Proactive Billing for 18-B Counsel

18-B billing is designed to compensate assigned counsel for their work—but in practice, it often becomes an afterthought.

Billing begins after disposition. By that point, attorneys are already focused on the next case, preparing for trial, handling retained matters, or managing personal obligations. The result is predictable: completed cases sit unbilled. Time records need to be reconstructed. Months pass. Revenue is delayed—and in some cases, lost entirely.

This is where the 10-month rule matters.

18-B vouchers must be submitted within ten months of case disposition. Miss that window, and the issue is no longer delay—it’s lost revenue. Not because the work wasn’t done, but because the billing never made it to submission.

JWL’s billing system is built to address that reality—and it naturally fits within how we already work.

JWL is grounded in litigation strategy, case analysis, and the written record. Billing is not separate from that process. It is a continuation of it. The same attention to detail required to structure pleadings and motions applies to reconstructing time, organizing records, and preparing vouchers. Billing, when done properly, is simply another form of documenting the work already performed.

Instead of waiting for billing to become urgent, JWL integrates structure into the process. Files are taken as they are—no scanning, no organization required. Time is reconstructed where necessary. Vouchers are prepared and entered. Just as importantly, cases can be monitored, activity reviewed, and billing readiness identified before delays compound.

The goal is simple: work gets billed, and revenue does not sit—or disappear.

For many 18-B attorneys, assigned counsel work is only one part of a larger practice. Retained cases demand attention. Court schedules are fixed. Time is limited. JWL removes billing from that equation entirely, allowing attorneys to focus on their cases while ensuring that completed work is properly documented and submitted within required timeframes.

JWL ensures your billing is:

• Defensible

• Documented

• Timely

Billing should not be the task that lingers—and it should never be the reason revenue is lost.

Ready to Clear Your Backlog and Stay Ahead of the 10-Month Deadline?

JWL handles the entire billing process—from intake through submission.

Send the file as is. JWL handles the rest.

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