This article walks through three sample Workflows for Personal Injury matters. Since every law firm is different, we encourage you to make these Workflows your own based on your preferences or jurisdictional requirements. Processes vary greatly from state to state.
If you are new to Smokeball and Workflows, you should first review our article on Workflows to learn how to create or edit a Workflow.Â
To ensure the Workflow is most effective, you should fill out all information in the matter details of a matter, especially the Case Details and the Statute of Limitations Date.
Statute of Limitations
For Statute of Limitations reminders, we recommend creating a reminder for the Attorney Responsible and then a copy for the person assisting. Â
It is not best practice to assign the same task to more than one person in this instance. If one task is assigned to multiple people at the same time, it will disappear from the task list for all assignees as soon as one of them marks off the task as complete. This means that other staff assigned to the task may never see this reminder.
|
Task |
Due When |
Assigned to |
|
1. 1 year until Statute runs out |
1 year before Statute of Limitations Date |
Attorney responsible |
|
2. 1 year until Statute runs out (Copy) |
1 year before Statute of Limitations Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
3. 6 months until Statute runs out |
6 months before Statue of Limitations Date |
Attorney responsible |
|
4. 6 months until Statute runs out (Copy) |
6 months before Statue of Limitations Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
5. 2 months until Statute runs out |
2 months before Statute of Limitations Date |
Attorney responsible |
|
6. 2 months until Statute runs out (Copy) |
2 months before Statute of Limitations Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
7. 3 weeks until Statute runs out |
3 weeks before Statute of Limitations Date |
Attorney responsible |
|
8. 3 weeks until Statute runs out (Copy) |
3 weeks before Statute of Limitations Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
PI - Settled Pre Suit
|
Task |
Due When |
Assigned To |
|
1. Get Release from Defendant |
The date this Workflow is applied to a matter |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
2. Release Review |
2 Working Days after Get Release from Defendant is completed |
Attorney Responsible |
|
3. Get Release Signed by Client |
2 Working Days after Release Review is completed |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
4. Workbook Reductions and Submit to attorney responsible for Approval |
On Get Release Signed by Client is completed |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
5. Approval of Reductions |
1 Working Day after Workbook Reductions and Submit to attorney responsible for Approval is completed |
Attorney Responsible |
|
6. Send Reduction Request Letters |
On Approval of Reductions is completed |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
7. Verify all Reductions are Received by Holders |
7 Working Days after Send Reduction Request Letters is completed |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
8. Get Settlement $ from Defendant |
On Get Release Signed by Client is completed |
Attorney Responsible |
|
9. Create Disbursement Sheet and Send to Client |
7 Working Days after Get Settlement $ from Defendant is completed |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
10. Receive Signed Disbursement Sheet from Client |
5 Working Days after Create Disbursement Sheet and Send to Client is completed |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
11. Cut Checks to Client and Providers |
On Receive Signed Disbursement Sheet from Client is completed |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
12. Create internal invoice for firm's portion of settlement and expense reimbursement |
On Cut Checks to Client and Providers is completed |
Person Assisting/Staff |
Pre-Trial
|
Task |
Due When |
Assigned To |
|
1. Get Witness list prepared |
2months before Trial Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
2. Get Exhibits prepared |
2 months before Trial Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
3. 90 days until trial |
90 days before Trial Date |
Attorney Responsible |
|
4. 90 days until trial (Copy) |
90 days before Trial Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
5. 60 days until trial |
60 days before Trial Date |
Attorney Responsible |
|
6. 60 days until trial (Copy) |
60 days before Trial Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
|
7. 30 days until trial |
30 days before Trial Date |
Attorney Responsible |
|
8. 30 days until trial (Copy) |
30 days before Trial Date |
Person Assisting/Staff |
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