Apperio allows users to query invoices line by line, review flagged entries and suggest new values. This gives you full control over invoice review, enabling you to raise queries directly on specific charges and engage with your law firms in a structured, auditable way.
Law firms can view and respond to queries raised against individual line items, with all communication recorded in the invoice history.
Note: This feature has not been enabled for all users. Please reach out to support@apperio.com if you would like to have this feature enabled.
The Line Items tab
When you open an invoice, you will see a Line Items tab. This tab contains two sub-tabs:
- Fees — all fee line items on the invoice
- Disbursements — all disbursement line items on the invoice
Both flagged and unflagged line items are shown. Flagged items appear at the top of each table by default.
You can filter and search within this table to find entries relating to specific actions or lawyers.
From here you can click on Query at the top of the page to raise any issues with the invoice to the law firm.
Flagged line items
Line items that have been automatically flagged by the system are marked with a flag indicator and reason within the table. Flagged items are shown at the top of each table by default.
Querying the line items
You can raise a query on any fee or disbursement line item, regardless of whether it has been flagged.
How to query a line item
- Navigate to the invoice and click on the Query button at the top of the page
- Locate the line item you want to query (use filters or search to narrow down the list if needed).
- Click the Query button on the relevant row.
- In the query modal, enter your comment in the text box. This field is required.
- Optionally, enter a suggested revised amount if you believe the charge should be different.
- To save the query without submitting the invoice, click Save as draft.
- When you are ready to submit, add a top-level invoice comment (required to submit the invoice query), then click Query invoice.
Note: The "Query invoice" button remains greyed out until a top-level invoice comment has been added. Individual line item queries can be saved as drafts in the meantime.
Comments and Suggested Amounts
For each line item you want to challenge:
Provide a clear explanation
Add a suggested amount (optional)
Each comment is stored with that specific line item, creating a structured record of your review.
You must also leave a top level comment on the invoice. We recommend giving a summary of the actions you want the law firm to perform.
What Happens Next
Firm Response
Law firms can respond directly within Apperio at the line-item level. They may:
Leave comments or provide clarification
Agree and update the amount
Edit, replace, or void the invoice if needed
All responses remain tied to the individual line items that were queried.
Frequently asked questions
Can I query a line item that hasn't been flagged by the system? Yes. You can query any fee or disbursement line item, whether or not it has been automatically flagged.
Can I suggest a different amount when querying a line item? Yes. The query modal includes an optional field to enter a suggested revised amount alongside your comment.
What happens if I save a query as a draft? Draft queries are saved against the relevant line items but are not visible to the law firm until the invoice query is submitted. You can continue editing drafts before submitting.
Can I query multiple line items on the same invoice? Yes. You can query as many individual line items as needed before submitting the overall invoice query.