Too much tracking of bill challenges and write offs doesn’t make sense

“The law department should also maintain a record of challenged entries and amounts written off to ensure that firms follow through on billing revisions.” This recommendation comes from Rob Thomas’ “Top 10 Methods To Manage Outside Counsel.” He implies that law departments should advise their law firms about improper billing entries and that the firms should thereafter resubmit a corrected invoice.

Perhaps the more efficient method is for the law department to pay the reduced amount of the bill, and let the law firm handle the accounts receivable right off. The recommended communication to the firm, revision, and confirmation pile up administrative make-work.