Matters
The central record for every case, file, and engagement your firm handles.
Overview
In FRITH, a Matter is the fundamental unit of work. Every piece of legal work — a litigation case, a conveyancing transaction, a corporate advisory, an immigration application — lives inside a Matter. All associated documents, contacts, time entries, tasks, deadlines, communications, billing records, and AI activity are linked to the Matter so that everything is findable in one place.
Matters are designed to mirror the way attorneys actually think about their work. Rather than navigating between disconnected systems — a billing tool here, a document folder there, a calendar somewhere else — FRITH pulls every thread of a case into a single, structured file. When you open a Matter, you can see the full picture: who the client is, where the case stands, what is outstanding, how much has been billed, and what the AI has drafted — all without switching screens.
Key Features
Matter Types & Practice Areas
Categorise matters by practice area (Litigation, Conveyancing, Corporate, Family, Criminal, Immigration, etc.) and apply custom matter types specific to your firm.
Stage Pipeline
Track each matter through configurable stages — e.g., Intake → Active → Pending → Closed. The stage is visible from the matter list and Dashboard so you always know where things stand.
Parties & Roles
Attach multiple contacts to a matter with defined roles: Client, Opposing Party, Opposing Counsel, Witness, Expert, Judge, Mediator, and custom roles you define.
Integrated Time Tracking
Log time entries directly inside a matter. Billable hours accumulate against the matter and feed directly into invoices — no double-entry.
Documents Linked to Matters
Every document uploaded or AI-generated within a matter is stored in the matter's document library. Search, preview, version, and send documents without leaving the matter.
Sub-Matters & Related Files
Link related matters together (e.g., a trust administration that spawns separate litigation). Sub-matters inherit the parent client but have independent billing and timelines.
Creating a Matter
Open the Matters module
Click Matters in the left sidebar. On the Matters list page, click the + New Matter button in the top right.
Enter matter details
Fill in the Matter Name (descriptive, e.g. "Smith v Jones — Employment Dispute"), select the Practice Area and Matter Type, and choose the responsible attorney. A unique File Number is auto-generated but can be overridden to match your existing numbering system.
Link the client
Search for an existing contact in the Parties section, or create a new contact on the fly. Set their role to "Client". You can add opposing parties, counsel, and other parties at this stage or later.
Set the stage and dates
Select the initial pipeline stage (usually Intake or Active). Enter the matter open date, and if known, a target close date. Important deadline dates can be added in the Deadlines module after creation.
Configure billing
Set the billing arrangement: hourly (with rate), flat fee, contingency, pro bono, or fixed retainer. This determines how time entries and invoices behave on this matter. A trust/retainer deposit can be logged here.
Save and open the matter
Click Create Matter. FRITH opens the full matter view immediately. From here, start adding tasks, uploading documents, logging time, or running an AI draft.
The Matter Detail View
Once inside a matter, the detail view is organised into tabs so you can navigate to exactly what you need:
| Tab | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Overview | Matter summary, parties, stage, key dates, and responsible attorneys. |
| Documents | All files attached to or generated for this matter. Upload, preview, version, and share. |
| Time & Billing | All time entries, expenses, invoices, and payments linked to this matter. |
| Tasks | Tasks created within this matter. Create, assign, and track completion. |
| Deadlines | Deadlines and court dates specific to this matter. |
| Calendar | Upcoming events, hearings, and meetings linked to this matter. |
| Contacts / Parties | All parties linked to this matter with their roles and contact details. |
| Activities | A chronological log of every call, email, note, and activity recorded against the matter. |
| AI | Drafts, research, and AI-generated content produced for this matter. |
| Notes | Internal attorney notes and memos not shared with clients. |
Managing Matter Stages
Stages reflect the lifecycle of a matter. The default stages are Intake, Active, Pending, On Hold, and Closed. Firm administrators can create custom stages (e.g., "Discovery", "Pre-trial", "Settlement Negotiation") under Organisation → Matter Settings.
To advance a matter's stage: open the matter, click the current stage badge at the top of the overview tab, and select the new stage from the dropdown. FRITH records the stage change with a timestamp in the matter's activity log, creating an auditable trail.
Closing a matter will prompt you to: confirm the close date, archive all associated tasks, issue any outstanding invoices, and reconcile the trust/retainer balance. A matter can be reopened at any time if further work is required.
Searching and Filtering Matters
The Matters list supports powerful search and filtering so you can find any matter instantly:
- Full-text search across matter name, file number, client name, and description.
- Filter by stage, practice area, responsible attorney, or open date range.
- Sort by last activity, matter open date, client name, or file number.
- Save a filter combination as a custom view (e.g., "My active litigation matters") for one-click access.
- Use the global search (Cmd/Ctrl+K) from anywhere in FRITH to jump to any matter by typing its name or file number.
Best practices for matter management
- • Give every matter a clear, searchable name: include the client surname and the legal issue (e.g., "Mensah — Immigration Visa Appeal 2025").
- • Add all parties at matter creation, not later — it ensures conflict-check accuracy from day one.
- • Use sub-matters for distinct work streams on the same client file rather than cramming everything into one matter.
- • Log time entries the same day you do the work — reconstruction from memory is inaccurate and a common source of billing disputes.
- • Advance the stage promptly when it changes. Stale stages on the Dashboard create noise and hide real priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I transfer responsibility for a matter to another attorney?
Open the matter, go to the Overview tab, and click the Responsible Attorney field. Select the new attorney from the list. The previous attorney retains access to the matter unless you also adjust their permissions. All historical time entries remain attributed to the original attorney.
Can clients see information inside a matter?
No — matters are internal to your firm. Clients access documents you explicitly share through the Client Portal or via secure email. No matter data, internal notes, or time entries are ever visible to clients unless you choose to share them.
What happens to a matter's documents when it is closed?
Documents are retained indefinitely and remain searchable. The matter is moved to the "Closed" state in your list but is never deleted. You can reopen a closed matter at any time or export all its documents for external archiving.
Can I bulk-import matters from my previous system?
Yes. FRITH supports CSV import of matter records from the Organisation → Import Data section. Contact support@getfrith.com for the template format and guidance on migrating from specific platforms (Clio, Practice Panther, Law 360, etc.).
Is there a limit to the number of matters I can create?
Matter limits depend on your subscription tier. Standard plans support unlimited matters. Check your current limits under Settings → Subscriptions.