how to use excel for attorney client matter information and action items list

Within each “Client Name Journal,” you can then type the client’s name into cell A2. Then enter the client’s case file/matter number into cell B2. For each IOLTA transaction that involves that particular client, you then enter the transaction’s type and/or check number into the “Transaction Type/Check Number” column.

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How can excel help in litigation?

Go to the bottom of the part where your time entries are listed and select Insert Row. You should have a bunch of blank rows now. Copy the whole row, from Date to …

Do I need to list my client/matter numbers?

May 31, 2016 · Find the date that triggers your deadline; Enter the name of the triggering event in column B next to the date; Enter a 1 immediately below the name of the event; Pattern drag downwards to create consecutive numbers from 1 on to the number of days allowed; Roll over from any weekends or holidays to find the due date.

What are the use cases for matter numbers?

Here are a few steps of creating a client contact list in Excel: · Open your Microsoft Excel and label three columns in the first row. The First column features the first name, the second column incorporates the last name, and the third column features your email address

How can I use spreadsheets in my lawsuit?

Jun 15, 2021 · That’s where PocketSuite comes in to save the day. Have all of your client data, messages, payment history, appointments and services, and financial information, all in one place. Finally! Here’s that link again for the Client List spreadsheet. Click on the link below and then click File-> Make a Copy once the sheet comes up: Client List:

How do you organize client information in Excel?

What are 7 things you can use Excel for?

What do lawyers use Excel for?

What are some uses for using Excel to collect data?

What are the 5 functions in Excel?

What are the 3 common uses for Excel?

How do paralegals use Excel?

How Excel can help make business decisions?

What is Excel and use of Excel?

What are Excel features?

How does a law firm use a budgeting tool?

This tool is used in conjunction with the database of a larger accounting system and provides reports that are more useful to managers than the reports generated by the accounting system. With this system, budget templates are automatically generated with the pertinent line items for each department. Department managers can then easily create their budgets for the coming year. Once they are submitted to the central accounting office, budgets from all departments are automatically consolidated into a master budget for the firm.

Who provides SharePoint solutions for law firms?

Our parent company, eSoftware Associates provides SharePoint solutions for law firms. SharePoint is a great option for managing workflows and documents.

Can visualizations be automated?

Visualizations like the above can be automated for repeated use on different sets of the same type of data. Our custom applications make it easy to import and process the raw data and automate the visualizations.

Why is numerical evidence used in litigation?

Numerical evidence in litigation often appears in Excel spreadsheets because witnesses often use Excel to record data and perform calculations. Attorneys who understand Excel will be able to obtain, manipulate and use this evidence to prove their case. In this post, I'll discuss some of why native Excel files are important, ...

What program do lawyers use to do numbers?

To master the presentation of numbers, attorneys should learn some basic skills in Microsoft Excel, the computer program most often used in business for calculations. Numerical evidence in litigation often appears in Excel spreadsheets because witnesses often use Excel to record data and perform calculations.

Why do lawyers need to explain numbers in trial?

Litigators must master the presentation of numbers and calculations in trial because numbers often prove damages and/or liability. However, showing and explaining numbers and calculations in trial can present challenges, particularly with hard-to-interpret spreadsheets and non-cooperative, adverse witnesses.

Why did the examination reenacted in the video work well?

The examination reenacted in the video worked well because the attorney prepared in advance. Although not an expert in Excel, he understood enough about how Excel worked that he could manipulate Excel in front of the jury. Moreover, the function he was performing (totaling a column of numbers) is a simple and common feature that the witness (and many jurors) were likely to understand.

What are the rules for discovery?

Discovery rules typically allow a party to ask for a specific format of electronically stored information, and the producing party must produce in that format unless there is a valid objection (see, e.g., Rule 34 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; California Code of Civil Procedure § 2031.030 (a) (2) ).

Can I use TIFF files in Excel?

While both TIFF (images of printed pages) and native Excel format files can be useful, when I am forced to choose, I will request production of Excel spreadsheets as native format Excel files. (Although FRCP 34 requires production in only one format, counsel often need not choose between TIFF and native versions because the parties will agree in meet and confer to produce TIFF with the ability for either side to later ask for the native versions of particular spreadsheets.)

Can a spreadsheet be converted to TIFF?

Spreadsheets do not convert to TIFF well : Litigation support software which converts native files to TIFF sometimes turns a single spreadsheet into hundreds of pages of TIFF images.

What is Excel used for?

For example, Excel is perfect in a multi-plaintiff case or a class cases where there are numerous line items that go into the final calculations, or where the amount of damages is likely to change based on factors such as the accrual of attorney's fees, the passage of time, or interest rates .

How to add a year to A2?

Hover over the bottom-right corner of A2 so that the cursor changes to a "+" sign, and then pattern drag downwards until you've added a year or two of consecutive days;

How long is a complaint due?

For example, in federal court, the answer to a complaint is due 21 days after the complaint is served. The parties may elect to extend this deadline, but the court must enter an order for the extension to be permitted.

Can you use Excel in litigation?

The only limit with using Excel in litigation is your imagination. I've used it to create demonstrative exhibits for use in depositions, to make data "speak" with the help of conditional formatting and charts, and much more.

Is Excel easy to use?

Excel is also a lot easier to use than many people think it is. Indeed, the foundation of all my later adventures with Excel was a 15-minute online tutorial that I had to take as a prerequisite for a temp job that I had (for 2 days!) in my early 20s.

Is Excel good for calculating dates?

Excel is incredibly powerful when you're dealing with dates, particularly when you need to count them accurate ly. Obviously, this comes up all the time in litigation, and the rules for calculating dates can be rather complex which makes visual timelines and case management software important to use.

Can you add videos to your watch history?

Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations. To avoid this, cancel and sign in to YouTube on your computer.

What is client database?

A client database Excel template is a detailed spreadsheet for Microsoft Excel that may include details about your customers, their purchases, and the revenue you have earned from them . While it is not limited to these functions alone, it allows for easy searching and input of different sums and amounts, which can then be easily interacted with.

What is client contact list template?

A client contact list template is essentially what is says on the tin: it helps you to keep a record of all your customers, their phone numbers and email addresses, the companies they’re from, or any other relevant information. This way, when you need to get in touch with a customer, you can simply look them up on this list.

What to do when a client signs up for a website?

When a client does sign up for your website, send them a welcome email to thanks them and detail some of your services, while providing an optional “unsubscribe” option in case they choose not to receive emails for you. Emails are great for client communication due to their high ROI, so don’t be afraid to use this tool.

What is a business contact list?

A business contact list template is similar to a client contact list template, but it is not just limited to your customers, so it can include information about your business associates, partners, or those whose services you avail of.

How to import a CSV file into PocketSuite?

In your PocketSuite app, go to Data Import -> CSV – it will send you an excel file (or just grab it from this article! It’s the same file) then once you’re done filling it out, email it to us at [email protected] and we’ll import it for you. Takes us a few minutes and presto! Give us 24 hours, though, because we sometimes have to clean and dedupe your beautiful client file. ;0

Why should a spreadsheet have all fields?

Your spreadsheet should have all of these fields, as they are all important to track.

Why is lead source important?

Lead source is super important in order to be able to track where your clients are coming from. Do this to determine which of your advertising sources are most effective.

What doesn't get measured, doesn't get managed?

So in order to keep an eye on the health of your business, you need records of all of your sales and new customers in order to have a birds eye view of how your biz is doing.

Does Excel have a record of messages?

Also, Excel doesn’t have a record of your messaging with your clients – you would have to literally copy paste those out of your phone into Excel or Google Sheets. Well, if you’re going to be on your phone primarily anyway, wouldn’t it make sense to just have all of your client messages already stored in the same app?

Does the Pro field apply to a team?

The Pro field may not apply to you if you are still in the process of building up your team – if you have a team already, it can be very helpful to have this information to track which team member you’re assigning each client to. STEP 3: ANALYZE YOUR SHEET. You may find that this simple sheet is not enough for you.

Can Excel do payments?

Like we discussed before, it’s important to have records on how much business you’re doing with your clients, and Excel could do it, but realistically you don’t want to sit there and try to add up payments for each client every day.

Why use timesheets for attorneys?

Essentially, the purpose of these timesheet templates are to increase attorney productivity, give you accurate information on legal professional working hours, and help you out when you’re in doubt over client billing hours .

How much time does an attorney lose?

According to a study, each attorney loses on average, 3.1 hours a month when manually filling out timesheet information. While that may not seem like a lot, attorney time is quite valuable, with the study mentioning the average hourly billing rate in the US as $438.

Why is it important to record time manually?

Recording time manually opens up possibilities for miscalculating hours or forgetting to input some of the tasks into your daily timesheet.

What are the disadvantages of manual timesheets?

Another disadvantage of manual timesheets is that they can get lost, deleted, or corrupted after they’re modified too many times (this is especially common in Microsoft Excel files).

How to see how well an attorney is doing?

If you want to see how well your attorneys are doing, you’ll need to look at how long they spend on tasks. Usually, the quicker they breeze through tasks, the more productive they generally are.

What is Time Doctor?

Time Doctor is a powerful time management software that lets you track employee hours and productivity. This powerful time tracking app is used by businesses of all sizes, including big companies like Verizon, and SMBs like Firehouse Subs.

What platforms does Time Doctor integrate with?

Time Doctor integrates with 50+ other powerful employee management and collaboration platforms like Asana, Jira, Zendesk, Slack, and Teamwork.

How to change client name in Excel?

You can change the names of the individual “Client Name Journal” worksheets by double-clicking on them in order to highlight their titles. You can then replace the worksheet labels named “Client Name 1,” Client Name 2,” and so on with the names of your clients. Within each “Client Name Journal,” you can then type the client’s name into cell A2. Then enter the client’s case file/matter number into cell B2. For each IOLTA transaction that involves that particular client, you then enter the transaction’s type and/or check number into the “Transaction Type/Check Number” column. You enter the date of the transaction into the “Date” column, and then enter a brief description of the transaction into the “Transaction Description” column. For deposits made into the IOLTA account, enter the amount under the “Debit (Cash In)” column. For amounts that are spent, enter the amount under the “Credit (Cash Out)” column. The “Account Balance” column is a formula cell that will simply shown the current account balance for the selected client. Do not edit the contents of this cell. In the future you can then enter the transactions for that selected client into the client’s journal worksheet.

What is an IOLTA account?

An IOLTA account is an interest-bearing checking account. The interest earned from all IOLTA accounts within a state is pooled together to assist low-income individuals to afford legal aid. An IOLTA account is used in three main situations. First being when a lawyer receives funds from a client to perform legal services.

Where to find IOLTA templates?

Simple IOLTA templates can be found in the “Templates” folder within this product. This workbook allows you to record the basic accounting information needed for IOLTA management. The template initially contains four worksheets: the “Firm Journal” and three “Client Name Journals.” The basic structure shown within each worksheet is a basic checking register. Within these worksheets, you will record all IOLTA transactions into the appropriate ledgers as they occur.

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What is the first thing a lawyer receives?

First being when a lawyer receives funds from a client to perform legal services. Second being when a lawyer receives funds from a settlement that must be paid to a client. Third being when a lawyer receives funds or is otherwise holding property for clients that the lawyer has not yet earned or must return at a later date. ...

Can IOLTA be held in trust?

An important note to make here is that if a lawyer intends to hold a large sum of money for a client, or intends to hold the funds for an extended period of time, the lawyer should NOT place those funds into an IOLTA account but should rather place the funds into an account to be held in trust for that particular client.

Can a lawyer hold client funds in the same account?

A lawyer cannot hold their fund and the client’s funds in the same account, so IOLTA accounts are used to separate these funds and hold smaller amounts of money from clients for a short span of time. An important note to make here is that if a lawyer intends to hold a large sum of money for a client, or intends to hold the funds for an extended ...

Why use Excel for exhibits?

Excel can be used to create a hyperlinked spreadsheet for the government’s exhibit list. Because the spreadsheet is both sortable and searchable, it allows for exhibits to be readily accessed during trial preparation and at trial.

Why are spreadsheets important?

Spreadsheets can be valuable tool for all phases of litigation, from trial preparation, trial, to sentencing. Spreadsheets offer an easy way to track, organize, and search through discovery, witnesses, government exhibits, and more. Using a spreadsheet, you can quickly filter and sort information, hyperlink to documents stored elsewhere, or generate timelines and charts in PowerPoint. This paper outlines five ways to incorporate Excel, Microsoft’s spreadsheet program, into your trial preparation, execution and presentation:1

What is Excel used for?

This tool can be used to find similarly situated defendants, sentencing patterns, and sentencing anomalies.

What can you use to keep track of witnesses?

You can also use a spreadsheet to keep track of information about potential witnesses. This is especially helpful in a case with numerous witnesses. A witness information spreadsheet can tabulate information such as the witness’ attorney, basic information regarding the witness, Bates number of witness statement, and whether the witness has been interviewed. You can also include all sorts of information (such as contact information), but for this example we will keep it more limited. Again, the ability to sort and filter data makes an Excel spreadsheet an especially useful.

How to make a spreadsheet searchable?

To make a spreadsheet searchable and sortable, select the row with the column headings (column headings are labeled A, B, C, etc.; when you select a heading the entire column changes color). Then select the Sort & Filterbutton, in the upper-right corner of the menu.

What is Figure 1-11?

Figure 1-11 shows a discovery log with columns added for additional information regarding the manner of production.

Does Excel work on Mac?

In most cases Excel also edges out other spreadsheet software through sheer ubiquity: you almost certainly have a copy of the program on your computer already, as does every colleague and technology service provider with whom you might have occasion to share data. Microsoft makes versions of Excel for both Windows and Mac operating systems. But if you’ve established a preference for other spreadsheet software, you can still deploy the techniques discussed in this paper with only minor adjustments.

What is matter number?

Matter numbers are used to differentiate between individual matters for the same client, and are enabled in the Client Number Format field in System Settings. Matter numbers enable you to group multiple matters for the same client on reports and on bills.

What is Ellen Roberts's number?

The next time your firm does work for her, her number will be 1275003 - her original number plus 003 indicating it is the third matter opened for her.

How long can a matter number be in a client?

Client numbers can be up to 9 characters/digits long, and matter numbers are 3 characters/digits long. Matters are optional.

How many characters are in a client number?

Client/matter numbers can be alphanumeric and up to 12 characters/digits long. Numbers sort before letters on reports printed numerically. Consider data entry when deciding on a numbering system: 10-digit numbers take longer to enter than 5-digit numbers and alphabetic characters prevent use of the numeric keypad.

Can you automatically generate a client number?

You can also generate client/matter numbers automatically when opening new files. If you want to use automatic numbering, you do not need to list your client/matter numbers. To Do: Decide on a numbering system, and list and assign numbers to your existing clients/matters.

Do you need to use matters?

Matters are optional. If you usually open a new file for each job your firm works on, you may prefer not to use matters. If you usually perform work for the same client more than once, you may prefer to use matters.

The Importance of Native Electronic Format For Excel Spreadsheets

Cross-Examination of A Witness at Trial Using Excel

Using Excel as The Foundation For Litigation Graphics

• Once you are comfortable working with Excel spreadsheets and presenting them at trial, I encourage you to consider ways to use the spreadsheets’ data to create more visually appealing and easier-to-understand graphics for case presentation. Data from spreadsheets can be imported into other programs to create charts and graphs, maps, timelines and o...

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