UTBMS activity codes (A-codes)

Activity codes say what kind of work was done; the task code says what it was for. The original ABA activity set (1997) has 11 codes (per utbms.com). They go in the LEDES field LINE_ITEM_ACTIVITY_CODE on fee lines.

Code	Name
`A101`	Plan and prepare for
`A102`	Research
`A103`	Draft/revise
`A104`	Review/analyze
`A105`	Communicate (in firm)
`A106`	Communicate (with client)
`A107`	Communicate (other outside counsel)
`A108`	Communicate (other external)
`A109`	Appear for/attend
`A110`	Manage data/files
`A111`	Other

⬇ All UTBMS codes (Excel) ⬇ CSV

Example pairs

Drafting an answer: L210 Pleadings + A103 Draft/revise
Call with the insurer client's adjuster about settlement: L160 + A106 Communicate (with client)
Deposition prep: L330 + A101 Plan and prepare for

Next step: Add task + activity codes as tags or columns. LedesReady reads the codes from your Toggl, Clockify or Harvest tags or an Excel column, flags missing or invalid codes, and writes a validated LEDES 1998B file — free up to 25 line items, in your browser. Create a LEDES file →

Source: utbms.com — aba activity codes and the LEDES Oversight Committee's spreadsheet of the original ABA codes (1997), reproduced with permission of the ABA. Checked 2026-10-27. The LEDES Oversight Committee also publishes revised activity codes (2013); use them only if your client asks. Official definitions are in that spreadsheet; your client's billing guidelines decide which codes you may use.

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UTBMS activity codes (A-codes)

Example pairs

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