Adding a new matter in Lawcus is a straightforward process that allows you to manage your legal matters efficiently.
Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a new matter entry:
Click on "Matters" in the left sidebar of your Lawcus dashboard. This action will open the Matters screen, where you can manage all your legal matters.
Click on the "Add Matter" button located at the top of the pipeline stage to which you want to add the new matter. Alternatively, you can also add a matter from any screen by clicking the "+" (pink) button at the top and selecting "New Matter" from the menu that appears.
Fill in the matter details as mentioned below.
A. Client Information: Enter the name of the client. Lawcus will provide suggestions from your Contacts List as you type. You can either select a name from the dropdown list or type a new name and press the Enter key to add it to the list.
B. Matter Name (Mandatory): The matter name is required. It will match the client's name by default, but you can customize it as needed.
C. Description: Describe the matter using the text editor. You can format the text by using the toolbar options.
Note: The Description box is a barebones WYSIWYG Text Editor. It is similar to your word processor (like MS Word) but has limited capabilities. A toolbar at the top allows you to format the text as you type (or later).
From left to right, the buttons are:
Make text bold.
Make text italics.
Make text underlined.
Display the text in a special font.
Add a hyperlink to the selected text.
Apply Heading 1 style to the text.
Apply Heading 2 style to the text.
Format the selected text as a quotation. The selected text will be indented from both sides.
Start a numbered list.
Start a bulleted list.
D. Enter the Estimated Matter Value.
E. Billing Type: Choose from options like Non-billable, Hourly, Flat rate, or Contingency fee. For the Contingency fee, specify the Billing Attorney, the Billing Rate as a percentage, and the Settlement Amount.
Note: If you want to work on the matter without charging any fees, you can select non-billable.
F. Evergreen Retainer: If you select this checkbox, you can then enter a Minimum Evergreen Retainer Amount. Lawcus will notify you whenever the balance dips below the amount specified here.
G. Dates: Enter the Open Date, Close Date (if any), and Statute of Limitations Date. You can type the date (in mm/dd/yyyy format), or use the calendar icon.
H. Pipeline Selection (Mandatory): Choose the appropriate pipeline for the matter.
I. Stage Selection: Select the Stage of the matter (Case Assessment, Discovery, Trial, etc.).
J. Practice Area: Select the Practice Area of the matter (Corporate, Bankruptcy, Copyright, etc.). You can either select the Practice Area from the drop-down list or type a new value and press the Enter key to add it to the list.
K. Attorney: If required, select or change the Originating Attorney and the Responsible Attorney for the matter. You can either select from the drop-down list or type a person's name and press the Enter key to add it to the list.
L. Tags: Click on the Tags button, at the right, to enter tags or keywords for this matter. You can later use these tags to search for this matter.
M. Members: Select team members responsible for or managing the matter. Their names and pictures will appear in the "Members" area.
N. Related Contacts: Add names of individuals connected with the matter, such as witnesses, opposing attorneys, or billing contacts. Specify the relationship type from the dropdown list.
Tip: Start typing the type of relationship, and Lawcus will show you items in the drop-down list. Select the item you want from the drop-down list. If the type of relationship you want is not in the drop-down list, you can type the complete name and press the Enter key to add it.
Similarly, select the name of the Relation contact from the drop-down list.
Click on the Add relation button to add the name of the related person. Lawcus will add the relation details above the client's name.
O. Visibility: Set the visibility of the matter, indicating whether others can see it.
P. Custom Fields: If custom fields have been defined for matters, you can select them by clicking the "Custom fields" button.
Q. Color Code: Choose a color code for the matter, which will be displayed as a top border on the Matter Card.
Tip: If you know the Hex codes of colors, you can assign any color you want to the matter. Just type the required hexadecimal color code in the # box above.
4. Save and Create Matter Entry: Finally, click on the "Create" button to save your changes and create the Matter entry. Lawcus will generate the Matter entry and take you to the Matter Details screen.
Note: If you need to create multiple Matter entries, use the "Save and add new" button instead of "Create." Lawcus will save the current entry and provide a blank Matter screen for your next entry.
With these simple steps, you can efficiently add and manage your legal matters in Lawcus, enhancing your law practice's organization and productivity.