Clients and Matters
Keep recordings, documents, dates, and legal work with the right matter.
A Matter is the shared legal file for one instruction. Recordings, documents, reviews, Pillars, forms, tasks, and Clara work all sit on that file, with access controlled for that Matter rather than for the whole workspace.
Creating and maintaining clients and matters is available on every plan. Tasks, time entries, key dates, matter file uploads, and forms require Pro or Enterprise.
Clients and matters
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Client | The person or organisation for whom the firm acts |
| Matter | The shared legal file, working context, and access root for one instruction |
Access to a client does not open every matter for that client. Each matter has its own owner and grants.
Find a file
Matters in the sidebar opens the matter directory. Recent matters keep up to five files you can access, with the ones you opened most recently first.
The directory can show:
- Open, Pending, Closed, or All
- locked matters you can see by name but cannot open until access is granted
- search by matter name, reference, or client
Select a client in the clients sidebar to narrow the list to that client's matters. All matters returns to the full directory.
Create a client or matter
From Matters or New matter:
- Enter the matter name and an optional reference.
- Search for an existing client, or create one from the name you type.
- Choose People with access: Only you, or a group.
- Create the matter.
The header pencil opens Edit matter for the name, client, reference, and status. Changing the linked client keeps the matter's owner and sharing. Status is Open, Pending, or Closed. Closing retains access and history; authorised members can reopen it.
What belongs on a matter
See Matter workspace for the full tab-by-tab guide.
| Area | Holds |
|---|---|
| Overview | Clara for this matter, Matter Memory, recent shared work, Pillars, and activity |
| Work | Private drafts in My work, and documents or reviews shared with the team |
| Tasks | Owned work with due dates (Pro and Enterprise) |
| Files | Uploaded documents and completed recording transcripts (uploads require Pro or Enterprise) |
| Forms | Supported England and Wales forms (Pro and Enterprise) |
| Time | Time entries against the matter (Pro and Enterprise) |
Recordings live in your personal Recordings collection. Linking a recording to a matter associates it with that file. Completing it can place the transcript in Files. Generated documents stay private until you select Share to matter.
Clara on a matter
The Overview composer is fixed to the current matter. Clara can use Matter Memory and the sources you are allowed to read. The conversation stays private. Notes Clara writes can be saved to the activity timeline. Documents, reviews, and forms it prepares stay in My work until you share them.
Matter-bound Pillars are shared with the matter from creation. There is no private Pillar step on a matter.
Clio Manage
Where Clio is connected, Ardela can import clients and matters from Clio Manage. Connection, owner, and audience are set once for the workspace under Settings → Integrations. See Integrations.