code: public static Date parse(String timeString)
              throws ParseException {
  
          // Return null if no time provided
          if (timeString == null || timeString.isEmpty())
              return null;
  
          // Parse time according to format
          DateFormat timeFormat = new SimpleDateFormat(TimeField.FORMAT);
          return timeFormat.parse(timeString);
  
      }
docs: Parses the given string into a corresponding time. The string must
  follow the standard format used by time fields, as defined by
  FORMAT and as would be produced by format().
  
  @param timeString
  The time string to parse, which may be null.
  
  @return
  The time corresponding to the given time string, or null if the
  provided time string was null or blank.
  
  @throws ParseException
  If the given time string does not conform to the standard format
  used by time fields.