How a matter moves

A matter’s state says where it is in its life: still being set up, waiting for its checks, being worked on, or closed. Kila moves it only when its gates are passed: “Gates are always checked (conflict, identification, engagement before opening; the closing checklist before closing), whoever makes the move.”

1. Draft. Set up in the new matter wizard. Submit for intake review: “The draft is complete enough for the instructions to be reviewed.”
2. Intake review. Intake reviewed: “Client, parties, practice area and responsible partner are right; the conflict check and identification come next.”
3. Conflict and KYC clearance. Conflict and KYC cleared: “The conflict check is cleared or waived and every client is identified.”
4. Engagement approval. Open the matter: “Every gate is passed: the engagement is accepted. The matter is numbered and its workflow starts.”
5. Open, then Active. Start work: “Work on the matter begins.” A matter can be On hold and resume where it was.
6. Closing review. Request closure: “The work is done: start the closing review and its checklist.”
7. Closed, then Archived. Close the matter: “The checklist is clear and the outcome recorded: the responsible partner approves the closure.” Archive: “Send the closed file to archive under its archive number.”

Seeing every matter’s state

Practice › Matters counts the matters in each state; tap a state to list them. Lifecycle board shows them as columns: “Drag a matter to move it. Each move is checked as on the matter itself.”

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Moving one matter

On the matter, Change state lists the moves open from where it is. An active matter offers Put on hold and Request closure. Each move explains itself before you confirm, such as Put on hold: “Suspend the matter (instructions awaited, fees unpaid, the court stayed it): give the reason and when to look at it again.”

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Before it opens, a matter can also be sent back a step to fix something, or closed with Decline or withdraw: “The firm will not act (a conflict, identification refused, terms not agreed) or the client withdrew. Only what audit and conflict checks need is kept.”

Who may make each move

The firm chooses, under Practice configuration › Matters: lifecycle, health and closing, Who moves a matter through its lifecycle: Anyone working on the matter, Someone who runs matters, A partner (others ask one) or Always a second partner.

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Good to know

“Always a second partner”: the person who asks never approves (maker-checker). A firm with a single partner decides alone. A move that waits for a partner goes to their Approvals.

Related

• Open a matter: the new matter wizard.
• Decide what waits for a partner: matter moves in Approvals.
• Partner: who opens, holds and closes matters.