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LAWSUITS AS MANAGEABLE PROJECTS

Systems for Controlling Costs in Litigation. LAWSUITS AS MANAGEABLE PROJECTS. John M. Johnson Lightfoot, Franklin & White Birmingham, Alabama. Litigation Management in a New York Minute A One-Day NETWORK OF TRIAL LAW FIRMS SuperCourse August 8, 2003. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS?.

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LAWSUITS AS MANAGEABLE PROJECTS

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  1. Systems for Controlling Costs in Litigation LAWSUITS AS MANAGEABLE PROJECTS John M. JohnsonLightfoot, Franklin & White Birmingham, Alabama Litigation Management in a New York MinuteA One-Day NETWORK OF TRIAL LAW FIRMS SuperCourseAugust 8, 2003

  2. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS? “Clients expect lawyers to manage the legal work, not simply perform it. They expect lawyers to become project managers. . . . Business executives now subject legal costs budgets to the same scrutiny as they do other parts of the business concern.” Committee on Corporate Counsel Newsletter, Vol. 17 No. 2, Page 11 & 12` 02

  3. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS? • There are no legal budgeting systems on the market that work adequately. • Will be presenting two systems today that will work: • System based on Microsoft Excel • System based on Microsoft Project • Both are based on ABA’s Task Based Billing Code. • We have templates for both that we can provide. 03

  4. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT EXCEL 04

  5. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT EXCEL 04

  6. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT EXCEL 05

  7. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT EXCEL 06

  8. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT EXCEL • Advantages • Most lawyers and clients have software and are familiar with it. • Relatively easy to use. • Disadvantages • Only allows tracking of fees and expenses. • Less flexible. • Harder to adjust budget when things change. 07

  9. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT EXCEL • Forms • Will be posting forms and instructions on our website www.lightfootlaw.com. • Can request forms now by sending an e-mail to jjohnson@lightfootlaw.com. 08

  10. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT • Why? • Because it lets you see everything that is planned in the case. • And everything that happens in the case. • Provides much greater flexibility. • Provides a realistic framework for incentives and alternate fee arrangements. 09

  11. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT • What is Microsoft Project? • It is a project planning software designed to be used on construction projects, product development projects, engineering projects and others. • It does not have a legal template, but we have developed one which we will also share. • Clients like it because it works by treating lawyers like pieces of equipment. 10

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  13. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT • Define the tasks – task type must be “fixed work” • Define resources and assign to tasks • Define task work hours • Define task start due date • Define task duration • Finish date will be calculated • Cost Fields • Total costs = Costs • Expenses = Fixed costs / Custom cost field • Fees = Custom cost field 12

  14. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Defining tasks using ABA codes 13

  15. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Defining tasks using ABA codes 13

  16. DEFINE RESOURCES 14

  17. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Define Resources 15

  18. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Define Resources 15

  19. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Define Work Hours 16

  20. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Define Work Hours 16

  21. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Define Start Date and Duration 17

  22. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Define Start Date and Duration 17

  23. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Identify Costs • Experts • Data Bases • Travel • Transcripts 18

  24. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Identify Costs 19

  25. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Identify Costs 19

  26. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Reports • Entire Case Budget • Breakdown by year, quarter, month or week • Actual Cost Tracking • Total Case History at anytime 20

  27. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Reports 21

  28. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Reports 22

  29. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Projected Cash Flow 23

  30. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Actual Cash Flow 24

  31. OTHER ADVANTAGES Lets you see all work that is planned. Lets you see who is scheduled to perform work. Lets you track critical path work. Allows easy adjustment. It requires the legal team to plan their strategy and work early, and that, by itself, saves money. 25

  32. Resource Usage 26

  33. BUDGETING USING MICROSOFT PROJECT Most companies with engineering departments have software. For those that don’t it is readily available. Instruction sheet on how to enter data is included in handout. Templates and forms are available by emailing jjohnson@lightfootlaw.com. 28

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