This article outlines some example workflows for Family Law matters. Since every law firm and jurisdiction may be a little different, we encourage you to edit these workflows based on your own preferences or jurisdictional requirements.
If you are new to Smokeball and Workflows, we recommend that you first learn how to create a workflow. It is easy to assign tasks to an attorney responsible, person assisting, or specific staff members.
Below are some of the workflows you can create for Family Law matters.Â
Scheduling Order with set Dates
Scheduling Order based off Trial Date
Response to Discovery Served on Our Client
Scheduling Order with Set Dates
Some jurisdictions issue scheduling orders with firm dates given for deadlines. If that is the case for you, we recommend using the workflow below. You will assign the due dates to the task upon applying the workflow.
As these tasks are deadlines, we recommend duplicating each task so that one can go to the Attorney Responsible and one task to the Person Assisting. Link the duplicate task to the original task’s due date so that you only need to enter the date once per deadline. The sample below shows how to do this.
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Task Name |
Due When |
Comments |
|
Deadline for joinder of additional parties or amendments to pleadings |
No due date |
 Due date to be assigned upon applying the workflow |
|
Deadline for joinder of additional parties or amendments to pleadings – copy for person assisting |
On due date of Deadline for joinder of additional parties or amendments to pleadings |
 |
|
Deadline for Witness and Expert Lists |
No due date  |
Due date to be assigned upon applying the workflow |
|
Deadline for Witness and Expert Lists – copy for person assisting |
On due date of Deadline for Witness and Expert Lists |
 |
|
Deadline for Discovery to be completed |
No due date |
Due date to be assigned upon applying the workflow |
|
Deadline for Discovery to be completed – copy for person assisting |
On due date of Deadline for Discovery to be completed |
 |
|
Deadline for Motions to be filed |
No due date |
Due date to be assigned upon applying the workflow |
|
Deadline for Motions to be filed – copy for person assisting |
On due date of Deadline for Motions to be filed |
 |
|
Deadline for Trial Brief |
No due date |
Due date to be assigned upon applying the workflow |
|
Deadline for Trial Brief – copy for person assisting |
On due date of Deadline for Trial Brief |
 |
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Scheduling Order based off Trial Date
Some jurisdictions issue scheduling orders with firm dates given for deadlines. If that is the case for you, we recommend that you use the workflow below. You will assign the Trial Date upon applying the workflow which will then calculate the dates for the other tasks.
As these tasks are deadlines, we recommend duplicating each task so that one can go to the Attorney Responsible and one task to the Person Assisting. Note that task duplication is not depicted below, as this scheduling order shows different deadlines. Remember to use these samples as guidelines while customizing them for your firm.
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Task Name |
Due When |
Comments |
|
Trial Date |
No due date |
Due date to be assigned upon applying the workflow |
|
Deadline for Written Discovery |
120 Days before Trial Date |
 |
|
Deadline for Witness List |
180 Days before Trial Date |
 |
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Deadline for Expert List |
150 Days before Trial Date |
 |
|
Deadline for Deposition of Witnesses |
90 Days before Trial Date |
 |
|
Deadline for Deposition of Experts |
60 Days before Trial Date |
 |
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Deadline for Motions to be filed |
45 Days before Trial Date |
 |
|
Deadline for Pretrial Conference |
30 Days before Trial Date |
 |
Deposition
This is a workflow you can apply when you set the calendar date for a deposition.
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Task Name |
Due Date |
Comments |
|
Deposition Date |
No due date |
 Assign the date upon applying the workflow |
|
Prepare questions for deposition |
3 weeks before Deposition Date |
  |
|
Get Court Reporter for deposition |
2 weeks before Deposition Date |
  |
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Assign location for deposition |
10 days before Deposition Date |
  |
|
Confirm deposition with all attendees |
3 days before Deposition Date |
Confirm Discovery Request has not been received or incomplete |
Response to Discovery Served on Our Client
|
Task Name |
Due Date |
Comments |
|
Our response to discovery due |
No Due Date |
Assign the date upon applying the workflow |
|
Send discovery to client |
On the date this workflow is applied to a matter |
 Can attach a template for a letter explaining Discovery process to client |
|
Check in with client re discovery |
2 weeks before Our response to discovery due |
  |
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Get all discovery and draft responses |
1 week before Our response to discovery due |
  |
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Finalize responses and get client signatures |
3 working days before Our response to discovery due |
  |
|
Send Discovery to Opposing Counsel |
On Finalize responses and get client signatures is Completed |
 |
Did You Know
You can also download .txt files of each sample workflow described in the article above and import them into Smokeball.Â
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