My bill of costs isn't building correctly - what do I need to configure?

The bill of costs activity in ContactsLaw draws upon a range of information from the file, workgroup, products and scales. In addition to the existing time, charges and disbursements, you must ensure that the following have been configured prior to creating a new bill of costs:

• Member categories
  By default, bills of costs use the maximum rate per hour for each member category. You can elect to use the individual members' rates instead, but it is recommended that you configure the appropriate categories and their maximum rates for each scale. Also ensure that each member is correctly assigned to a category from the commencement of their employment, and that any changes in category are recorded on the correct date(s).
  
  If member categories have not been correctly configured, the charge for each item on the bill of costs will be $0.
  
  
• Statutory scales
  While conventional bills are generally charged according to a billing scale set by The Practice, bills of costs are charged according to a statutory scale. Ensure that the appropriate scale has been defined, including the rates for all members (as well as any changes to these rates over time). Also add the scale item number for disbursements and the amount for the court filing fee (if applicable).
  
  If the scale has not been correctly configured, the bill of costs will not display the correct rates or scale item numbers.
  
  
• Products
  Best practice dictates that you create a product to model each item on the statutory scale and, where possible, allocate time and charges to the same products on client bills as for the bill of costs. (This is not mandatory, but it does greatly simplify the process of composing the bill of costs.) Be sure to add a statutory scale charge policy for each product and specify the item number(s). Multiple products can have the same scale item number if necessary. Ensure that any changes to the court scale over time are reflected in the charge policies for the products.
  
  If products have not been correctly configured, the bill of costs will either display product codes instead of scale item numbers, or the time/charges will appear under the wrong headings.
  
  
• Document template
  ContactsLaw generates the schedule for the bill of costs using its own built-in template; however, you can create your own template(s) for the summary (i.e. the bill of costs itself). In order to print a complete bill of costs, you must first create a template. By selecting the 'bill of costs' control type, additional fields from the bill of costs will become available for use in the document. Creating a table to display the items on the bill of costs is recommended; ContactsLaw will automatically include an item for the disbursements in the list.
  
  If a bill of costs template has not been created, you will only be able to print the schedule.