Disputes and criminal
These areas are date-driven: hearings, filing steps and limitation periods. A Deadlines database linked to each matter is the core.
Family, immigration and private client
Client relationships are long, with sensitive information. Review confidentiality first, and track stages such as application submitted or probate granted.
Transactional
Deals run on checklists and closing dates; page templates for each deal type pay off here.
By role or region
We sell LawyerOS, a Notion template, which can be adapted to any area but is not specialised to one.
How to tune the databases for your area
| Area | Stage ideas | Dates to track |
|---|---|---|
| Litigation | Pre-action, issued, disclosure, hearing, judgment | Hearings, filing steps, limitation |
| Family | Enquiry, application, negotiation, order | Hearings, review dates |
| Property | Instruction, contract, searches, completion | Exchange, completion |
| Corporate | Heads of terms, due diligence, signing, closing | Signing, closing, filings |
| Immigration | Assessment, submitted, awaiting, decision | Application and expiry dates |
These are illustrative. Use your own stage names and the dates your rules require.
A worked example: adapting one Matters database
A solicitor who does residential property and wills starts with one Matters database and a Type property. For property matters she uses the stages Instruction, Contract, Searches, Exchange and Completion, and a Deadlines entry for each of the two key dates. For wills she uses Instruction, Draft, Signing and Storage. Two saved views, one filtered to each type, give her a board per workflow while all matters still sit in one place for conflict checks and reports.
The lesson is that a shared structure with a Type property usually works better than a separate workspace for each area. Add a new database only when the data itself is different, not just the stage names.
Checklist before you specialise
- List the five dates that, if missed, cause real harm in your area.
- Give each one a Deadlines type so it can be filtered and counted.
- Write the stages you actually use, in order, and delete the rest.
- Add a checklist page for the most repeated task, such as opening a file.
- Decide what stays outside Notion: client money, court-rules calculators, e-filing.
- Review the audience guide for your area and your regulator's rules.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a template per practice area?
- LawyerOS is general; you adapt stages and matter types.
- Which area suits Notion best?
- Any with moderate billing complexity and many dates to track.
- Do you cover my jurisdiction?
- See the regional pages; all are general information.
- Where do I start?
- Matters and Deadlines, then the audience guide for your area.
- Should each practice area have its own workspace?
- Usually not for a small firm. One Matters database with a Type property and filtered views keeps conflict checks and reporting in one place.
About the author
Raghav Handa trained as a lawyer, then spent years building legal technology, from enterprise legal products to custom systems for law firms.
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