This article presents sample workflows for Civil Litigation matters. Since every law firm and jurisdiction may be different, we encourage editing these sample workflows based on your firm’s preferences or jurisdictional requirements.
If you are new to Smokeball and Workflows, you should first read our main Workflows article to learn the basics. It is simple to assign tasks to an attorney responsible, person assisting, or specific staff members.
You can find a .zip file with the sample workflows discussed below at the bottom of this article. Each individual workflow is a .txt file that can be imported into Smokeball.
Discovery Received Workflow
This is a workflow you can apply after receiving discovery:
| Task Name | Due Date | Comments |
| Our response to discovery due | No Due Date | Duplicate this task if you want to assign this to multiple people within the firm |
| Send discovery to client | On the date this workflow is applied to a matter | You can link a template for the letter explaining discovery to the client |
| Check in with client re discovery |
2 weeks before “Our response to discovery due” is Due |
|
| Get all discovery and draft responses |
1 week before “Our response to discovery due” is due |
|
| Finalize responses and get client signatures | 3 working days before “Our response to discovery due” is due | |
| Send discovery to opposing counsel | On “Finalize responses and get client signatures“ is completed |
Statute of Limitations Workflow
This is a workflow that is filled with tasks that are actually reminders. Smokeball has both a report and a widget to track the Statute of limitation dates, but many firms like to have the additional notice.
| Task | Due When | Category | Assignee |
| 1 year until Statute runs out | 1 year before Statute of Limitations Date | Statute of Limitations | Attorney Responsible |
| 1 year until Statute runs out (copy) | 1 year before Statute of Limitations Date | Statute of Limitations | Person Assisting |
| 6 months until Statute runs out | 6 months before Statute of Limitations Date | Statute of Limitations | Attorney Responsible |
| 6 months until Statute runs out (copy) | 6 months before Statute of Limitations Date | Statute of Limitations | Person Assisting |
| 2 months until Statute runs out | 2 months before Statue of Limitations Date | Statute of Limitations | Attorney Responsible |
| 2 months until Statute runs out (copy) | 2 months before Statue of Limitations Date | Statute of Limitations | Person Assisting |
| 3 weeks until Statute runs out | 3 weeks before Statute of Limitations Date | Statute of Limitations | Attorney Responsible |
| 3 weeks until Statute runs out (copy) | 3 weeks before Statute of Limitations Date | Statute of Limitations | Person Assisting |
Scheduling Order/Trial Order Workflow
Many jurisdictions issue deadlines related to the trial date. Some jurisdictions just list the deadlines, and some go off the trial date itself. Some firms like to enter these dates on the calendar, but you can also track them using workflows. It is important to assign these tasks a category such as Deadline so that you can use the Custom Task View feature to filter these deadlines.
Below is a sample of a workflow for a scheduling order with set dates:
| Task | Due When | Category | Assignee |
| Deadline for joinder of additional parties or amendments to pleadings | No Due Date | Deadline | Attorney Responsible |
| Deadline for joinder of additional parties or amendments to pleadings (copy) | On “Deadline for joinder of additional parties or amendments to pleadings” is due | Deadline | Person Assisting |
| Deadline for Witness and Expert Lists | No Due Date | Deadline | Attorney Responsible |
| Deadline for Witness and Expert Lists (copy) | On “Deadline for Witness and Expert Lists” is due | Deadline | Person Assisting |
| Deadline for Discovery to be completed | No Due Date | Deadline | Attorney Responsible |
| Deadline for Discovery to be completed (copy) | On “Deadline for Discovery to be completed” is due | Deadline | Person Assisting |
| Deadline for Motions to be filed | No Due Date | Deadline | Attorney Responsible |
| Deadline for Motions to be filed (copy) | On “Deadline for Motions to be filed” is due | Deadline | Person Assisting |
| Deadline for Trial Brief | No Due Date | Deadline | Attorney Responsible |
| Deadline for Trial Brief (copy) | On “Deadline for Trial Brief” is due | Deadline | Person Assisting |
Here is how this workflow would appear in Smokeball: