In 2008 the LEDES Oversight Committee ratified the LEDES XML Ebilling Ver. 2.1 format as an update to LEDES XML Ebilling 2.0.
After the release of XML Ebilling 2.0, it became clear that time and billing and third party ebilling systems had different math logic. While one of the principal tenets of the LOC is to keep it as simple as possible, it was found that with the different kinds of fee arrangements that exist between law firms and their clients, with associated discounts and taxes, there really isn't anything simple about invoice math. XML Ebilling 2.1 reconsidered and published the underlying math statement with the hopes that this logic could be standardized by the multiple systems involved in legal ebilling.
Other principal features in XML Ebilling 2.1 include more comprehensive tax support, additional data elements to capture all data elements required by foreign jurisdictions including an extensible Regulatory Statement segment to support invoice level requirements without the need to further modify the format structure as legal ebilling spreads to additional foreign jurisdictions.
The LEDES XML Ebilling Ver 2.1 format includes 191 data elements within 16 segments.
The format documentation was revised in July, 2014 to the extent that timekeeper classifications are referenced in the document.
The format documentation was revised in January, 2020 with respect to the following: extends tax rate field; includes Clearance Tax system authorization number; clarifies certain data points. The format now contains 192 data elements within 16 segments.
LEDES_XML_E-Billing_2-1-3_Rev 1-2020
LEDES_XML_E-Billing_2-1-3_Rev 1-2020 w Changes Marked from 2.1.2 Rev 7-2014
XSD: LEDES213xsd.zip file must be downloaded and unzipped to view
(Sample file to be posted shortly)
XML E-Billing 2.1 White Paper Be sure to download the Ebilling XML 2.1 Whitepaper to learn more about changes in this format including specifically tax support.