With the Require Time/Value Approval Invoicing setting is enabled in Firm Preferences, staff with Modify permissions to Case > Time Tab or Case > Value Tab can submit billable Time entries for approval.
Billable Entries
Billable Time entries are distinguished by any Value Code that is a Cost or a Fee. Any Value Codes Types that are not listed below will be marked with a dash and shown with an N/A status. For the Billable checkbox to be selected, the Staff must have Enable Billing for Time in Staff Profiles > Time & Billing Tab.
NOTE: Simply selecting the Billable checkbox without one of the following billable Value Code Types will not allow the entry to be Submitted.
Fees use the "Fixed Fees", "Attorney Fees", and "Time" Value Code Types.
Costs use the "Case Expenses", "Damages", "Debt Pay", "Due to Firm", "Lien", "Subrogation", and "Travel" Value Code Types.
Statuses
Draft – All billable Time entries will display as "Draft" upon creation. Submitted Time entries that were denied will return to a Draft status.
N/A – All non-billable Time entries will display with a dash.
NOTE: The Status for older Time items prior to the Firm Preference setting being turned on, will display with a dash for N/A.
Submitted – Billable Time entries have been submitted for approval.
Approved – Submitted Time entries have been approved and are locked from editing. Only staff with the "Time and Value Approval" Special Permission can modify approved entries.
Submitting Time Entries
Staff that have Modify permissions to the Time or Value Tab can submit a billable Time entry for approval. The Submit button will only be enabled when the selected entries are in Draft status. Because Time and Value entries are now linked, when a Time entry is submitted, the corresponding Value entry will also show Submitted and vice versa.
NOTE: Staff must also have Modify permissions to Case > Time Tab or Case > Value Tab.
Draft Time entries can also be submitted from the detail view. This Submit button will be hidden for any entry that is not in a Draft status.
Click the Submit button to submit the Time entry for approval. Confirm the entry submission on the following message.
Click the Submit button to change the status to "Submitted".
Click the Cancel button to abort the Time entry approval.
A confirmation banner will display when Submit is clicked. All changes to entry submission will be accessible in the Activity Feed.
Time entries can also be submitted from the Accounting Tab > Time view.
While Time entries in any status can be copied to other cases, the other cases will not retain the current entry status, besides for Draft or N/A.