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Every firm that is involved in criminal legal aid work
finds the administration and billing of cases a time
consuming and labour intensive task, mainly due to
the large number of forms that need to be filled in
and sent to the Criminal Defence Service (CDS) in
order to justify payments received (or to be
received).
Recognising this fact, Mountain Software has produced a
range of software add-on modules, which help to reduce
the burden of administration for Magistrates and Crown
Court Billing.
These modules integrate seamlessly with the Mountain
Software Practice Management System and Accounts
system, eliminating duplicate data entry. A crime specific
time recording screen (which allocates the correct charge
out rate depending on the fee earner and the stage that the
matter is at) allows for time to be entered onto the time
ledger, including time for unassigned Counsel.
This information, along with the information stored in the
Practice Management System, is used to create the various
forms to be sent to the Criminal Defence Service.
The result is that CDS bills can be generated and
reproduced at any time at the touch of a button, as often
as required. Firms no longer find that they have a backlog
of cases waiting to be billed, Fee Earner time is freed up
and there is a reduction in reliance on the cost
draughtsman.
On screen tabs are available to provide access to details
such as:
- Time: where time available to be billed on a matter
is shown
- Disbursements: where either actual or anticipated
disbursements that have been added through the
accounts system will be displayed
- Claim History: where the forms that have been
introduced in relation to this matter are listed (and
can be recalled to the screen) and where the status
of those various CDS claims is listed in relation to
their status in the accounts system
This module will provide the firm with the means to
efficiently generate and reproduce the required CDS
forms at any time at the touch of a button, as often
as is required, and free up the time of the fee
earner.
FEATURES
- Unique File Number
- Counsel agreed fees
- Anticipated Billing Ledger
- Automatic production of CDS6. CDS7. CDS9 and
CDS11 for Magistrates Court claims
- Automatic production of 5144 & 5144A in the
Crown Court module
- Links to Mountain Software Accounts
- Type of Proceedings
- Special Time Recording screens
- Document history
- Automatic LC1-HC1 comparison indicator
- Optional VHCC, Appeals and/or Prison Law addons
available
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