You can use the Bulk Update utility to change the fee earner, rate, or task code on many unbilled time entries at once. This saves you from editing entries one at a time– for example, when a fee earner's rate changes or work moves to a different fee earner.

You can apply updates to all files for a fee earner, to a single file, or to all files for a client. Bulk Update only changes unbilled time. Time entries on existing pre-bills or release invoices are not updated.

Opening the Bulk Update Utility

To do this:

1. In Legal Accounting, go to Admin > Bulk Update. The Unbilled Time tab appears.

2. This step is essential: Expand and review the Please Review Before Proceeding warning panel at the top of the tab. 

   Caution: This section contains important information you need to understand before completing this bulk update. Since bulk updates cannot be undone, please read this carefully and thoroughly.

3. Choose from the following options shown on the page. Corresponding instructions are listed below:
   • All Files by Fee Earner
   • By File
   • By Client

Updating Time for All Files by Fee Earner

To do this:

1. Complete the steps outlined in Opening the Bulk Update Utility (above) to access the Bulk Update tool. 
2. Select All Files by Fee Earner.
3. In the Fee Earner field, choose the fee earner whose time you want to update. 
4. In the Date Range fields, enter the From and To dates. Both default to today's date. To include time from any date, toggle All dates to on.
5. In the Rate fields, enter the Current rate and the New rate (for example, 300 and 350). 
6. Click Review Changes. The Confirm Changes window appears.
7. Review the information and click Apply Changes. The matching entries are updated to the new rate and their amounts are recalculated.
8. Wait for the success message before you run another bulk update.

NOTE: If any entry cannot be updated, no changes are applied to any entries.

Updating Time on a Single File

To do this:

1. Complete the steps outlined in Opening the Bulk Update Utility (above) to access the Bulk Update tool. 
2. Select By File.
3. In the File field, search for and select the file. This field is required.
4. In the Fee Earner field, choose the fee earner whose time you want to update. 
5. In the Date Range fields, enter the From and To dates. Both default to today's date. To include time from any date, toggle All dates to on.
6. Select what you want to change, and complete its fields:
   • Fee Earner: The Current field shows the fee earner you chose in step 4. In the New field, choose the new fee earner. Leave Adjust rate based on new fee earner turned on to apply the new fee earner's rate and recalculate the entries, or turn it off to change only the fee earner.
   • Rate: Enter the Current rate and the New rate (for example, 300 and 350). The entries are recalculated at the new rate.
   • Task Code: Choose the Current task code and the New task code. Only the task code changes; rates and amounts stay the same.
7. Click Review Changes. The Confirm Changes window appears.
8. Review the information and click Apply Changes. The matching entries are updated to the new rate and their amounts are recalculated.
9. Wait for the success message before you run another bulk update.

NOTE: On flat fee entries (rate of $0.00), and on entries where the amount doesn't equal hours x rate, changing the fee earner updates only the fee earner, not the rate or amount. Changing the rate on these entries still recalculates them.

Updating Time for a Client

To do this:

1. Complete the steps outlined in Opening the Bulk Update Utility (above) to access the Bulk Update tool. 
2. Select By Client.
3. In the Client field, search for and select the client.
4. In the Fee Earner field, choose the fee earner whose time you want to update. 
5. In the Date Range fields, enter the From and To dates. Both default to today's date. To include time from any date, turn on the All dates toggle.
6. In the Rate fields, enter the Current rate and the New rate (for example, 300 and 350). The entries are recalculated at the new rate.
7. Click Review Changes. The Confirm Changes window appears.
8. Review the information and click Apply Changes. The matching entries are updated to the new rate and their amounts are recalculated.
9. Wait for the success message before you run another bulk update.

NOTE: On flat fee entries (rate of $0.00), and on entries where the amount doesn't equal hours x rate, changing the fee earner updates only the fee earner, not the rate or amount. Changing the rate on these entries still recalculates them.

Reviewing Past Bulk Updates

The Change Log section at the bottom of the Bulk Update page lists every bulk update that has been applied.

To do this:

1. Complete the steps outlined in Opening the Bulk Update Utility (above) to access the Bulk Update tool. 
2. On the Bulk Update page, expand the Change Log section.
3. Review the details for each update:
   • Date and Time: This shows when the update was applied.
   • User: This shows who applied the update.
   • Scope: This shows the scope and date range used.
   • Attribute: This shows the value that was changed.

TIP: The Change Log doesn't list the individual time entries that were changed. To see those, review the time entries on the relevant files.

What This Utility Cannot Do

The following actions cannot be performed with this utility:

• You cannot move unbilled time from one matter to another. This may be considered for a future release.
• You cannot update entries already on a pre-bill or a release Invoice. Entries in either of these stages will be ignored by Bulk Update.
• You cannot update entries that have task codes in the non-billable client or firm task categories. Entries in either of these categories will be ignored by Bulk Update.
• You cannot apply multiple criteria changes at the same time.
• You cannot change the date on entries. This may be considered for a future release.
• You cannot bulk delete time.

Updated October 23, 2026 14:53