Agentic AI can complete sequences of digital tasks with less manual interaction than traditional software. That changes how lawyers perform work, but it does not remove the need to understand and record the professional activity surrounding the matter.
The timekeeping challenge is to capture the lawyer's contribution accurately as workflows become more automated.
What Should Be Recorded?
The focus should remain on the professional work performed for the client. Depending on the matter, that may include:
Framing the legal question
Providing instructions to an AI system
Reviewing generated research or analysis
Checking primary sources
Revising drafts
Applying legal judgment
Discussing results with colleagues
Communicating advice to the client
The billing record should describe the legal task and purpose rather than simply recording that an AI agent was running.
Why Agentic Workflows Challenge Traditional Timers
Agentic workflows can create short bursts of lawyer activity separated by automated processing. A lawyer may provide instructions, move to another matter, return to review a result, open documents, and send follow up communication.
A single timer may not reflect that pattern well. End of day reconstruction can also miss the small review and verification tasks around the AI workflow.
A Practical Capture Model
A stronger model uses activity signals to help the lawyer reconstruct what happened across the workday.
MIRA captures work signals from supported sources such as websites, local files, Outlook Calendar, OneDrive, iManage Work, and Chrome. It can then prepare structured time information and AI assisted narratives for review.
The lawyer should confirm the work, matter, duration, narrative, and billing code before release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is agentic AI in legal work?
Agentic AI generally refers to AI systems that can carry out multi step tasks or workflows with a degree of autonomy based on a user's instructions.
Should firms bill for time when an AI agent is running unattended?
Billing treatment depends on the engagement, client guidelines, firm policy, and applicable professional obligations. Firms should distinguish the lawyer's work from unattended system processing.
How can firms capture fragmented work around AI agents?
Activity based capture can help surface browser, document, meeting, and communication activity that occurs before, during, and after an AI assisted task.
Does MIRA need a direct integration with every AI tool to help?
Not necessarily. MIRA can capture activity from supported work systems around the workflow, such as browser, document, calendar, and legal work activity. Firms should confirm the integrations required for their specific environment.
