Automation workflows are incredibly powerful within Lawcus. While matter creation is one of the essential actions in your legal workflow, you can automate the process to streamline the workflow to save your valuable time.

Steps to Configure a Create Matter Action

Let's understand this with an example where the Create Matter action is triggered when a Client Created in Lawcus. It instantly generates a corresponding matter record, ensuring a streamlined and error-free client onboarding process for legal professionals.

Click on Automation on the left and select + Add Workflow under the Workflow tab.
Add the Workflow Name and Workflow Description.
Setup the Trigger type as Client Created.
Select the user whose action will trigger the workflow under Trigger by.
Click on Continue. You may add Entry Rules before clicking on the Continue button.
Under Select action choose Create Matter action and click on Next.
Setup the matter. Add the following:
1. Matter Name: You can click on the Merge Field icon and select Use Client value from trigger for using client info as the matter name, or add your custom value.
2. Matter Client: Select the client contact you want to associate with the matter. Under the Custom tab, select Use client value from trigger option that enables you to pull value options from other fields related to the trigger or previous steps in the workflow. Use the Matter Client option to select manually. Simply use the scroll bar to navigate the list and find the specific client you need.
3. Description: Enter a description of the matter manually, Or, click the Merge Field icon to select Use client value from trigger to write dynamic descriptions.
4. Matter Open Date: Specify the open date for the Matter.
  - Click the Another date dropdown for the date options. The date can be either the Trigger date, or Creation date under Use client value from trigger.
  - Click on Quantity to select the number of days before or after Another date.
  - Use the Business days, Calendar days, Month(s), or Year(s) to calculate.
  - To specify a date before or after a certain number of business or calendar days, use the drop-down menu next to After/Before to toggle between the two options.
  - Click Done to save your changes. If you need to remove a previously selected date, click Remove, or click Cancel to discard changes.
5. Matter Pipeline: In Lawcus, pipelines are a great way to organize and track the progress of your matters. You can choose the appropriate pipeline for the matter.
6. Matter Stage: Select the Stage of the matter (Case Assessment, Discovery, Trial, etc.).
7. Matter 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.
8. Color Code: Choose a color code for the matter, which will be displayed as a top border on the Matter Card.
9. Matter Billing Type: You can choose the required billing type. We have the option to choose Non-Billable, Hourly, and Flat Rate.
10. Matter Billing Rate: You can manually add the billing rates or choose from the previous steps.
11. Timekeeper: If required, select or change the Originating Timekeeper and the Responsible Timekeeper 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.
12. Members: Select team members responsible for or managing the matter. Their names and pictures will appear in the Members area, and they will receive all notifications about the matter.
13. 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.
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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.
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14. Custom Fields: If custom fields have been defined for matters, you can select them by clicking the Custom fields button.
15. 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.
Finally, click on Save to complete the process.

Important Points to Remember

Depending on the field within an action template, you have multiple options for selecting a value. If you see a field with a Merge Field icon, you can either manually input a value or select Use Client value from the trigger to open a list of available field values pulled from the trigger. Only fields applicable to the current field type will be displayed based on the previous actions and trigger. Click a field label to select it.
Fields marked with an asterisk are mandatory.
Use Custom values to populate the value based on forms, trigger & previous steps.

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