Concept
Engagement before work
Whether time and disbursements wait for the client's signed engagement letter, and how a partner lets urgent work start before it is back.
A fee dispute or a conduct complaint turns on what the client agreed. The engagement letter is generated, sent and signed on the matter's Overview, and the matter's facts say where it stands: signed and when, signed on the parent matter for a sub matter, or not signed.
What the firm decides
Under Settings, General, Practice, Work before the engagement is signed:
- Say so on the matter and let the work go ahead, the default: the matter says the letter is not signed.
- Refuse the work without a partner's exception: time and disbursements on the matter are refused until the signed copy is recorded or a partner lets work start. Every tab of the matter says the work waits.
- Say nothing.
Starting work before it is signed
- On the matter, open the actions menu and choose Start work before signing.
- Say why, for example that an injunction must be filed today.
- Choose Record exception.
The matter's facts name the partner and the reason. Withdraw the exception, with its own reason, puts the matter back under the firm's rule. Every exception is kept with who granted and withdrew it, and each is in the audit trail. Once the client's signed copy is recorded, no exception is needed.
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Read next
- Open a matterRecord the enquiry, add the client and parties, clear the conflict check and complete the opening checklist, then open the file.
- Templates and document generationKeep the firm's Word templates, draft from them with the matter's details filled in, and file the result on the matter automatically.
- Record timeRun a timer, use quick entry or fill the week grid, with each entry rounded, valued at once and checked against the rules the firm sets.
- Record a disbursementRecord what was paid out on a matter from office money, client money or petty cash; petty cash posts in the same step, office and client money once the payment voucher is approved and paid.