Case packages
Fixed-envelope billing for a whole matter instead of per-booking — proposed by lawyer, approved by sponsor.
Last updated: May 14, 2026
What a case package is
A case package is a single fixed price ("€500 to close this divorce matter") that replaces per-booking billing for the remainder of the case. The lawyer proposes a total amount and an estimated number of sessions; the sponsor approves once; all subsequent bookings on the matter draw down from that envelope until it is exhausted or topped up.
Case packages give the client predictability ("this will cost no more than X") and the lawyer a clear scope. Funds reserve at approval time and release booking-by-booking as the matter progresses.
Case package vs. per-booking
**Per-booking** charges each consultation individually at the lawyer's standard rate plus the LeyApp 15% commission. **Case package** charges one envelope upfront; bookings consume sessions until the envelope is full, at which point the lawyer can propose a top-up. Use per-booking for one-off questions; use case packages for matters with a clear arc and several sessions.
When to propose one
- The case has a defined scope (divorce, residence permit application, debt restructuring) and you can estimate the total work.
- The client needs cost certainty for a sponsor (employer, NGO, embassy) to approve.
- Multiple follow-up consultations are likely and per-booking approval would be administratively heavy.
Lifecycle
Every case package follows the same five-stage cycle:
The five stages
- **Propose** — the lawyer fills in the proposal form (total, sessions, case description, practice area, optional validity date) and submits. The sponsor is notified.
- **Approve** — the sponsor reviews and approves, declines, or defers. On approval, the sponsorship is upgraded to `sponsorship_type = 'case_package'` and the envelope is reserved.
- **Consume** — subsequent bookings on the sponsorship draw from the envelope automatically. The remaining balance is shown to lawyer and sponsor.
- **Top-up** — if the envelope runs short before the matter closes, the lawyer can propose a top-up. The sponsor approves it like the original proposal (same dialog, same MFA gate).
- **Complete** — the case package closes when the matter ends. Any remaining balance can be refunded to the sponsor or rolled forward, depending on the sponsorship type.
Both **proposing** and **approving** a case package require two-factor authentication (AAL2). Top-ups also require AAL2. This is a financial commitment gate — set up an authenticator app or passkey before you start.
The envelope and the booking flow
Once approved, the envelope is held against the sponsorship. Each booking made by the beneficiary deducts its full price (lawyer fee + 15% commission) from the envelope.
The sponsor and the beneficiary both see the running balance. The lawyer sees it on the booking page and the proposal-history view.
What happens when the envelope runs out
If a booking would push the envelope below zero, LeyApp refuses the booking and tells the beneficiary the package is exhausted. The lawyer can then propose a top-up, or the client can fall back to a per-booking flow if the sponsorship permits it.
Top-ups
A top-up is a follow-up proposal with the same shape as the original (`proposal_kind = 'case_package_topup'`). It includes a **top-up reason** field — explain why the original estimate was wrong (new procedural step, court appeal, etc.).
Approving a top-up adds the new amount to the existing envelope; declining keeps the package exhausted.
Set a **valid until** date on the proposal if the client needs to act before a deadline (e.g. a visa filing window). After that date, the package proposal expires and the sponsor cannot approve it.
Refunds and cancellations
Refund rules for individual bookings on a case package follow the standard 24-hour policy. If the whole package is cancelled mid-matter, the unused portion of the envelope is refunded to the sponsor; consumed sessions are settled as completed bookings.