Matter workspace
Work inside a matter across Overview, Work, Tasks, Files, Forms, and Time.
Open a matter to work in context. The header holds the name, status, client, and sharing controls. The tabs, and the expanded matter in the sidebar, are the same places.
Tasks, time entries, key dates, and matter file uploads require a Pro or Enterprise plan. Forms require the same plans with form filling enabled.
Overview
Overview is the working home for the file.
- Ask Clara about this matter. The composer stays on the current client and matter. The conversation is private.
- Use the quick-action chips for common prompts such as a summary, chronology, or handover, then review the text before sending.
- Matter Memory is the shared list of important facts, decisions, and standing instructions. Members with Work access can add, edit, or remove an entry. Clara can save an explicit instruction you give it, with a visible receipt.
- Activity is the timeline for the matter, including short notes. Notes are current text on the matter, not private drafts.
- Recent shared work and matter Pillars appear here. View all opens the Work tab.
Memory does not replace the underlying documents. Check the source before relying on an entry.
Work
Work separates:
| Section | Meaning |
|---|---|
| My work | Your private documents and reviews for this matter, including unshared recording drafts |
| Shared work | Documents and reviews that have been explicitly saved or shared to the matter |
Open a row to continue in its editor. Documents are authored in Recordings or Clara; you cannot create a blank document from the Work tab.
Sharing publishes the selected saved version to the matter. It does not approve the contents, and it does not share the originating Clara conversation.
Tasks
Create a task when work needs an owner or due date.
- Open the matter and its Tasks tab.
- Add a title in the composer at the foot of the list and press Enter.
- Set assignee, priority, and due date from the row.
- Update status as the work progresses.
Assignees need current Work access to the matter. Assignment does not grant access by itself.
Use Tasks in the clients sidebar to review your open work across matters. The workspace calendar shows task deadlines and key dates together.
Key dates
Record hearings, filing deadlines, completion dates, and limitation-related dates from the workspace calendar. Check the source for every date and follow the firm's normal diary and supervision procedures.
Ardela does not replace the firm's authoritative calendar or deadline controls unless your firm has expressly adopted it for that purpose.
Files
Files holds uploaded matter documents and completed recording transcripts that belong on the file.
- Use Upload or drag files onto the table. Uploads can include PDF, Word, spreadsheet, and common image formats, up to 50 MiB each.
- Search by file name. There are no file categories.
- Open a file in the document drawer on this page.
- Recording attachments stay on the recording row, behind the paperclip, not in this table.
Matter documents are separate from files uploaded to a standalone Pillar. Use Pillars when you need structured extraction across a document set. A Pillar created from this matter is shared with the matter from the start.
Forms
Prepare form opens the forms available to your workspace for this matter. See Forms.
Time entries
Where time tracking is enabled, add the duration, date, and description of work to the correct matter. Confirm whether the entry is billable before saving it.
You can also log time from a linked recording. Only Owner and Admin may change another member's time entry, and they still need Work access to the matter.
Time entries are not invoices, and Ardela does not currently provide accounting or billing export from time tracking.