Tip #187 - Fees Awarded Page

One of the new pages added in SmartAdvocate’s most recent release is the Fees Awarded Page. This page was implemented to make it easier to enter multiple fees over time, for the same case. This is common in some practice areas, such as Workers Compensation and Social Security/Disability.

In most single event type personal injury matters, attorney’s fees are often calculated as a percentage of the recovery amount and is typically a one-time fee (contingency fee agreement). In those cases, the settlement amount and attorney’s fees (firm fee) are entered on the Negotiation/Settlement Page. For cases where there may be multiple awards for attorney’s fees, especially where the attorney’s fees are not calculated from one or more fixed recovery amount, then those fees are best entered on the Fees Awarded page.

If appropriate, the attorney’s fees can be calculated based on the fee agreement structure (i.e., percentage of gross or net recovery, a fixed amount, etc.) and other items such as disbursements, liens and outstanding medical bills can be can be accounted for on the Fees Awarded page, much the same way the entries are made on the “regular” Negotiation/Settlement Page. In many instances, however, the entry for fees awarded is entered without any amounts being deducted for the aforementioned items.

If there are no deductions made from the Award Amount (i.e., the entire awarded amount will be attorney’s fees), you will also need to enter the full award amount in the “Amount” field for attorney’s fees which will result in a “0” Net To Client.

After a fee award amount is entered you will then be able to enter the fee check information.

The “Add Fee Event” button will allow you to enter additional or subsequent fees awarded and the event type, such as Attorney Fee Decision (fees earned) or Attorney Fee Deposited.