About 15 minutes

Build a Matters database

Create the database every other part of a legal workspace connects to, with the views you will use daily.

1
Create the database
Add a new page, choose a full-page table, and name it Matters. Rename the first column's title property to Matter.
2
Add the core properties
Add Status (Select: Intake, Open, Waiting, On hold, Closed), Practice area (Select), Responsible lawyer (Person), Key date (Date) and ID (ID property with prefix M-).
3
Create a database template
In the New menu choose New template and call it New matter. Inside, add a checklist: conflict check, engagement letter signed, key dates diarised, file opened. Every new matter now starts with the same steps.
4
Add three views
Create Active (table, Status is not Closed), Due soon (table, Key date is within next month, sorted by Key date) and Pipeline (board grouped by Status).
5
Test with one real matter
Create a matter from the template, fill in the properties, and check it appears in the right views. Adjust the property list before you add anything else.

About 12 minutes

Set up a deadlines view that shows what is due this week

Build a Deadlines database linked to matters, and put the week's deadlines on your home page.

1
Create the Deadlines database
Add a table called Deadlines. Rename the title property to Deadline.
2
Add properties
Add Date (Date), Type (Select: Court date, Filing window, Limitation, Internal), Matter (Relation to Matters), Court or authority (Text) and Done (Checkbox).
3
Create This week
Add a table view named This week. Filter: Date is within next week, and Done is unchecked. Sort by Date, earliest first.
4
Create Overdue
Add a table view named Overdue. Filter: Date is before today, and Done is unchecked. Sort by Date, oldest first.
5
Add a calendar
Add a calendar view named Calendar, shown by Date, so you can see the month at a glance.
6
Put it on your home page
On your home page, type a slash and choose a linked view of a database. Pick Deadlines and the This week view. Add Overdue above it.

About 15 minutes

Record time against matters and make sure nothing billable slips through at month end.

1
Create the Time database
Add a table called Time. Rename the title property to Entry.
2
Add properties
Add Date (Date), Timekeeper (Person), Matter (Relation to Matters), Minutes (Number), Rate (Number), Billable (Checkbox) and Invoiced (Checkbox).
3
Add an Amount formula
Add a formula property called Amount: prop("Minutes") / 60 * prop("Rate"). Format it as currency.
4
Create the Uninvoiced view
Add a table view named Uninvoiced. Filter: Billable is checked, and Invoiced is unchecked. Group by Matter, and add a Sum of Amount in the footer.
5
Create My week
Add a view named My week. Filter: Timekeeper is Me, and Date is within the past week. Use it to review your own entries each Friday.
6
Run the month-end routine
At month end, open Uninvoiced, check each matter's total, issue invoices, then tick Invoiced on the entries you billed. Optionally add an Invoices database and relate it to Time.