Legal Definitions - billable hour

Definition: A billable hour is a unit of time used by lawyers, law clerks, or paralegals to account for the work they have done for a client and charge them accordingly. It is usually divided into quarters or tenths of an hour.

Example: If a lawyer spends 2 hours and 15 minutes working on a client's case, they would bill for 2.25 billable hours.

Explanation: This means that the lawyer will charge the client for 2.25 hours of work done on their case. The billable hour is a way for lawyers to track their time and ensure that they are being compensated for the work they do for their clients.