Open a matter

A matter is the file the firm’s work, time, documents, court dates and money hang on. You set it up in seven short steps; Kila then checks it before it opens: “the conflict search, identification and engagement are checked before the matter opens.”

Before you start

The client must already be a client of the firm. “A new client comes in through intake (enquiry, conflict search, identification)”: start from Practice › Intake, or tap A new client: start intake in the wizard.

Steps

1. Open the wizard

   Go to Practice › Matters and tap New matter. The steps run across the top: Client, Matter, Parties, Team, Billing, Dates and Review. Save draft keeps what you have at any step.

2. Choose the client

   Under Who is the client?, type the client’s name, phone or number in Client and tap the client. For a couple buying together or co-defendants, tap Add another client and give each one’s share of the fees. Tap Next.

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3. Describe the matter

   Give the Matter name “As the file is known: the parties and the cause, or the property and the transaction.” Choose the Practice area and Matter type: each type adds its own fields, such as Amount owed for debt recovery. Set the Priority, Risk and Confidentiality, then tap Next.

4. Add the parties

   Tap Add a party for the other side, their advocates and anyone with an interest, with each one’s Role. “The conflict search runs on every name when the matter leaves draft.” Tap Next.

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5. Check the team, billing and dates

   The Team comes from the firm’s defaults for the practice area: the Responsible partner, a Supervising advocate and the Lead advocate. Under Billing and budget, choose how it is Billed by: “Rates, staged fees and scale fees are set in the matter’s fee agreement once it is open.” Under Key dates, give the date the Instructions received and any limitation date. Tap Next each time.

6. Review it and tap Create the matter

   The review says how the matter will be numbered, such as “Numbered when it opens (the next number now: WO/DR/2026/0018); until then it carries a draft reference.” Tap Create the matter.

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7. See what it waits for

   Kila says where the matter got to, such as DRAFT-0013: intake review, and what it waits for. Tap Open the matter: the Conflict and KYC tab shows each gate under Before the matter opens, such as “The conflict check (CC-00108) is waiting for review. The engagement letter is not accepted.”

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Good to know

The wizard explains the rest: “Creating it runs the conflict search and moves the matter on as far as its gates allow: the conflict check cleared, every client identified, the engagement accepted. A partner opens it (or approves your request to open it).” See How a matter moves.

What if

Kila says someone who opens and runs matters does this

Kila shows:

DRAFT-0013: intake review

DRAFT-0013 saved: intake review. Someone who opens and runs matters does this.

The matter is saved and waits for the intake review, which a partner does. Nothing is lost: they find it under Practice › Matters, in Intake review.

The conflict check is waiting

Each gate links to its record. Open the conflict check from the tab: a reviewer decides it, as in Decide a conflict review.

There is no engagement yet

Tap Prepare a fee proposal on the Engagement gate: the matter opens once the engagement is accepted.

Related

• How a matter moves: every state from draft to archive, and who moves it.
• Run a conflict search and Identify a client: the gates.
• Advocate: an advocate’s day.

Next: once the matter is open, record your time on it: Record your time.