> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.matter-vault.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Matters & Cases

> Opening a matter or a PI case, and the workspace you get for each.

Every file you work lives as either a **Matter** (general practice) or a **Case** (personal injury). They are the same record underneath, shown with the vocabulary that fits the work. This page covers how you open one and what you get inside it.

<Frame caption="The Cases list — every PI case in one place">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/layereightconsulting/vTgsqoZWajE8jIyz/images/how-it-works/cases-list.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=vTgsqoZWajE8jIyz&q=85&s=45d7dad9b3a56bf962fbf885483f34b7" alt="The Cases list" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-it-works/cases-list.png" />
</Frame>

## At a Glance

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Opening a Matter" icon="folder-plus">
    A guided form from Matter Basics through to the Team.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Opening a PI Case" icon="user-injured">
    No separate form — a case is a matter with the PI practice area.
  </Card>

  <Card title="The Workspace" icon="table-columns">
    Tabs tuned to general matters or to personal injury.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Case Stages" icon="bars-progress">
    Five phases, each with a more specific tracked step.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Opening a Matter

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a new matter" icon="plus">
    From **All Matters**, click **+ New Matter**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Work through the form" icon="list-check">
    The form walks you through **Matter Basics** (title, an optional description, the practice area, and for PI the case type), **Client** (toggle between an **Individual** or a **Business / Org**), a **Conflict Check** (enter the opposing party's name and run a check before you commit), **Incident Details** *(PI only)* (the date of loss), **Limitations / SOL date** (the deadline that protects the claim), and **Team** (at least one team member is required).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the matter" icon="folder-open">
    Click **Open Matter** to create it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame caption="The New Matter form">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/layereightconsulting/vTgsqoZWajE8jIyz/images/how-it-works/matters-new-form.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=vTgsqoZWajE8jIyz&q=85&s=4a48a097203651666ac3cd495ed94fb7" alt="The New Matter form" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-it-works/matters-new-form.png" />
</Frame>

## Opening a PI Case

There is no separate "new case" form — a PI case is just a matter with the personal injury practice area selected. There are two ways in:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Straight from the matter form" icon="file-pen">
    Choose PI as the practice area, and the form adds the PI fields (date of loss, case type) and opens the file as a case.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="From an intake" icon="inbox">
    On the **Cases** list, **+ New Case** takes you to **Intakes**, where a client inquiry is worked up and then converted into a case. This is the usual path, so the case carries its intake history with it.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Inside the Workspace

Open a file and the sidebar switches to that file's tabs. The layout differs by practice area — a PI case adds **Medical**, **Demands**, and **Settlement** because those are PI work; a general matter adds **Productions** and **Depositions** because those belong to general litigation.

<Frame caption="A PI case workspace">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/layereightconsulting/vTgsqoZWajE8jIyz/images/how-it-works/case-workspace.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=vTgsqoZWajE8jIyz&q=85&s=cc2199a1ebfa8c34ea652baca7b05fbe" alt="A PI case workspace" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-it-works/case-workspace.png" />
</Frame>

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Inside a Matter" icon="briefcase">
    Open a general matter and the sidebar switches to that matter's tabs:

    * **Overview**
    * **Case** — Parties, Documents, Custody, Court Rules
    * **Communication** — Email, Portal, Notes
    * **Deadlines**
    * **Workflow** — Productions, Depositions, Billing, Legal Holds
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Inside a PI Case" icon="user-injured">
    Open a PI case and you get a similar layout, tuned for personal injury:

    * **Overview**
    * **Case** — Parties, Documents, Custody, Court Rules, Activity
    * **Communication** — Email, Portal, Notes
    * **Deadlines**
    * **Workflow** — Intake, Medical, Demands, Settlement, Billing, Legal Holds
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Case Stages

A PI case moves through five phases, shown on the case **Overview**:

1. **Intake**
2. **Investigation**
3. **Demand**
4. **Settlement**
5. **Litigation**

Within those, the case tracks a more specific step — for example *Treating*, *Records Gathering*, *Demand Sent*, *Negotiation*, *Suit Filed* — so you can see exactly where a case sits, not just the broad phase. When you set a phase, the case starts at that phase's first step. Your client sees a gentler version of the same phases in their portal (for instance, "Building Your Case" rather than "Investigation").