Once you have your client open, you can then can create a matter by following the steps below:
Under the client screen, select the Matters button along the top to open a matter.
A pop-up will ask 'Create a new Matter?'. Click Yes.
Click on the Add button.
Review and complete the required information as below:
Matter Ref – This is going to be the reference of the matter. This can auto populate with the client number if set up. Matter reference can also be manually entered as well
Client Ref – This will be the client reference you are opening the matter under
Name – The name of the client matter is being opened under
Branch – Please select the branch from the drop-down box the matter is being opened under
App Code – Select from the drop-down box the area of work that relates to the matter. E.g. Crime etc
Private – Please ensure this tick box remains unticked for any Legal Aid matters
Details – Enter in the details of the matter
Close Matter – Tick box for when the matter needs to be closed after completion
Select the Matters tab and enter in the information as required:
Start Date – Enter in the start date of the matter
Fee Earner – Select from the drop-down box the fee earner of the matter
Supervisor – Select from the drop-down box who the supervisor of the matter is
Department – Select from the drop-down box the department the matter is opening under. E.g. crime etc
Matter Category – Select from the drop-down box the category of the matter. E.g. Investigation Class etc.
Rate Category – If Legal aid leave this blank
Interest Scheme - If Legal aid leave this blank
Introduction – Select from the drop-down where the work has come from
File Security – This is a tick box that will let you put extra restrictions on a matter if the subject is very private and can restrict who can view the matter
eBilling - If Crime Legal aid leave this blank
Select the Legal Aid tab:
Under the Public Funded section tick the relevant box relating to what type of funding there is for the matter
For any crime legal aid matters ensure that the Crime Legal Aid tick box is ticked
For the moment we are going to leave the UFN field blank as we can auto generate this
Enter in the date the case started
Select the Crime Tab:
On this screen we do not need to fill in the UFN numbers at the moment
If the matter does have any bail conditions against it, they can be selected from the drop-down boxes
Go back in the Matters tab. Click on the Save button at the top of the screen. This will now create the matter. If you do have a forced conflict check against matters this will load up once the save button is clicked
Click on the OK button. The matter will open behind the dialog box and the matter creation screen can be closed. A matter can also be opened from the Matters section of Access Legal Case Management if the client is known.