Family Law

Starting on 17 June 2015, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) will open up the use of the ‘bulk upload’ function on the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS).

As a CCMS user, this function will save you time. It allows you to upload multiple bills from your own case management system – you don’t have to enter billing data on CCMS line by line.

Who will be able to bulk upload their bills?

You can see a list of pilot vendors on the Bulk Uploading Bills section of the Enhancing CCMS page of the LAA website. Talk to your vendor to see if they are ready to upgrade your case management system.

Why should you consider using this function?

88% of survey respondents said that ‘bulk upload’ meant that the billing process in the CCMS was quicker than the paper process. No one thought it was slower.

Tina Nottingham from DMA Law said:

'Recently I had to enter a large amount of bills via bulk upload. I was amazed at the turnaround of the billing. It was well below the time expected and it is something that every legal aid practice wants to see.'

Other software vendors

The LAA will also shortly be offering a CCMS test environment to all vendors and any firms who have their own case management system. This will be available for a provisional period of 10 weeks to help vendors and firms complete the development and testing of their systems. Please email the LAA at software-vendor-support@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk to register your interest in this test environment or to explore developing a compatible product.

Future improvements to billing

In response to CCMS user feedback, the LAA recently published its planned enhancements on the Enhancing CCMS page. These include improvements to the PDF version of bills and the billing interview.