Track hours by partner, counsel, senior associate, junior associate, paralegal, legal assistant, specialist, or the firm's own role structure. The goal is to understand how the matter was delivered.
Why Total Hours Are Not Enough
Two matters can each require 100 hours but have very different cost and delivery profiles. One may be partner-heavy; another may use associates and paralegals more extensively.
Analyze by Matter Phase
Role mix should be examined by phase such as intake, research, drafting, discovery, negotiation, trial preparation, closing, or follow-up. Appropriate staffing can change through the matter.
Identify Repeated Senior-Level Work
Look for recurring routine review, status updates, basic research, or administrative coordination consuming senior time. Some may be delegable; others require senior judgment and should remain there.
Client Staffing Rules
Outside counsel guidelines may restrict number of timekeepers, partner attendance, multiple attendees, training time, or clerical work. Staffing analysis must consider the client's rules.
Cost and Pricing
Role mix affects internal labor cost, effective rate, flat-fee margin, budget performance, and client perception. Combine time data with internal cost and fee data.
Delegation Opportunities
A delegation review can classify work as requiring partner judgment, suitable for associate, suitable for paralegal, administrative/support, or candidate for automation. Do not delegate beyond competence, supervision, or client requirements.
Matter Comparison
Compare similar matters by role mix, total effort, phase effort, outcome, fee, scope, and complexity. Avoid comparing unlike matters.
Staffing Drift
A matter may begin with one staffing plan and gradually shift. Watch for rising partner share, more timekeepers joining, repeated rework, specialist involvement, or scope expansion.
Metrics
Useful measures include partner share of effort, associate share, paralegal share, number of timekeepers, hours by phase, internal labor cost, and client adjustments by role.
How MIRA Fits
MIRA helps improve the time dataset by capturing and organizing work activity for reviewed entry. Staffing analysis requires timekeeper identity, matter, duration, and downstream cost or billing data. MIRA does not decide the correct staffing model by itself.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is matter staffing analysis?
It examines how professional effort is distributed across roles and matter phases.
Does partner-heavy staffing always mean inefficiency?
No. Some matters require senior judgment.
Can staffing analysis support flat-fee pricing?
Yes, because role mix affects delivery cost.
Can MIRA recommend staffing?
MIRA can improve time data, but staffing decisions require matter, skill, client, and management context.
