Matter search

You can search for a matter to open it, check its details, or apply advanced filters when you need to find matters by a specific attribute.

You can search for a matter in two ways:

• Use the Matter search field at the top right of every page.

• Go to Matters → Matters.

 

In both places, type (part of) the matter name to find a match. Legalsense shows all matters that partly match the entered value. In the Search field on the matter overview page, you can also search by matter number.

Click More filters for more filtering options:

 

The filters are explained below:

• Status: describes the state of the Matter, which can be either Active, Inactive or Archived.

• From date: matters with a matter-opened date on or after this date.

• to: matters with a matter-opened date on or before this date.

• Is billable: Filter by Yes or No, based on if the matter is set to billable or not. If a matter has no billable setting of its own, it inherits the client’s billable flag.

• Practice area: the practice area assigned to the matter. Manage practice areas at Settings → Lists → Practice areas; if a matter has one assigned, you can see it under Matter details on the matter.

• Engagement letter: filter by Not sent to client, Sent to client, Received back from client, Covering agreement or Did not become a matter You can find this on the matter under Engagement letter.

• Client: the name of the client the matter is linked to.

• Matter supervisor: search for and select the matter supervisor set on the matter.

• Billing supervisor: search for and select the billing supervisor set on the matter.

• Originator: search for and select the originator, the fee earner who created the matter.

• Block billing: filter by Yes or No, based on whether billing is currently on hold for the matter. A matter counts as Yes if it's on hold and, when an end date is set for the hold, that date hasn't passed yet.

• Block billables: filter by Yes or No, based on whether new time entries, disbursements, and trust-accounting transactions are currently blocked from being booked on the matter.

• Practice group: select a practice group. Practice groups are linked to users; manage them at Users → Practice groups.

• AML required: filter by Yes or No, based on which matters require AML.

• Archived date: a range filter used to assess when matters were previously archived.

• Archive number: the number assigned to the matter when it was archived. Only matters that have been archived at some point have one.

• Archivable: filter by Yes or No, indicating whether a matter meets all the requirements to be archived. For example, a matter with unbilled time entries, disbursements, or advances to settle isn't archivable.

• Matter type: the matter type assigned to the matter. Manage matter types at Settings → Lists → Matter types; if a matter has one assigned, you can see it under Matter details on the matter.

• Parent client: the name of the parent client the matter is linked to.

• Insolvency number: the insolvency number entered on the matter.

• Referrer: the referrer assigned to the matter, or, if the matter doesn't have one set, the referrer set on the client.

• Reference matter contact: the reference number entered for a contact linked to the matter. This isn't limited to one particular contact role, since it matches any linked contact's reference.

• Billing reference debtor: the billing reference entered for a debtor linked to the matter. This isn't limited to the main debtor, since it matches any debtor linked to the matter.

• No time entries since: matters with no time entries written since this date.

• Has WIP: filter by Yes or No, based on whether the matter has unbilled time entries, unbilled disbursements, or open advances still to be settled. If your firm uses trust accounting, a matter with an outstanding trust balance also counts as having WIP.

• Account manager: search for and select the account manager set on the matter's client.

• Tags: filter by one or more tags assigned to the matter. If you select more than one tag, only matters that have all of the selected tags are returned.

• Has document type: select a document type. Returns matters that have at least one document of that type.

• No document type: select a document type. Returns matters that have no document of that type.

• Unarchived: filter by Yes or No. Yes returns matters that are currently active but were archived at some point in the past.

• Office: if your firm has multiple offices. Returns matters whose matter supervisor is currently assigned to the selected office.

By default, the search only includes active matters. To search all matters, leave the Status field empty.