US Regional Terminology Changes
Overview
To support United States regionalisation, the system now uses US-specific terminology, spelling, and date formats.
These changes ensure that the platform aligns with US legal, financial, and accounting conventions, improving clarity and usability for US-based firms.
The update affects several areas of the system, including:
Spelling and terminology
Financial terminology
Matter roles
Date formats
These changes apply automatically when the system is configured for the US region.
Spelling and Language Changes
For US firms, the system now uses American English spelling across menus, settings, and system messages.
The following common spelling updates have been applied:
| Previous (AU/UK) | US Terminology |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Organization |
| Cheque | Check |
| Itemised | Itemized |
| Utilisation | Utilization |
| Realisation | Realization |
| Unfinalise | Unfinalize |
| Favourite | Favorite |
| Customised | Customized |
| Centre/Centres | Center/Centers |
Financial Terminology Updates
Several accounting and billing terms have been updated to reflect commonly used US financial terminology.
| Previous Term | US Term |
|---|---|
| Disbursement(s) | Cost(s) |
| Cost Recovery | Soft Cost |
| Debtors | Accounts Receivable |
| Creditors | Accounts Payable |
These changes appear in areas such as:
Billing and invoices
Financial reporting
Purchase and payment entries
Dashboard widgets
The term Costs replaces Disbursements throughout the system for US firms.Matter Role Terminology
Matter roles have been updated to align with common US legal practice terminology.
| Previous Role | US Role |
|---|---|
| Introducer | Originating Fee Earner |
| Person Acting | Billing Timekeeper |
Additional matter roles remain consistent but may appear differently depending on the firm configuration
Matter roles may vary depending on your firm's internal structure and role configuration.Compliance and Matter Terminology
Some matter-related terms have also been adjusted to reflect US legal practice language.
| Previous Term | US Term |
|---|---|
| Cost Disclosure | Matter Estimates |
This change ensures terminology aligns with US client cost transparency practices.
Date Format Changes
The system now follows the standard US date format.
| Previous Format | US Format |
|---|---|
| dd/mm/yyyy | mm/dd/yyyy |
Example:
| Previous | US Format |
|---|---|
| 15/03/2026 | 03/15/2026 |
This format is applied across:
Reports
Transactions
Forms
Dashboards
Date formats automatically follow the regional configuration of your system.
Tips & Best Practices
Be aware that financial terminology may differ between regions
When working with international teams, confirm whether your system is configured for US or AU/UK terminology
Review reports and financial dashboards to familiarise yourself with the updated terminology
Ensure staff understand the difference between Costs, Soft Costs, and other billing terms
Regional terminology ensures the system aligns with local legal and accounting practices while maintaining consistent functionality.