¶ 1. Overview
The Time Codes feature allows firms to maintain a standardized list of predefined billing activity codes. These codes are used by lawyers and staff when posting time entries, ensuring:
- Consistent billing descriptions
- Accurate categorization of work
- Faster time entry posting
- Cleaner reporting and analytics
- Standardized terminology across the firm
Time Codes form the backbone of timekeeping and billing accuracy in LawPractica.
¶ 2. What You Can Do in Time Codes
The Time Codes screen allows users to:
¶ ✔ View all predefined time codes
- Displayed in a structured list for easy management.
¶ ✔ Create new time codes
- Add firm‑specific codes for unique billing activities.
¶ ✔ Edit existing time codes
- Update names, descriptions, or categories.
¶ ✔ Activate or deactivate codes
- Control which codes appear during time entry posting.
¶ ✔ Maintain standardized billing language
- Ensure all users select from approved activity descriptions.
¶ 3. Typical Use Cases
Time Codes are used when:
- Lawyers post time entries
- Staff record administrative or support time
- Billing teams review time entries
- Reports categorize time by activity type
- Firms want consistent terminology across all matters
Examples of common time codes include:
- Client Meeting
- Drafting
- Research
- Court Appearance
- Phone Call
- Email Correspondence
- Review Documents
¶ 4. Time Codes (List View)
- The list view provides a complete overview of all time codes.
¶ Information Displayed
- Code Name
- Description
- Status (Active/Inactive)
- Actions (Edit, View Detail)
¶ Key Capabilities
- Search by name
- Filter by status
- Add new time codes
- Edit or deactivate existing codes
- This view is the central management screen for all timekeeping activity codes.
¶ 5. Time Code Detail (Detail View)
- The detail view provides full visibility into a single time code.
¶ Fields Displayed
- Time Code Name
- Description
- Status (Active/Inactive)
¶ Actions Available
- Edit name or description
- Activate or deactivate the code
- Save changes
¶ Why This Matters
Accurate time code details ensure:
- Consistent billing descriptions
- Clear reporting categories
- Accurate time entry posting
- Reduced billing errors
This view is essential for maintaining a clean and standardized timekeeping structure.
¶ 6. Integration with Other Features
Time Codes integrate with:
¶ Time Entry Posting
- Users select a time code when recording billable or non‑billable time.
¶ Daily Activities
- Time entries appear with their associated time code.
¶ Billing & Invoicing
- Time codes help categorize work on invoices.
¶ Reports
Time code usage appears in:
- Productivity reports
- Lawyer performance reports
- Matter activity summaries
- Billing category analysis
¶ Permissions
- Only authorized users can create or modify time codes.
¶ 7. Best Practices
To maintain a clean and effective Time Code list:
- Use clear, descriptive names
- Avoid duplicates
- Deactivate unused codes instead of deleting
- Group similar activities using consistent naming
- Review periodically to ensure relevance
- Keep descriptions concise but meaningful
¶ 8. Summary
The Time Codes feature provides a structured, centralized way to manage all predefined billing activity codes used across LawPractica. With tools for viewing, creating, editing, and maintaining time code details, it ensures consistent time entry posting, accurate billing, and reliable reporting.
This feature is essential for maintaining a standardized, efficient, and audit‑ready timekeeping system.