Steps & Progress
Every matter moves through a defined sequence of steps — the workflow set by its matter type. The step breadcrumb in the header shows where the matter is now, how far it has come, and what comes next.
The step breadcrumb
Across the top of the matter you'll see the workflow as a breadcrumb, for example Drafting > Client Review > Filed > Chapter II > National Phase > Closed. The current step is shown in bold. Steps to its left have already been completed; steps to its right are still ahead.
Moving to the next step
To advance a matter, click the next step in the breadcrumb. A matter only moves to the steps its workflow allows from where it is now, which keeps the progression consistent with how your firm has set the matter type up. Advancing a step can also trigger automations configured on the matter type — reminders, deadline calculations or status updates — so the right follow-up work happens automatically.
Viewing step history
To see when the matter reached each stage, hover over a step in the breadcrumb. Completed steps show the date and how long ago they were entered; the current step shows when it was entered. This lets you check the timeline of a matter without leaving the page.
Tip
The +New menu
The blue + New button in the header is a quick way to create the most common items on a matter without moving between sections. Pick from:
- Task — see Tasks.
- File Note — see File Notes.
- Email and SMS — see Communications.
- Document — see Documents.
- Invoice — see Invoices.
- Run Automation — manually run one of the matter type's automations against this matter.
When the matter type allows child matters, a Related Matter option also appears here — see Linked Matters.
Choosing an item opens its inline creator over the current view, so you stay on the same matter throughout.