Tracking time is one of the most universally disliked aspects of private law practice. I don’t think I’ve ever met an attorney who liked having to log every client-related task in six- or fifteen- minute increments. Tracking and recording your time is a pain. But it does have its benefits, aside from being able to bill your clients for the work you’ve performed.
When I first left private practice and no longer had to keep daily time sheets, I noticed that I became less productive. I chatted with coworkers more and took longer lunches. I spent more time on projects. These things are not all bad, but I realized at some point that I wasn’t checking items off my to-do list as often as I’d like, and I felt like I was losing momentum.