In this video we will walk through how to add a role or rate assignment to a Matter in Practice Pro.
Overview
Roles and rates determine who is assigned to a client or matter and which billing rate is used when time is entered. A role group is a reusable set of role and rate assignments your firm can apply to multiple clients or matters. This saves time by reusing common staffing and billing setups instead of creating them manually for each client or matter. When assigned at the client level, role group settings flow down to all associated matters unless overridden at the matter level.
Assign a Role Group to a Matter
Navigate to the Matters list page from the left navigation.
Select a matter by clicking its name.
Click the Roles tab on the matter details page.
Use the dropdown labeled Roles to select a role group or choose None (Custom Roles) to create your own.
Note: If a matter rate assignment exists, it overrides the client rate assignment.
Create a Custom Role Group or Rate
Go to the Matters list page.
Select a matter by clicking its name.
Click the Roles tab.
Ensure None Custom Roles is selected.
Click Add Role Assignment.
Choose a Member Type for a group rate or a specific Member for an individual rate.
Enter the Bill Rate Amount or check Use Default Rate to apply the member's default rate instead.
Rate Priority and Application
The system applies rates in the following order:
Matter rate for a specific member
Client rate for specific member
Matter rate for a member type, if no specific member is defined
Client rate for a member type, if no specific member is defined
The member's default bill rate
The member type's default bill rate
The firm's default bill rate
For example, if Attorney Smith has a matter-specific rate, that rate will be used first, before any client-level or default rates are considered.
Best Practices
Use role groups when your firm has standardized staffing and billing setups.
Use custom assignments when a matter requires unique rates or specialized team assignments.