Status of Matters by a Law Firm on CounselLink

For matters that are active in CounselLink^®, but still need more information to be complete, there is a status column on the search results pages, called Law Office Status. To determine if any action is required for an active matter, perform a matter search and view the Law Office Status column on the search results page. This status indicates if the matter is active or is pending some action on the part of the client or law firm.

The law firm cannot bill on a matter that is pending.

Take the following steps to determine the status of a matter:

1. Sign on to CounselLink^®.
2. Select the client from the list of clients in the upper left corner drop-down list on the Home tab.
   Note: When a different Client is selected while under any of the tabs on CounselLink, users will be directed back to the Home tab under the selected Client.
3. Click the Matters tab.
4. Search for the matter.
   Note: If only one matter is retrieved, the Matter Overview page opens. There is a Status column in the Law Firm Assignments section of the Matter Overview page. If more than one matter is listed, click the Corporate Customer Matter ID or the Matter Title.
5. Refer to the list below to interpret the various Law Office Status types.
   • Active: The law office does not need to take any action at this time.
   • Fee Structure Change Requested: One of the parties has requested a change to the fee structure at the date indicated. No invoicing is possible with this status.
   • Incomplete Budget: The client needs to set up the budget for this matter. No invoicing is possible with this status.
   • Modify Fees Change Requested: One of the parties has requested a change to the fees, which is part of a fee structure. No invoicing is possible with this status.
   • NA: Not assigned to outside counsel yet. No invoicing is possible with this status. Because law firms can only see matters assigned to the law firm office, matters with this status are only visible to the Corporate Client, or Account Care.
   • Pending Budget: The One of the parties needs to input the budget numbers. No invoicing is possible with this status.
   • Pending Removal: The client has requested a law firm remove itself from a matter. No invoicing is possible with this status.
   • Pending Staffing List Approval: This status means the client must go into the staffing list and approve/decline the provided staffing list. No invoicing is possible with this status.
   • Pending Staffing List Request: This status means the law firm must go to the Matter Overview page, click their office link and select staff for this matter. Then the list must be submitted to the client for approval. No invoicing is possible with this status.
   • Unaccepted: The corporate client has requested the law firm accept the matter. The law firm finds this matter in the Unaccepted queue on the Home tab. No invoicing is possible with this status.
   • Variable Change Requested: Since one of the parties has requested a change to a variable (number of parties, cash value) which is part of a fee structure. No invoicing is possible with this status.