# Litigation Management

## Purpose

The Litigation workspace brings court-related information for an existing matter into one place. It provides structured records for pleadings, hearings, court decisions, service of process, documents, e-filings, tasks, and deadlines without creating a separate client or matter record.

The workspace reuses information and functionality from Matter Management, Documents, Calendar, Court E-Filing, and Tasks. Changes made in those modules remain available in the litigation workspace where applicable.

## Permissions and Matter Access

| Activity | Required access |
| --- | --- |
| Open the Litigation register and accessible workspaces | View Litigation (`litigation_read`) |
| Create a litigation record | Create Litigation (`litigation_create`) and access to the selected matter |
| Edit or close a litigation record | Update Litigation (`litigation_update`) and access to the linked matter |
| Add, edit, or delete pleadings, hearings, decisions, or service records | Update Litigation (`litigation_update`) and access to the linked matter |
| Schedule a hearing | Update Litigation and Create Calendar Events |
| Create a compliance deadline from a court decision | Update Litigation and Create Tasks |
| Change an existing linked compliance deadline | Update Litigation and Update Tasks |
| Delete a litigation record | Delete Litigation (`litigation_delete`) and access to the linked matter |

Litigation access always respects the linked matter's access restrictions. A user cannot open or modify a litigation workspace merely by knowing its URL or API identifier.

Buttons are hidden when the signed-in user lacks the relevant permission. The server performs the same checks for direct requests.

## Opening Litigation Management

Open:

**Practice > Litigation**

The register shows:

- case title and case number;
- linked matter and client;
- court or tribunal;
- case type;
- litigation status; and
- an Actions column.

Select the case title or case number in the first column to open its workspace. Users with Update Litigation permission can select the pencil icon in the Actions column to edit the record in a modal without leaving the register.

Use the search field to find a record by case number, case title, court, case type, or matter reference. Use the status filter to limit the register to a particular litigation status.

## Creating a Litigation Record

1. Open **Practice > Litigation**.
2. Select **New litigation record**.
3. In the modal, select an existing active matter.
4. Enter the court or tribunal.
5. Enter the case number and case title.
6. Enter the case type or category.
7. Enter the filing date when known.
8. Select the litigation status.
9. Add any useful notes.
10. Select **Create record**.

After creation, the system opens the litigation workspace.

### Eligible Matters

Only matters with a status of **Active** are available for selection. An active matter represents a matter that has completed the required acceptance process.

If a matter does not appear:

1. Open the matter in Matter Management.
2. Confirm that the matter has been reviewed and accepted according to the firm's process.
3. Confirm that its status is **Active**.
4. Confirm that you have access to the matter.
5. Return to Litigation and reopen the creation modal.

The server rejects non-active matters even if a user attempts to submit one directly. Each matter can have only one litigation record.

### Litigation Statuses

| Status | Typical use |
| --- | --- |
| Pre Filing | Court proceedings are being prepared but have not yet been filed. |
| Active | The matter is actively proceeding before the court or tribunal. |
| Stayed | Proceedings have been formally paused. |
| Appealed | The decision or proceeding is under appeal. |
| Concluded | The substantive proceeding has concluded. |
| Closed | The litigation record is administratively closed. |

The litigation status is separate from the linked matter's status. The matter must be active when the litigation record is created.

## Litigation Workspace Overview

Select **Open workspace** from the Litigation register.

The workspace header shows the case title, case number, court, linked matter, case type, status, and filing date. Select the linked matter reference to open its Matter Management record.

The **Overview** tab contains:

- court, case number, case title, category, filing date, status, and notes;
- counts for pleadings, hearings, decisions, service records, and open tasks;
- the client and opposing parties already recorded against the matter;
- any additional litigation parties; and
- the responsible attorney and assigned matter team.

Client, opposing-party, and legal-team information continues to be managed through the existing client and matter workflows. Litigation does not create duplicate client or team records.

## Updating or Closing a Litigation Case

Users with Update Litigation permission can modify the case details from the action toolbar directly below the workspace title.

1. Select **Edit litigation**.
2. Update the court, case number, case title, case type, filing date, status, or notes in the modal.
3. Select **Update case**.

Use the status field to record a manual transition to Pre Filing, Active, Stayed, Appealed, Concluded, or Closed. Select **Close litigation** in the action toolbar for a direct transition to Closed, then confirm the action.

Closing a litigation case does not close or otherwise change the linked matter. It also does not delete the litigation record, documents, hearings, decisions, service history, tasks, or audit history. A closed case can be reopened by selecting **Edit case** and changing its status to the appropriate active workflow status.

## Pleadings and Applications

Open the **Pleadings & applications** tab to review structured pleading records.

Supported document types include:

- plaint;
- petition;
- written statement of defence;
- affidavit;
- notice of motion;
- application;
- written submissions; and
- other pleadings.

### Adding a Pleading or Application

1. Open **Pleadings & applications**.
2. Select **Add record**.
3. Select the document type.
4. Enter the preparation or filing date.
5. Select the filing status.
6. Select an existing matter document when applicable.
7. Enter the court reference when available.
8. Select the responsible lawyer.
9. Select **Save record**.

The filing status can be Draft, Prepared, Filed, Accepted, Rejected, or Withdrawn.

The selected document must already exist in Document Management and must belong to the linked matter. Upload and version the file through the existing Documents workflow rather than creating a separate litigation copy.

Use the pencil action to update a pleading or application. Use the trash action to remove it after confirmation.

## Hearings and Proceedings

Open **Hearings & proceedings** to review scheduled and completed court appearances.

### Adding a Hearing

1. Open **Hearings & proceedings**.
2. Select **Add record**.
3. Enter the hearing title and type.
4. Enter the start date and time.
5. Enter the end date and time when known.
6. Confirm the court or location.
7. Select the hearing status.
8. Record proceedings notes, outcome, and subsequent directions when available.
9. Select **Save record**.

Creating a hearing also creates the corresponding event in the existing Calendar. Do not create a second calendar event for the same hearing.

Hearing statuses include Scheduled, Adjourned, Completed, and Cancelled. Proceedings notes, outcomes, and subsequent directions provide the operational record of what occurred and what must happen next.

Use the pencil action to update both the proceeding and its shared Calendar event. Deleting a hearing cancels the linked Calendar event and removes the proceeding from the normal litigation view; it does not leave an orphaned scheduled event. Calendar Update or Cancel permission is also required for those actions.

## Court Orders, Rulings, and Judgments

Open **Orders & rulings** to record decisions issued by the court or tribunal.

Supported decision types include:

- court order;
- ruling;
- judgment;
- consent order; and
- other decisions.

### Adding a Decision

1. Open **Orders & rulings**.
2. Select **Add record**.
3. Select the decision type.
4. Enter the decision date.
5. Select the associated matter document when available.
6. Enter a clear summary.
7. Record any compliance requirements.
8. Enter the compliance due date when the decision creates a deadline.
9. Select the person responsible for the compliance task, or leave the responsible attorney selected.
10. Select **Save record**.

When both compliance requirements and a due date are entered, the system creates a linked high-priority deadline task. Review that task under **Tasks & deadlines** and manage its progress through the existing Task Management workflow.

Use the pencil action to update the structured decision record and the trash action to remove it after confirmation. Updating compliance requirements, the due date, or the assignee also updates the linked task when one exists. Further task progress remains managed through Task Management.

## Service of Process

Open **Service of process** to review the service history for documents in the litigation matter.

### Recording Service

1. Open **Service of process**.
2. Select **Add record**.
3. Select the matter document requiring service.
4. Enter the party to be served and the party's role.
5. Select the service status.
6. Enter the required-by date when applicable.
7. Enter the service date and time after an attempt or completed service.
8. Enter the service method.
9. Select the proof-of-service document when available.
10. Add useful service details.
11. Select **Save record**.

Service statuses include Pending, Attempted, Served, Failed, and Waived.

Both the document requiring service and the proof-of-service document must belong to the linked matter. Store proof of service through Document Management first, then associate it with the service record.

Use the pencil action to update a service attempt or completion. Use the trash action to remove an incorrect service record after confirmation.

Deleted pleadings, proceedings, decisions, and service records are soft deleted for retention and audit purposes. Authorized API requests use the same validation, matter boundaries, and audit logging as the workspace.

## Documents and Court E-Filing

Open **Documents & e-filing** to review existing documents and e-filings for the linked matter.

### Matter Documents

The table shows:

- document title;
- document type;
- the active version; and
- a view action.

Select the eye action to open the active document version. The system retrieves the file through the existing authorized Documents endpoint, so confidential-document and matter-access rules continue to apply.

The displayed active version comes from Document Management. If a new version is uploaded or an older version is made current, the litigation workspace reflects that active version; it does not maintain a separate version history.

If no view action is available, confirm that the document has an active version. Use Document Management to upload or correct the version.

### Court E-Filings

The e-filing table shows the provider, jurisdiction, filing status, and confirmation number for filings associated with the matter.

Submission, status updates, confirmation details, attachments, and provider operations remain in the existing Court E-Filing module. The Litigation workspace provides a consolidated view and does not duplicate the e-filing process.

## Tasks and Deadlines

Open **Tasks & deadlines** to review tasks already linked to the matter, including compliance tasks created from court decisions.

The table shows the task title, type, due date, status, and assigned user. Update completion, reassignment, priority, and other task details through the existing Task Management workflow.

## Audit History

The audit log records changes to litigation cases, pleadings, proceedings, decisions, and service-of-process records. Relevant old and new values are retained where applicable.

Calendar events, tasks, documents, and e-filings continue to use their existing audit and history mechanisms. Users cannot bypass audit logging by calling litigation endpoints directly.

## Recommended Workflow

1. Complete client intake, conflict checks, and matter acceptance.
2. Confirm that the matter status is **Active**.
3. Create the litigation record from the existing matter.
4. Upload case files through Document Management.
5. Record pleadings and associate the existing documents.
6. Schedule hearings through the litigation workspace so Calendar remains synchronized.
7. Record proceedings notes and outcomes after each appearance.
8. Record court decisions and create compliance deadlines where required.
9. Record service attempts and associate proof-of-service documents.
10. Review documents, e-filings, tasks, and deadlines from the consolidated workspace.

## Troubleshooting

| Situation | Meaning and action |
| --- | --- |
| A matter is missing from the creation modal | Confirm that its status is Active and that you have matter access. Non-active matters cannot be used for litigation. |
| The system rejects the selected matter | The matter may no longer be Active, may already have a litigation record, or may be outside your access. |
| Edit case, Close case, or Add record is not visible | Confirm that your account has Update Litigation permission and access to the linked matter. |
| A document is missing from a pleading, decision, or service modal | Confirm that it was uploaded to the linked matter and that you can access it. |
| The active version is incorrect | Review the document's versions in Document Management and confirm which version is marked current. |
| The document view button is disabled | The document does not have an active version available to open. |
| A document will not open | Confirm document access, matter access, and that the active file still exists. Ask an administrator to review the document record if necessary. |
| A hearing does not appear in Calendar | Confirm that the hearing saved successfully and that you have permission to create calendar events. |
| A hearing cannot be edited or deleted | Confirm that you have Update or Cancel Calendar permission as well as Update Litigation permission. |
| A compliance task was not created | Both compliance requirements and a compliance due date must be entered, and the user must have permission to create tasks. |
| Proof of service is unavailable | Upload the proof to the linked matter through Document Management, then return to the service record. |

## Scope

This workspace covers core litigation case management, pleadings, hearings, court decisions, service of process, documents, e-filings, tasks, and deadlines.

It does not include dedicated Evidence Management, Witness Management, a Court Docket module, or a cross-module Litigation Timeline.