Silver Link Time Recording and Billing Software System
The Silver Link Time Recording and Billing software system provides a simple yet powerful system for recording and billing time for fee earning staff. Both chargeable and non-chargeable time can be recorded. The Billing module collects all unbilled chargeable time entries that have been posted and valued, together with all unbilled disbursements, for a file (or matter) up to a specified date, and places them in a draft bill. The actual amount that will be billed to the client may be adjusted by the user within the draft bill. It is then posted and the actual bill is produced. The system produces a range of reports that analyse fee earner activity, work in progress, billing and billing performance.
The system also collects any charges that may have been produced automatically from a workflow procedure. These are also incorporated into a client bill.
Recording Time
The following parameters are defined by the user so that the system values time recorded in the required manner. Two methods of recording time are provided:
- Time Logging.
When the user starts work on a particular file, the system stores the starting date and time via a single mouse click. The user can then exit from time logging and perform any other computer based task, or log off altogether. When the work has been completed, the time logging option is invoked again and the stop time is stored by a second mouse click. The time elapsed is calculated automatically and held within a worksheet. At the end of each day, the contents of the worksheet are then posted to the time ledger - Time Sheets.
The system can also accept entry of the contents of a time sheet. This option is usually used only for recording time that has not been entered via time logging. When time entries are made, the fee earner’s charge out rate can be overridden with a different value.
Recording Disbursements
All disbursements paid out may be recorded against each job (or matter). Future (anticipated) disbursements can also be recorded.
Charges & Billing Plans
If you are operating an application that uses automated workflows, the system automatically collects any charges that may have been identified in the workflow. Two examples of automatically generated charges a legal litigation system are:
- A fixed or variable charge may be generated when certain events occur during ta workflow procedure, such as issuing a court claim, obtaining judgment etc.
- A fixed or variable charge may be generated when a monetary value is posted into the workflow ledger.
Charges are generated according to a pre-defined Billing Plan that is set for a client, or an individual matter. A Billing Plan is a flexible set of definitions that define how various charges are generated. Different billing rules can be applied to events processed in the workflow, and to different types of money posted and allocated in the workflow ledger.
Flexible rules can also be set up for each client that define how money posted is allocated. For example, in a legal litigation system, monies received from a defendant may be allocated against a debt that he owes, to court fees spent, to solicitors’ costs accrued and to interest on the owed amount.
Automatic & Manual Billing
Designated clients can be set up for billing automatically by period. All unbilled elements are billed automatically for all clients that are due to be billed. A manual billing option is also provided.
