How to run Attorney Fee in DocketMath for Brazil

Step-by-step

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Attorney Fee calculator.

This guide walks you through running an Attorney Fee calculation in DocketMath for Brazil (BR) using jurisdiction-aware setup. The goal is to help you produce consistent, reusable estimates you can export and compare inside your docket workflow—without guessing which parameters should change for Brazil.

1) Open the Attorney Fee calculator in DocketMath

1. Open the calculator via the primary CTA: /tools/attorney-fee
2. Confirm the calculator is set to Brazil (BR).

   • If DocketMath prompts for jurisdiction, select Brazil (BR) before entering any numbers.
3. Choose the calculation mode shown in the tool UI.

   • Some DocketMath views ask you to enter a base + percentage.
   • Others may ask for totals (e.g., a total fee amount).
   • Pick the mode that matches how your team records attorney fees for Brazil so you don’t unintentionally apply percentage logic twice.

2) Identify the fee “base” your workflow uses

In Brazil-focused fee workflows, the “starting point” for the attorney fee is often a monetary base (for example, a claim value / amount in controversy, or another designated figure depending on the scenario). In DocketMath, this usually appears as an input such as:

• Base amount (e.g., claim value / principal / amount subject to the percentage)

Enter the base amount as:

• A number (avoid adding currency symbols unless the UI requires it)
• The figure in the currency context your workflow uses (so outputs are comparable across runs)

What changes in the output: the attorney fee estimate will be computed from this base. If you change the base, the fee amount changes proportionally (unless the Brazil rules introduce caps/floors).

3) Enter the attorney fee percentage (or rule inputs)

Next, specify the percentage (or rule-related inputs) that drive the result.

Common fields you may see in the DocketMath Attorney Fee tool include:

• Fee percentage
• Cap/floor fields (if the BR configuration includes constraints)
• Modifiers/adjustments (if the tool applies additional conditions)

Practical approach:

• If your workflow tracks fees as “X%,” enter X directly into Fee percentage (as a numeric value).
• If your workflow tracks fees as a total instead of a percentage, switch to the mode that accepts totals (if available). This avoids accidentally double-applying percentage logic.

What changes in the output: increasing the percentage should increase the computed fee, unless a cap/floor or modifier limits the final number. Use the breakdown panel to see what’s actually applied.

4) Add any Brazil-specific condition flags shown in the BR view

Because you’re using jurisdiction-aware rules, the Brazil (BR) configuration may expose toggles that alter how DocketMath computes the fee. Carefully review the options displayed under the Brazil (BR) setup, such as:

• Whether the fee is calculated for a specific stage or scenario
• Whether to follow a simplified path vs. a rule-based path
• Any adjustment toggles relevant to how your team records fees

Go through each toggle shown in the BR configuration:

• Turn on only what matches your scenario.
• If DocketMath shows defaults, keep them only if they match your matter assumptions—otherwise change them intentionally.

5) Review the breakdown section (inputs → outputs)

After entering your values, review the breakdown panel. DocketMath typically shows:

• The estimated attorney fee amount
• Intermediate values (for example, the percentage applied to the base)
• Any totals if the tool supports fee + adjustments

Double-check:

• The base amount used matches what you entered
• The effective percentage applied matches expectations (especially if modifiers are enabled)
• Whether rounding is applied and at what step (some tools round at intermediate stages rather than only at the final step)

What changes in the output: if rounding or modifiers apply, two inputs that look “mathematically similar” can still produce slightly different totals.

6) Export or copy the result into your docket workflow

When the output looks correct:

• Copy the final attorney fee figure from the result panel.
• If DocketMath offers saving/exporting, use it for auditability (so you can trace which inputs produced which result).

If you’re comparing scenarios (for example, different base figures or different percentages), rerun the calculator and keep notes of each run’s key inputs so the differences are clearly attributable to specific fields.

Quick input checklist (Brazil / BR)

Use this checklist to ensure you’re not missing the fields DocketMath needs.

Common pitfalls

These are the most frequent reasons attorney fee outputs change unexpectedly when using DocketMath for Brazil.

1. Brazil selected, but BR toggles left at defaults

   • You might see Brazil (BR) at the top, yet the tool may still use default stage/condition modifiers that don’t match your intended scenario.

2. Wrong base amount

   • If your workflow expects one base figure (e.g., claim value), but you enter another (e.g., a later-stage valuation, partial amount, or adjusted figure), the percentage is applied to the wrong foundation.

3. Percentage mode vs total mode mismatch

   • Entering a percentage while the calculator is effectively set to a total-entry mode (or vice versa) can produce results that seem reasonable but are mathematically inconsistent with your intention.

4. Rounding expectations

   • Some teams assume rounding only at the end; DocketMath may round at intermediate steps. Use the breakdown section to understand where rounding happens.

5. Currency inconsistency across runs

   • If you run one calculation in one currency context and another in a different one without switching context, comparisons become unreliable.

Tip: If you edit only one number and the result changes dramatically, re-check whether you also triggered a mode switch or toggled any flags inadvertently.

Try it

Run a first Brazil attorney fee calculation in under 3 minutes using this simple change-testing plan.

1. Open /tools/attorney-fee
2. Select **Brazil (BR)
3. Enter a straightforward test scenario:

   • Base amount: 100,000
   • Fee percentage: 20
4. Leave Brazil-specific flags at defaults only if they match your scenario; otherwise adjust them deliberately.
5. Click or wait for the calculator to compute.
6. Review the output:

   • Confirm the fee aligns with the breakdown (for example, 20% of 100,000 should be reflected by the intermediate math shown in the breakdown).
7. Now test one change:

   • Change Fee percentage from 20 to 25
   • Confirm the fee increases accordingly, and watch for any cap/floor or modifier behavior in the breakdown.

When you’re ready for real matter inputs:

• Replace the base and percentage with your actual figures
• Re-check Brazil toggles/flags
• Export/copy the result into your case notes

Related reading

• Worked example: attorney fee calculations in Vermont — Worked example with real statute citations
• Attorney Fees Guide for Alaska
• Attorney Fees Guide for American Samoa