increment is one-tenth of an hour. It is commonly recorded as 0.1 hour.
Why does 0.1 hour equal 6 minutes?
One hour has 60 minutes. One-tenth of 60 minutes is 6 minutes, so 0.1 hour equals 6 minutes.
What is 0.2 in legal billing?
0.2 hour equals 12 minutes.
Are 6-minute increments always allowed?
No. The allowed increment depends on the client agreement, outside counsel guidelines, billing system, and firm policy.
Should short 0.1 entries include descriptions?
Yes. Even short time entries should explain what work was performed and how it related to the matter.
