An Integrated Approach to

Costs Management
B E N E F ITS
Increased accuracy and clarity of costs estimates
Increased accuracy and clarity of costs estimates

Providing meaningful costs estimates, schedules

and bills of costs to the court
Increased accuracy and clarity of costs estimates

Providing meaningful costs estimates, schedules

and bills of costs to the court

Where the actual costs vary from the estimate,

allowing litigants, their lawyers and the courts to
see clearly where the variations have occurred
P RO B LE MS
Estimates have yet to become authoritative or
reliable
Estimates have yet to become authoritative or
reliable

Difficulty in comparing estimates with actual

costs incurred on a like-for-like basis
Estimates have yet to become authoritative or
reliable

Difficulty in comparing estimates with actual

costs incurred on a like-for-like basis

Absence of a consistent system of identifying

cost categories from estimate to time recording
through to assessment
Estimates have yet to become authoritative or
reliable

Difficulty in comparing estimates with actual

costs incurred on a like-for-like basis

Absence of a consistent system of identifying

cost categories from estimate to time recording
through to assessment
Estimates have yet to become authoritative or
reliable

Difficulty in comparing estimates with actual

costs incurred on a like-for-like basis

Absence of a consistent system of identifying

cost categories from estimate to time recording
through to assessment

Items grouped by activity (eg drafting, attending,

telephoning) rather than by task
A STA N DA R DI S E D S E T O F TA S KS
By referencing standard tasks:
By referencing standard tasks:

– The estimate can be prepared

By referencing standard tasks:

– The estimate can be prepared

– Time and other costs can be recorded

By referencing standard tasks:

– The estimate can be prepared

– Time and other costs can be recorded

– The claim for costs can be prepared and then

assessed
Only with such a standardised set of task
descriptions can an effective comparison be
made and any proper analysis be taken between:
Only with such a standardised set of task
descriptions can an effective comparison be
made and any proper analysis be taken between:

– The comparative costs (whether estimated or

actual) of each party
Only with such a standardised set of task
descriptions can an effective comparison be
made and any proper analysis be taken between:

– The comparative costs (whether estimated or

actual) of each party

– The estimated and actual costs of a single party

A standardised set of tasks will have to cater for:
A standardised set of tasks will have to cater for:

– All parties to the litigation, whether they be

claimant, defendant, respondent, interested
party or others
A standardised set of tasks will have to cater for:

– All parties to the litigation, whether they be

claimant, defendant, respondent, interested
party or others

– All types of litigation

For convenience each task will be ascribed a
standard code.
A unified and standardised set of tasks must
represent a balance between on the one hand a
set of tasks optimised for estimating and on the
other hand a set optimised for time recording
and assessment of actual cost
TH E P ROP OS E D A P P ROAC H
Standardised Codes
Preparation of
Case Plan &
Cost Estimate

Standardised Codes
Preparation of
Case Plan & Disclosure of
Cost Estimate Estimates

Standardised Codes
Preparation of
Case Plan & Disclosure of
Cost Estimate Estimates Case Management
by the Court

Standardised Codes
Preparation of
Case Plan & Disclosure of
Cost Estimate Estimates Case Management
by the Court

Standardised Codes

Time Recording
by Fee Earners
Preparation of
Case Plan & Disclosure of
Cost Estimate Estimates Case Management
by the Court

Standardised Codes

Time Recording
by Fee Earners
Preparation of
Case Plan & Disclosure of
Cost Estimate Estimates Case Management
by the Court

Standardised Codes

Time Recording
by Fee Earners
Review of Costs Sought
Against Estimate
Preparation of
Case Plan & Disclosure of
Cost Estimate Estimates Case Management
by the Court

Standardised Codes

Time Recording
by Fee Earners
Review of Costs Sought
Against Estimate

Periodic Review of Cumulative Costs

Preparation of
Case Plan & Disclosure of
Cost Estimate Estimates Case Management
by the Court

Standardised Codes

Time Recording
by Fee Earners

End Review Review of Costs Sought

Against Estimate

Periodic Review of Cumulative Costs

 Preparation of
Case Plan & Disclosure of
Cost Estimate Estimates Case Management
by the Court

Estimates Standardised Codes

“Knowledge Bank”

Time Recording
by Fee Earners

End Review Review of Costs Sought

Against Estimate

Periodic Review of Cumulative Costs

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Identify Assumptions

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Identify Assumptions

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Identify Assumptions

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Identify Assumptions

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Identify Assumptions

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Identify Assumptions Prepare Case Plan
and Cost Estimate

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Identify Assumptions Prepare Case Plan
and Cost Estimate

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Identify Assumptions Prepare Case Plan Submitted to Court
and Cost Estimate and Other Side

Standardised Codes
and Assumptions
Assumptions
 Standardised Tasks

Estimates Actual Costs