Cycle time measures the interval from matter opening to closure, sometimes broken into phases such as time to first evaluation, to mediation, and to disposition.
It is reported as an average or median across a firm or portfolio segment.
Alternative Names:
Time to Resolution, Matter Duration
Why it Matters?
Cycle time correlates strongly with cost, since defense expense accrues with duration, which is why clients weight it heavily. The metric can mislead without adjustment, because a firm that resolves weak cases quickly and tries strong ones will show worse averages than one that settles everything. Segmenting by disposition type is what makes the comparison meaningful, and firms should ask whether their client does so.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Why do clients emphasize cycle time?
What distorts cycle time comparisons?
