In addition to time, you can track and later bill your firm's expenses with LeanLaw. This guide will cover creating expenses. For how to bill expenses, click here.
Recording expenses in the LeanLaw platform is two-part: one part LeanLaw, one part QuickBooks. LeanLaw deals with two types of expenses, both of which end up on your client invoices:
Expenses created in LeanLaw (“soft” expenses): This is an expense that you want to be reimbursed for by your client, but you did not pay to a vendor. Examples can include general overhead charges, photocopies, or mileage.
Expenses created in QuickBooks (“hard” expenses): This is an actual expense that you paid or will pay to a vendor. Examples can include filing fees, expert witnesses, or court reports.
Creating an Expense
1. Open Expenses
The Expenses tab is found on LeanLaw's main navigation bar. Click on it to view all recorded and synced expenses in a list layout.
2. Create a new expense
In the top right of Expenses, click the green Create Expense button. This will bring up the Add Expense window.
You can also scroll over the Plus Button in the upper right hand corner from anywhere in LeanLaw and click New Expense to bring up the same window.
3. Finish the expense
Finish the expense by selecting which client and matter the expense will be billed for the expense, a description of the expense which will be listed on the invoice, and all other known information. When you're finished, click the green Save button to finish the expense, or the green Save and New button to finish the expense and record another one.
Your firm now has an expense assigned to a client and matter which you can use for invoicing and reports!
🤔 Curious about the Add Attachments option? Learn more here.
Edit an Expense
1. Open the expense
If you need to edit an expense once you've saved it, click the 3 vertical dots on the right side and select Edit.
2. Make changes to the expense and save
After altering the expense, click the green Save button at the bottom
Saving Your Expense as a Template
If you will be creating this Expense often, you will want to save it as a Template to help you save time as you create Expenses.
1. Save as a template
From the edit view of an Expense, click the Settings Gear, then Save as Template.
2. Label and describe the expense
If you choose Save as Template, you will need to give it a label and an invoice description to make it an Expense Template. Once you complete the labeling and invoice description, click Save Changes to exit the window.
Now you and everyone else in your firm have an expense template to apply the next time you create an expense!