How to create a matter
- Click + New Matter in the top right of any page
- Fill in the matter details (see fields below)
- Click Create Matter
Matter fields
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Matter title | Yes | The name of the case or engagement |
| Practice area | Yes | Select from the list — determines which features are available |
| Primary client | No | Select an existing contact or create a new one inline |
| Assigned attorney | Yes | The lead attorney responsible for this matter |
| Status | Yes | Defaults to Active |
| BATES prefix override | No | Overrides the firm-wide default for this matter only |
| AI analysis | No | Defaults to off — turn on to auto-analyze all documents uploaded to this matter |
Adding parties after creation
The new matter form captures the primary client. All other parties — opposing counsel, witnesses, insurance carriers, experts — are added from the Parties tab after the matter is created.Matter AI mode
Every matter has an AI mode setting that controls whether uploaded documents are automatically analyzed. It defaults to off so no firm is surprised by AI usage.- Off (manual) — documents are stored but not analyzed. Use the Analyze document button in the document panel to run analysis on individual files.
- On (auto) — all future uploads are analyzed automatically. Existing documents are not analyzed retroactively.
After creation
Once a matter is created you land on the matter overview. From here you can:- Add parties from the Parties tab
- Upload documents from the Documents tab
- Add deadlines from the Deadlines tab
- Send a client portal invite from the Portal tab
- View all communications from the Communications tab