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XML Ebilling Format Updates: Webinars Scheduled; Public Comment Period Open As reported earlier this month, the Ebilling Format Revision Subcommittee has proposed significant updates to the XML ebilling formats. The proposed changes represent a fundamental change in the way client systems will validate rates to support multi-currency invoices. Literally every client system will need to have 1 or 2 rules changed to validate the approved rate off of a new field and add another rule to validate the invoice rate equals the timekeeper’s home rate multiplied by the exchange rate. Once done, we will be able to support multiple currencies in a single invoice, or multiple timekeeper rate currencies in a single invoice instead of needing to create separate invoices for each currency. Where rates are based on the local rate multiplied by the current exchange rate, the proposed schema will eliminate the need to add and approve additional rates every time the exchange rate changes, which is an extremely time-consuming task for both law firms and law departments. The proposed changes also align the base fields in XML 2.2.1, 2.1.4 and 2.0.4 except 3 fields, allowing law firms to continue to use XML 2.0.4 as an advanced compliant format off into the future. Because the base fields are aligned, math in the 3 formats will be the same, and this will allow programmers to develop validation routines for XML 2.2.1, to then copy the 2.2.1 routine and remove the steps for fields not in 2.1.4, and then to copy the 2.1.4 routine and remove the steps for fields not in 2.0.4. We believe this will make enacting changes easier into the future. The LEDES Oversight Committee has scheduled 3 webinars on the proposed changes for which registration is required:
To review the proposed changes or provide your opinion on the changes, click here. |
