Overview

Legal cost management is a critical aspect of legal practice, particularly in the context of litigation. Bills of costs, which detail the expenses incurred during legal proceedings, are complex documents that require careful attention to detail and an understanding of legal principles. Navigating the complexities of bills of costs involves knowledge of relevant laws and regulations, as well as practical strategies for effective cost management. This topic delves into the intricacies of bills of costs, providing guidance on how legal professionals can effectively manage costs while ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

Learning objectives

By attending this webinar, you will develop the following competencies:  

• Understanding the purpose and importance of bills of costs in legal practice.
• Identifying the key components of bills of costs and their significance.
• Gaining knowledge of relevant laws and regulations governing legal costs.
• Learning practical strategies for managing costs effectively within the framework of bills of costs.
•  Developing skills for reviewing, analyzing, and disputing bills of costs when necessary.
• Exploring the best practices for communication and negotiation regarding legal costs with clients, opposing parties, and courts.

Content

The webinar will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to Legal Costs
  • Definition and significance of legal costs
  • Role of bills of costs in legal proceedings
• Components of Bills of Costs
  • Detailed breakdown of expenses incurred
  • Categories of costs (e.g., solicitor-client costs, party-party costs)
  • Documentation requirements
• Legal Framework Governing Costs
  • Applicable laws and regulations (jurisdiction-specific)
  • Precedents and case law influencing cost assessment
• Cost Management Strategies
  • Budgeting and forecasting costs
  • Utilizing cost-saving measures without compromising quality of representation
  • Allocating resources efficiently
• Review and Analysis of Bills of Costs
  • Techniques for thorough examination of bills of cost
  • Identifying discrepancies or inaccuracies
  • Strategies for challenging unjustified costs
• Dispute Resolution and Negotiation
  • Communicating concerns regarding costs with relevant parties
  • Negotiating settlements or adjustments to bills of costs
  • Appealing decisions on costs if necessary
• Ethical Considerations
  • Duty of transparency and fairness in billing practices
  • Avoiding overbilling or padding bills of costs
  • Maintaining client trust and confidence

Who should attend?

The following persons will benefit from attending this webinar:

• Practicing attorneys.
• Candidate attorneys.
• Paralegals.

Price

• R 450.00 - Online admission - Individual.
• Group Price 1 - From R184 per person (up to 5 users)
• Group Price 2 - From R121 per person (up to 10 users)
• Group Price 3 - From R109 per person (over 11 users)

Additional material

By attending this webinar you will be provided with:

• A summarized slide presentation.
• Reference documents and/or course material where available.

You can ask questions during the webinar and you will also have access to the presenter after the webinar.