UTBMS Code Database Lookup Tool
Every UTBMS (Uniform Task Based Management System) legal billing code, searchable in one place and annotated for billing and invoice-review teams: when to use each code, the patterns reviewers see, and what invoice review checks.
The UTBMS code database is a complete, annotated reference to the Uniform Task Based Management System: the legal billing codes that classify legal work and expenses on an eBilling invoice.
The Uniform Task Based Management System, maintained by the standards bodies and centrally referenced by the LEDES Oversight Committee, is how legal departments and law firms describe what a bill is for. This database covers the full universe of sets, from the original ABA task, activity, and expense codes to the specialized sets for patent, trademark, eDiscovery, governance, and more. What it adds beyond the official lists is an annotation layer on every code: when to use it, the patterns reviewers commonly see, and what invoice review checks.
That annotation layer is where a reference becomes a program. On the services side, a legal spend management engagement turns these codes into invoice-review rules, guideline language, and spend analytics. On the implementation side, legal technology work configures the eBilling or ELM platform so those rules run automatically on every invoice, because UTBMS codes only deliver value when the system enforces them.
Looking for the complete UTBMS universe? This database covers every UTBMS standard, from the original ABA task, activity, and expense codes to the newest specialized and international sets. Jump to the full registry of all 23 standards.
Search every UTBMS code
UTBMS code identifiers follow standards maintained by their respective bodies and centrally referenced at utbms.com. Any copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Descriptions and annotations are original Swiftwater & Company commentary, provided for reference and not as legal advice.
What is the complete UTBMS universe?
Every UTBMS standard, from the ABA originals to the newest specialized and international sets. Each links to its annotated reference page.
| Standard | Creator | Year | Prefix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABA Litigation Codes | ABA/ACC/PwC | 1997 | L100-L500 |
| ABA Activity Codes | ABA/ACC/PwC | 1997 | A |
| ABA Expense Codes | ABA/ACC/PwC | 1997 | E |
| ABA Counseling Codes | ABA/ACC/PwC | 1997 | C |
| ABA Project Codes | ABA/ACC/PwC | 1997 | P |
| ABA Bankruptcy Codes | ABA, derived from US Trustee categories | 1997 | B |
| LOC Trademark Codes | LEDES Oversight Committee | 2009 (IP effort ratified from 2007) | TR |
| LOC Patent Codes | LEDES Oversight Committee | 2009 | PA |
| LOC IP Patent Prosecution Codes | LEDES Oversight Committee | 2023 | 110 |
| LOC eDiscovery Codes | LEDES Oversight Committee with EDRM | 2011 | L600-L690 |
| LOC GRC Codes | LEDES Oversight Committee | 2015 | GRC |
| ABA/LOC Mergers and Acquisitions Codes | Joint ABA and LOC | 2016 | |
| ABA Real Estate Code Sets | ABA | ||
| ABA Workers' Compensation Codes | ABA | 2010 | |
| ABA Criminal Law Code Set | ABA | ||
| LOC Revised Activity Codes | LEDES Oversight Committee | 2013 | A |
| LOC Revised Expense Codes | LEDES Oversight Committee | 2013 | E |
| LOC Revised Project Codes | LEDES Oversight Committee | 2007 | P |
| LOC Revised Timekeeper Classifications | LEDES Oversight Committee | 2014 | (timekeeper) |
| Canadian Litigation Codes | Canadian Bar Association | ||
| EW-UTBMS J-Codes | Jackson Steering Committee, judiciaries of England and Wales | 2014 | J |
| DRI Revised Litigation Codes | DRI | 2007 | L |
| Yerra Global KM Group KM Code Set | Yerra Global KM Expert Group |
How does the UTBMS code database support legal spend management?
The database is a reference; turning it into results is a program. Our legal spend management and enterprise legal management hubs cover how coded invoices become spend control, and our guides to how legal eBilling works, what to put in outside counsel billing guidelines, and how the LEDES format powers billing analytics go deeper on the review programs, guidelines, and eBilling rules that put UTBMS coding to work.
Frequently asked questions
What is UTBMS?
UTBMS stands for the Uniform Task Based Management System, a set of standardized codes that classify legal work and expenses for electronic billing. It lets legal departments and law firms describe what each line of a bill is for in a consistent, machine-readable way, which makes budgeting, invoice review, and spend analytics possible across matters and firms.
How many UTBMS code sets are there?
The database covers the full known universe of UTBMS sets, from the original ABA task, activity, expense, counseling, and project codes to specialized sets for bankruptcy, patent, trademark, eDiscovery, governance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, workers compensation, criminal law, and several international and revised sets. Each set has its own reference page linked from the registry below.
Are these the official UTBMS codes?
The code identifiers and structures follow the published standards maintained by their respective bodies and centrally referenced at utbms.com. The descriptions, usage guidance, and review commentary are original Swiftwater analysis, provided for reference. Always confirm you have the current version of a set with its originating body before implementing it in an eBilling system.
Can I link to a specific code?
Yes. Every code has its own anchor. You can link directly to a code on its family page, for example the expense code E106 at /utbms-codes/expense/#e106, or to the same code inside the lookup tool on this page at /utbms-codes/#e106. Opening either link scrolls to and expands that code.
How do UTBMS codes relate to outside counsel billing guidelines and legal spend management?
UTBMS codes are the shared vocabulary that outside counsel billing guidelines and a legal spend management program depend on. Guidelines define what each code should and should not contain, the eBilling system enforces those rules, and consistent coding is what makes spend analytics and cross-firm benchmarking possible. Without agreed codes, guidelines cannot be enforced and spend data cannot be compared.
About this reference
UTBMS code sets are standards published by their respective bodies, including the ABA, the LEDES Oversight Committee, UTBMS.com, the CBA, DRI, the Judiciaries of England and Wales, and the Yerra Global KM Expert Group. All copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners; Swiftwater & Company is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Code identifiers follow the published standards, while all descriptions and annotations are original Swiftwater commentary, developed with human expertise, proprietary consulting knowledge, and AI assistance.
This is general reference material, not legal advice. Standards are revised over time, so confirm the current version with the originating body before implementing.
Next Step
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