Fifteen features, grouped into three chapters. Each feature solves an observed pain point. None of it changes how anyone has to work — it just removes the friction.
What matters most
Two things define whether a case is in good shape: are the deadlines under control, and is the money where it should be. This chapter is built around making those two things visible and impossible to forget.
Today: Each caseworker keeps deadlines on a separate paper list, no sync.
One firm-wide source of truth for every visa expiry, appeal window, hearing date, and submission deadline. Reminders escalate automatically — first to the caseworker, then to the lead, then to the owner if still unaddressed.
Today: Money owed at decision time is hard to recover.
Fee milestones tracked per case (opening / submission / decision). Auto-chase emails on schedule. Numbered PDF receipts generated automatically. Bank reconciliation via manual entry or CSV upload.
Today: Caseworkers can release a decision while fees are still outstanding.
A case can't be released to a client until all milestone payments are paid. The system enforces it. The owner's biggest source of lost revenue, closed.
Today: The owner has no monthly view of what's open, what's closing, what's owed.
Cases opened this month, closed this month, in progress. Outstanding payments. Overdue by case. Active deadlines colour-coded. Monthly summary auto-emailed. Accessible from anywhere.
The whole firm, one place
Today the firm runs on paper folders, an Excel sheet, three separate email inboxes, and individual deadline lists. This chapter replaces all of that with one searchable digital record per case.
Today: Files live on paper in numbered drawers; status updates require pulling the file.
Every case is one digital record: client details, application type, status, deadlines, payments, documents, email threads, internal notes. Full-text search. Activity timeline reads like a story.
Today: New files are distributed manually after Tuesday intake.
The lead caseworker sees an 'unassigned files' inbox. Drag-to-assign. Reassignment recorded automatically. No more files lost in transit.
Today: There's no way to limit what receptionists see; everything is on paper.
Five roles enforced server-side: owner, principal solicitor, caseworker, barrister, receptionist. Receptionists never see financial data or strategy notes.
Today: Calls and post are recorded inconsistently.
Receptionists log incoming calls and post against the matching case. Caseworkers log call summaries onto the timeline. Nothing falls between the cracks.
Done in the background
The features in this chapter handle the work that currently consumes admin time — email routing, document handling, repetitive form-filling, client status calls. None of it changes how the team practices law. It just removes the friction.
Today: Clients call to ask 'where is my application?' multiple times.
Clients log in (mobile-friendly). See status, current step, expected decision date, balance owed. Upload documents. Pay outstanding fees. English and Persian/Dari supported.
Today: Three inboxes (contact@, administration@, personal) all need scanning.
Incoming emails auto-classified and routed to the matching case and caseworker. Reply from within the system; everything recorded on the case timeline.
Today: Scanned post and email attachments require manual filing.
Scanner drops into a watched folder → OCR'd locally → tagged → attached to the matching case (with confirmation). Email attachments auto-attached.
Today: Filling 4 dependent applications means retyping the same details 4 times.
Every cover letter, legal representation, and retainer agreement stored as a versioned template. Variables auto-filled from the case file. Family applications repeat per dependent automatically.
Today: Gov forms require manually retyping case data, field by field.
Click 'fill application for case 230' — a side panel shows every field the gov form needs, pre-filled from the case file. Copy-paste into the portal. No automation, no broken integrations.
Today: Walk-in clients are tracked informally.
Quick check-in at reception. Existing clients searched by name. New visitors captured. Status visible to the caseworkers upstairs.
Today: People keep their own todo lists; things get forgotten.
Every morning, every user gets one email: your deadlines today, your pending payments, your pending tasks. In-app notifications for urgent items.