Set a cost limit warning on a case
Most case types include a cost limit warning section on the case set-up screen, usually where fee earner details are entered. You can use this to set an upper limit for projected costs and define the percentage at which a warning is triggered.
đNote: For example, a projected cost of ÂŁ1,000.00 with a 95% warning level will trigger a warning at ÂŁ950.00. Cost limits can be increased or decreased as the case progresses.
Open the case and navigate to the case set-up screen.
Locate the cost limit warning section.
Click Click to Add to add a new cost limit entry.
Enter the projected cost value when prompted.
Enter the warning percentage when prompted.
Configure the cost calculation method in System Parameter Maintenance
The base cost used for warnings is calculated system-wide using one of three methods. The default method is applied automatically â settings 2 and 3 must be added manually in System Parameter Maintenance. Only one setting should be added at a time.
Default calculation
No additional configuration is required for the default setting. The base cost is calculated as:
Matters.nTotalWork + Matters.nAnticipatedFee + Matters.nAnticipatedFeeBilled + Matters.nDisbs + Matters.nAnticipatedToPay
Exclude WIP Written Off
To use this calculation instead, add the following entry in System Parameter Maintenance. The base cost will be calculated as:
Matters.nFees + Matters.nWIPOutstanding + Matters.nDisbsBilled + Matters.nAnticipatedToPay
â ď¸Important: Spellings must be entered exactly as shown below. Only add one setting â do not add both.
Open System Parameter Maintenance.
Enter the following values:
Key: Exclude WIP written Off
Code: Cost Limit Warning
Value: Yes
Click Save immediately after typing Yes in the Value field.
Billed Fees and WIP
To use this calculation instead, add the following entry in System Parameter Maintenance. The base cost will be calculated as:
Matters.nFees + Matters.nWIPOutstanding
â ď¸Important: Spellings must be entered exactly as shown below. Only add one setting â do not add both.
Open System Parameter Maintenance.
Enter the following values:
Key: Billed Fees and WIP
Code: Cost Limit Warning
Value: Yes
Click Save immediately after typing Yes in the Value field.
Configure the warning message behaviour
You can also control when and how warning messages are displayed by adding a warning message setting in System Parameter Maintenance. Two options are available.
â ď¸Important: Spellings must be entered exactly as shown below.
Always Warning Message with Case Open History
This option displays a warning and adds an audit entry to the case history every time the case is opened and a time activity is selected.
Open System Parameter Maintenance.
Enter the following values:
Key: Case Costs Warning
Code: Warning Message
Value: Always Warning Message with Case Open History
Click Save immediately after typing the value text.
Always Warning Message Only
This option displays a warning message when a case is opened and a time activity is selected, without adding an audit entry to the case history.
Open System Parameter Maintenance.
Enter the following values:
Key: Case Costs Warning
Code: Warning Message
Value: Always Warning Message Only
Click Save immediately after typing the value text.