This article covers the following:
About Fee Structures
A fee structure is a reusable billing arrangement. It record's a customer’s existing fee agreements with their outside counsel. A fee structure includes a general description of the work to be performed, the area of law, what fee types will be used (flat fee, hourly, etc.).
The same fee structure can be applied to multiple similar matters that share the same terms. Once the fee structure is set up, the client can invite law firms to submit fee offers, which will apply to all matters associated with that structure.
After a fee structure is created, it can be applied to the relevant matters. Clients with multiple types of matters may create multiple fee structures to reflect different types of work or billing arrangements.
When a law firm submits a fee offer and the client approves it, the firm becomes eligible to work on all matters that use that approved fee structure. The agreed-upon rates remain in effect for those matters until the firm submits a new offer, and the client approves the updated terms.
Types of Fee Structures
The most common type of fee structure is "Detailed Hourly.” This fee structure asks firms to enter the hourly rates of each member of the firm that will work on a given matter. Other types of Fee Structures include a "Contingency" fee structure used generally in insurance defense. A "Flat Fee" structure is generally used in transactional matters, i.e. patent procurement. An example is shown below.
For general information about offers and rates, including how to submit a fee offer, see this topic.
Adding a Request to Modify a Fee Structure
Once your fee offer is accepted, you can be assigned to matters that use the same fee structure as your offer. In some cases, you may need to alter the fee structure for a particular matter after it is assigned to your firm.
Not every client allows law firms to complete this action. In order to select a new fee structure, your law office needs to have submitted a fee offer to it and had it approved by your client. You need the Matter Change Approval Contact role in order to take this action.
- Click the three-dotted icon in the upper-right corner of the Matter Overview page.
- Select Change Request.
This option is available only when you have accepted the matter assignment.
The Matter Change Request window displays.
- Select Fee Structure Change Request.
- Click OK. The Matter Change Request: Fee Structure Change Request page opens.
- If available, select an office in the Fee Structure Office drop down.
- Select a new fee structure from the Fee Structure drop down.
- Click Continue. The Matter Change Request: Fee Structure Change Requested page opens.
If there are issues, the Matter Change Request: Unable to process Fee Structure Change Request page displays. Cancel the request or make a new one.
- In the Current Fees section, review the current offer on the fee structure.
- In the Fees Proposed By {Law Firm name} section, you can make changes to the currency.
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Optional: From the Fee Offer Currency list, select a new currency.
If you select a new currency, a pop-up window opens. Click Yes if you want to convert the existing monetary amounts associated with the fee offer to the new currency. Click Save to save the changes.
- Complete all other fields as applicable to include those marked with an asterisk (*), which indicates a required entry.
- In the Reason section, from the Reason for Request list, select a reason for the change request.
- In the Describe the reason for request box, type the description for the selected reason for change request.
- Click Save.
The request is sent to the client. An admin will review and make a decision. CounselLink will send an email to the LF admin confirming acceptance or rejection.