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CJA Attorney Timekeeping System

The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) was enacted and amended to provide compensation to federal defense attorneys and defender organizations for their time and expenses when representing defendants who are otherwise unable to retain counsel. CJA attorneys track hours and expenses for services on behalf of court defendants on paper worksheets and specialized forms (CJA 20, 21, 24, 26, 30, 31). Reimbursement rates and caps vary by type of case and expense category. Both attorneys and the Court have found the process cumbersome and subject to errors in both preparation and verification.

CJA ATS is an Internet-based timekeeping system for CJA attorneys to input their hours and expenses directly. It contains a service rate structure to automatically extend and total all line items per voucher for each specific case. Attorneys can print CJA forms and worksheets for easy and accurate submission to the court.

For CJA Attorneys, the ATS:

  • Automatically provides and extends hourly rates and totals as allowed by case type.
  • Warns if they exceed expense category line-item limits or case limits. Reminds them to provide supporting documentation if needed.
  • Displays aggregate voucher totals and case totals as they enter charges.
  • Tracks all time, charges, and expenses associated with a CJA case by voucher. Vouchers remain open until they are ready for submission.
  • Allows printing and/or saving completed CJA 20, 21, 30, or 31 vouchers and voucher line-item charges as PDF documents for submission to the court.
  • Automatically generates In-Court/Out-of-Court worksheets for submission with CJA forms.
  • Prevents data loss through centralized data storage and backup.
CJA Add Case Form CJA Edit Voucher Form CJA Voucher Form

CJA Benefits

The application streamlines and automates the entire CJA compensation process for both attorneys and administrators:
  • CJA ATS provides a standardized, user-friendly tool to simplify data entry for CJA attorneys.
  • Attorneys can enter charges as they occur and monitor all running category totals and case caps.
  • Voucher entry screens display any additional documentation requirements or overruns as charges are entered.
  • The system reduces auditing time and eliminates rejected forms due to errors and incorrect rates.