UTBMS codes, which stand for Uniform Task-Based Management System codes, have been developed to streamline and enhance the efficiency of electronic billing across various legal activities and practice areas. These codes play a crucial role in unifying billing processes and facilitating more efficient invoicing and data analysis in the legal industry.
To leverage the benefits of UTBMS codes and incorporate them into LEDES-formatted invoices, the following steps can be taken to enable the codes for different entities:
To enable UTBMS codes for different entities:
Click on the avatar icon and select ‘Settings’.
Navigate to the ‘Bill Settings’ section and click on UTBMS Codes.
Check the checkboxes for all desired codes and then click the ‘Save UTBMS Settings’ button to complete the setup.
Note: Enabling UTBMS codes in Lawcus is an essential step towards utilizing the UTBMS feature to its fullest potential. However, there are a few additional settings you need to update in order to optimize your UTBMS experience. The additional settings are:
Update LEDES Law Firm ID
Update Timekeeper Job Title & Initials
Update Contacts
Update Client Reference Number
1. To Update the LEDES Law Firm ID:
Click on the user Avatar icon, then select "Firm Settings."
Navigate to the "Company Info" section and update the LEDES Law Firm ID, Tax ID, or GST Number.
Click "Save" to proceed and save the changes.
2. To Update Timekeeper Job Title & Initials:
Click on the user Avatar icon and select "Manage Your Organization."
Go to the "Job Titles" section and click on "+Add Job Title."
Select "Select from LEDES 1998B Classifications List" and choose the desired job title from the dropdown menu. The "Initials" field will automatically update accordingly.
Choose the relevant user from the users dropdown list.
Click "Create" to proceed and create the updated job title with initials.
3. To Update Contacts:
Access the Contacts section from the left sidebar menu.
To add new contacts, click on "Add Company" or "Add Person." To edit existing contacts, select the contact you want to modify and click on the "Edit" icon.
Fill in the desired value for the "LEDES Client ID" field.
Click "Update" to proceed and save the changes.
4. To Update Client Reference Number in Matters:
Go to the Matters section from the left sidebar menu.
For new matters, click on "Add." For existing matters, select the specific matter and either click on "Edit Matter" under Quick Actions or click on the Edit icon.
Update the "Client Matter ID" within the "Client Reference Number" field.
Click "Create" or "Update" to proceed and save the changes.
By following these steps, legal entities can effectively utilize UTBMS codes in their billing processes, promoting standardization, efficiency, and consistency in invoicing. Furthermore, incorporating UTBMS codes into LEDES-formatted invoices enhances data analysis capabilities, facilitating more accurate and insightful assessments of billing-related information.
Overall, the implementation of UTBMS codes in electronic billing systems empowers legal professionals and organizations with improved billing practices, ensuring enhanced productivity and better utilization of resources.