Step by step instruction is beyond the scope of this forum.  However, you will first have to purchase the ledes addon from Sage to get started.

These links may be useful to you.

Here is the link to the Sage site listing the available electronic bill formats - http://na.sage.com/Sage-Timeslips/Products/Add-On-Products/Electronic-Bill-Delivery

Here is a link to a document library where you can download the electronic billing feature sheet and user guide which will tell you how the link works http://na.sage.com/Sage-Timeslips/Customer-Resources/Document-Library

LEDES1998B is clearly a new thing to you, so I'll try to provide some guidance.

LEDES1998B is a highly specific electronic file format for submitting bills to an audit company via an uploaded file.  You will no longer send your client a snail mail/paper bill.  You can read more about the specification here.  www.ledes.org

LEDES1998B is the most popular of several of these electronic formats, but there are more.  Timeslips does have a way to produce these electronic bills, but it does so via an addon purchase that cost $650.  If you need to do billing this way, then you need to purchase the addon.  It is not possible for Timeslips to produce a LEDES1998B file without it.  If your version of Timeslips is not one of the last three (and thus a supported version) you will also have to upgrade your Timeslips for Sage to even sell you the addon.

Once you install the addon, there will be some configuration necessary.  There will also be the need to add certain data elements to your database: various custom fields, new Task/Expense/Reference codes, etc.

Then all of your slips need to be coded (much like medical bills are coded, but not as bad).  This will be new to you.

After that, you need to follow a specific order to producing the bills to get the right file output. That file is then uploaded to CounselLink for auditing.  They will try to determine if your bill meets your client's billing guidelines.  Only after your bill passes the audit, will you be paid.

Please understand that this is a significant change to how you use Timeslips, and bill.  It is not just a few steps.  It can also differ for different firms and audit houses.  It can be extremely frustrating to try and figure out yourself via trial and error.

For this reason, this bulletin board is really not an ideal way to get or give assistance regarding LEDES, and your firm would be better off hiring one of the Certified Consultants who have experience in this area.  Many of us have been helping folks implement LEDES since it began in 1998.

All told, software + consulting could easily cost your firm more than $1,000 to implement LEDES. 

The first few bills are the hardest to get just right. After that it gets easier.

Hope this helps.  

If you think this suggestion was especially helpful, please consider clicking the KUDOS! (yellow) icon in this message.  Thanks.

Nancy Duhon, Esq.
Certified Consultant for Timeslips, Amicus Attorney and Credenza
Duhon Technology Solutions, LLC
[email protected]
404-325-9779
Providing personalized local and remote online support for Timeslips users for over 19 years. Available for private consultations, including older/unsupported versions.

Just to follow up on this thread, myself and two other colleagues have written a manual for purchase re: implementing LEDES and other electronic billing formats.  You can read about it and/or purchase via our website: www.certifiedresourcesnetwork.com.

Nancy Duhon, Esq.

Duhon Technology Solutions, LLC

Master Certified Consultant for Sage Timeslips

Providing individual Consultations and Third Party Remote Desktop Support - including older/unsupported versions.

404-325-9779

[email protected]