Create Budget Wizard

Complete the page based on the table below. When finished, click Next to continue to the Review Proposal screen.

If budgeting by Hours at the matter level, you are taken to a New Phase screen. Complete the page based on the table below. When finished, click Next to continue to the Review Proposal screen.

Complete the page based on the table below. When finished, click Next to continue to the Review Proposal screen.

Phase Dates

This page appears with the phases from the template selected on the previous screen with estimated start and end dates provided for each phase. You can modify any date field by clicking your mouse into a date field and selecting a new date. To remove a phase, click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue.

Phase Budgets

This page allows you to quickly set up phase budgets, distributing the amount per phase and assigning a team from a template. Complete the page based on the table below. When finished, click Next to continue.

Phase Dates

This page appears with the phases from the template selected on the previous screen with estimated start and end dates provided for each phase. You can modify any date field by clicking your mouse into a date field and selecting a new date. To remove a phase, click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue.

Select Team

Either choose a predefined matter team from the Template drop-down menu or click the Add button to add matter team members individually. You can change members by clicking the pencil icon, or remove members by click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue to the next page.

Amount & Task Code Budget

This page is shown in a spreadsheet view similar to what you would see in Microsoft Excel, with the matter team members listed along the top and tasks or phases listed along the left. You can change any team member person to a fee class and vice versa by clicking the drop-down under a person's name or fee class's description.

To fill out the spreadsheet:

• Enter the total dollar amount anticipated to be spent on each task in the Task Amount column. The Amount and Leverage fields at the top of the screen also update accordingly. The Amount is the total budgeted for all tasks in this phase based, while the Leverage is the ratio of non-partner hours to partner hours entered for this phase.
• For each task, enter a percentage for each applicable team member, indicating the percentage of hours for each task that will be worked by each team member. The following fields then update:
  • Percentage- Total percentage of the task amount that has been allocated. Must equal 100% for each task or you will be prompted to make adjustments before proceeding.
  • Average Rate- Equal to the weighted average of the rates of the resources assigned. For example, if two resources (one with a rate of $200, one with a rate of $400) are each assigned 50%, the average rate is $300. But if the resource with a rate of $200 is assigned 75% and the resource with a rate of $400 is assigned 25%, the average rate is $250.
  • Hours- Equal to the Task Amount divided by the Average Rate.
  • Predicted Net Margin - Automatically populates after values above are entered. Calculates the predicted net margin percentage (revenue remaining after all operating expenses have been deducted from the total revenue).

Click Next when all task amounts have been entered and allocated. You are taken to the Review Proposal screen.

Phase Dates

This page appears with the phases from the template selected on the previous screen with estimated start and end dates provided for each phase. You can modify any date field by clicking your mouse into a date field and selecting a new date. To remove a phase, click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue.

Phase Planning - Hours

If you do a phase-level Hours budget, you are taken to a separate page for each phase that includes the following fields. After completing planning for each phase, click Next to proceed to the following phase. When all phases are completed, you are taken to the Review Proposal page.

Phase Dates

This page appears with the phases from the template selected on the previous screen with estimated start and end dates provided for each phase. You can modify any date field by clicking your mouse into a date field and selecting a new date. To remove a phase, click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue.

Select Team

Either choose a predefined matter team from the Template drop-down menu or click the Add button to add matter team members individually. You can change members by clicking the pencil icon, or remove members by click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue to the next page.

Hours & Task Code Budget

This page is shown in a spreadsheet view similar to what you would see in Microsoft Excel, with the matter team members listed along the top and tasks or phases listed along the left. You can change any team member person to a fee class and vice versa by clicking the drop-down under a person's name or fee class's description.

To fill out the spreadsheet, for each task, enter the anticipated number of hours expected to be worked by each team member in the corresponding column. The following columns then update:

• Hours- Total number of hours anticipated to be worked on this task.
• Average Rate- Equal to the total number of Hours entered for this task by the total Amount budgeted for the task.
• Amount- Equal to the sum of the hours entered for each employee for this task times the employe rate.

The Amount and Leverage fields at the top of the screen also update accordingly. The Amount is the total budgeted for all tasks in this phase based, while the Leverage is the ratio of non-partner hours to partner hours entered for this phase.

Click Next when all task hours have been entered.

Phase Dates

This page appears with the phases from the template selected on the previous screen with estimated start and end dates provided for each phase. You can modify any date field by clicking your mouse into a date field and selecting a new date. To remove a phase, click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue.

Phase Planning - Procedures

If you do a phase-level Tasks budget, you are taken to a separate page for each phase that allows you to enter a list of tasks and enter budget information for each.

Adding Tasks

To add a task to the list, click the Add Task button. An Add Record window displays.

• Select the desired task from the Template drop-down.
• Specify the Quantity of this task that you are adding to this phase (the number of times the task will be performed).
• Depending on the type of task, you may be able to enter a Size. This could correspond to a certain number (e.g., number of document pages) or could be a descriptor such as small, medium, or large.
• Review the list of activities associated to the task.
  • To modify an activity, click the pencil icon. You can then assign a specific person or class to the activity, override the number of hours allotted to this activity, or modify the Activity field to change the way the activity name displays. Click Save to apply your changes.
  • To remove an activity from the task, click the X in the far right column.
• To include any expenses typically associated to this task, select the Include Expenses checkbox.
• Click Save to add the task to the current phase.

Bulk Adding Tasks

To add multiple tasks to the phase at once, click the Add in Bulk button. An Add Record window displays. The Template selection at the top of the window defaults to the code for the phase you are currently on, but you can select a different phase code if necessary.

For each task you wish to add to the phase, enter the following:

• Number of lines- Enter the number of lines for this task you would like to add to the current phase.
• Quantity- Enter the quantity for this task that should display for each line (i.e., the number of times the task will be performed).
• Scale/Size- Depending on the type of task, enter either a number (e.g., number of document pages) or a size descriptor such as small, medium, or large.

Select the Include Expenses checkbox if expenses typically associated to these tasks should be included in the budget, then click Save.

Modifying and Deleting Tasks

For each task listed, you can modify the Quantity (number of times the task will be performed) as well as the Scale/Size if applicable. You can also click the pencil icon to change the task, to modify the included activities, and to assign the activities to specific personnel or classes. See instructions under Adding Tasks.

To remove a task from this phase, click the X in the far right column.

As you add tasks and assign personnel, the total Phase Amount at the top of the screen updates, as does the Leverage (ratio of non-partner hours to partner hours anticipated for this phase).

Use the Assumptions field to enter any additional information regarding tasks and resource assignments for this phase.

When you have finished modifying tasks, click Next to proceed to the next phase. After all phases are completed, proceed to the Review Proposal screen.

Phase Dates

This page appears with the phases from the template selected on the previous screen with estimated start and end dates provided for each phase. You can modify any date field by clicking your mouse into a date field and selecting a new date. To remove a phase, click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue.

Setup Phase Amount Monitor - Task Level

A list of phases, along with the tasks that make up each phase, displays. Enter the total Amount you would like to budget for each task in the field provided. If a task should not be included in the budget, click the X to the right. When you have entered an amount for each task, click Nextto proceed to the Review Proposal screen.

Phase Dates

This page appears with the phases from the template selected on the previous screen with estimated start and end dates provided for each phase. You can modify any date field by clicking your mouse into a date field and selecting a new date. To remove a phase, click the X in the far right column. Click Next to continue.

Setup Phase Amount Monitor - Phase Level

A list of phases included in the selected template displays. Enter the total Amount you would like to budget for each phase in the field provided. If a phase should not be included in the budget, click the X to the right. When you have entered an amount for each phase, click Next to proceed to the Review Proposal screen.