The era of “billables only” is over. The widely cited ruling of the German Federal Labour Court (BAG) on mandatory working time tracking has sent clear shockwaves through commercial law firms and fundamentally challenged existing compliance strategies. The bottom line is clear: Recording only billable minutes is no longer sufficient. Suddenly, breaks, administrative tasks, and internal training must also be documented seamlessly. An administrative mammoth task that threatens to slow down the agile high-performance culture of law firms.
Yet as an expert in New Work, I see not only a burden, but a massive opportunity. Those who truly understand where their time goes can manage it deliberately and optimize processes. This is exactly where the haptic revolution comes into play: the TimeSpin® Time Tracking Cube.
Turning Legal Obligation into a Productivity Opportunity
Traditionally, time tracking in law firms has often been a battle against forgetfulness and an exercise in retrospective estimation. This led to inaccurate billables and compliance risks regarding mandatory rest periods. The new reality demands complete documentation of start times, end times, and breaks. With manual or complex digital systems, this quickly turns into an administrative nightmare.
TimeSpin® transforms this legal necessity into an incredibly simple tool for greater efficiency and trust:
Setup
Each of the 12 sides of the dodecahedron cube is assigned to a specific task, for example Client Matter A (billable), internal training (non-billable), administration, or break.Tracking
Lawyers simply turn the cube to the relevant side when switching tasks. Tracking starts automatically and down to the minute.Compliance on Autopilot
The underlying cloud software synchronizes data in real time and generates legally compliant logs of start times, end times, and breaks. Compliance with working time regulations becomes an automated side effect, without feeling like surveillance.
The Hidden Value of Non-Billables
The greatest added value for law firms lies in the new level of transparency. Previously, non-billable time was a blind spot in budgeting. With TimeSpin®, controlling and management gain precise insights for the first time:
Process optimization
How much time is actually spent on administrative tasks. If 20 percent of non-billables are wasted on unnecessary administration, immediate action can be taken.Billing accuracy
Minute-accurate tracking, even for very small client-related tasks, noticeably increases the actual billing rate.Burnout prevention
The tool visualizes workload peaks and ensures compliance with the legally required 11-hour rest period between work assignments. This is a crucial contribution to the well-being of lawyers. Optional blink timers can be set to prevent overload before it even occurs.
Practical Example: Focus and Trust Through Haptics
Imagine an M&A lawyer working on a final due diligence report. The TimeSpin® Cube is set to Client Matter X. When a colleague calls with a short legal question (internal consultation, non-billable), the lawyer simply turns the cube to Team Support. After finishing the call and taking a short coffee break, the cube is flipped to Break.
This simple, haptic action not only ensures legally compliant documentation of all working times, including breaks, but also actively trains focus.
The physical act of switching helps the brain truly change tasks. Instead of signaling control or surveillance, TimeSpin® promotes personal responsibility and self-management. Employees remain in control of their own tracking while providing the necessary transparency for leadership.
Conclusion: From Obligation to Competitive Advantage
The new reality in German law firms requires more than an updated Excel spreadsheet. It calls for a smart, employee-friendly solution that embodies the spirit of New Work. TimeSpin® delivers exactly that: legal certainty, maximum billing accuracy, and a playful yet powerful tool that brings focus back to what really matters, client work.
Those who act now turn the BAG requirement into a competitive advantage, increase employee satisfaction, and make every minute visible.
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