TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Case Registration
• Case Type
• Case Registration Number
• Case Parties
• Claims and Case Summary
• Judicial Member and Auto Tasks
• Lawyers and Hearings

Introduction

CASENGINE as the name refers allows you to manage your Litigation cases and more. In this article we will understand how you can register a case even as a first step in using CASENGINE.

First, lets understand using a diagram, a standard case workflow and how the team members can collaborate to increase their efficiency.

Now, lets understand how you can reach to the Case registration page:

1. Quick links from the header 
2. From the Left Navigation -> "Cases" -> "Existing Cases" -> (+) Icon towards the top right corner or the page

Case Registration

You can register a case in CASENGINE as a first step if you want to manage a few cases only and don't want to upload the entire client and matter list s explained earlier.

On the first screen of Case registration, you will see a drop down to select the matter under which you will open the case, as we explained earlier the hierarchy is like "Client" -> "Matter" -> "Case/Project", however you can quick create matter and clients from this screen itself.

STEP 1: Matter Selection

1. Select the matter from the list or search for a matter by clicking the magnifying lens icon.
2. Create a new matter by clicking (+) icon next to the search icon

If you chose to create a matter from this screen, you will see a pop up like shown below which is similar to the one we explained in the matter section. Please refer Creating Matters in CASENGINE to understand the fields in matter creation.

Moreover, if you are here as a first step, you further create a client by clicking the button from the matter creation pop up as shown in the image below:

If you chose to create a Client as well, click the button as shown in the image above and you will see a screen like this:

With very few details, you will be able to create a client. post which you can open the Matter and get ready to register the case.

SETP 2: Location and Case Type

Case Type

As you can see in the above image, apart from country and location, you also have to chose the case type. Now, Case type is a crucial element of CASENGINE as wherever in CASENGINE you see the case number, it will be displayed along with the case type.

It is also important to map the case type to get more from CASENGINE. We have prepared a detailed article on understanding the case type mapping - Mapping the Case Types

Using the Case Type mapping button on the case registration page, you can either map an existing case type or create a new case type if you find one missing. Map the same with Category, Judicature, Litigation Stages, Position group and Hearing type for an efficient workflow

Note: The Case Types showing in red color in the list means that their mapping for this location is missing.

As we move on the next step after selecting the Case type, we notice that fields like category and judicatures are auto selected based on the case type mappings and use has to just review them.

Case Registration Number

Case registration number is a combination of [Case Registration Number]/[Year] + [Case type] -> Case Number

In this step we will fill the case registration date and number and select the main case.

If you do not have the case registered in the court yet, you can create it as a draft case by selecting the checkbox named draft case. In this case, a task will be created to convert the draft to a registered case at a later stage and the system will remind you for the same.

Then you select Main Case (if any) - example you are filing an appeal you can select the first instance case or use this option to link a counter case to this case.

Case Parties

In this segment we will understand how to add case parties in the case. Adding one client and one opponent is mandatory to register the case but you may add more parties if needed.

Use the Add Case Parties button on the 4th step of the case registration process to open the case party popup as shown below.

There are 3 ways to auto populate the name of the first party

1. By clicking the blue button next to the Name field that says "Client" - this will fetch the main client name under which the selected matter was created
2. By clicking the button at the bottom that says "Main Case" - this will list the parties from the selected main case (if any) at the bottom. You can click on the copy button to copy the same and use a party name
3. By clicking the button at the bottom that says "Matter" - this will list the opponents from the selected matter at the bottom. You can click on the copy button to copy the same and use a party name

It is important to chose the correct position titles, although because of the case type mapping workflow the system will only show relevant position titles only but you can amend the same by going to the specific mapping of the case type that you selected for this case along with the location.

Refer some related articles:

1. Case Types, Party titles, Categories, Stages and Judicatures
2. Mapping the Case Types

Apart from the party name and title, you may also select the sequence of the party like First Party of Second Party and so on. This will be displayed along with the party name ad title in case details.

You may also add more details like Nationality by clicking the small toggle icon as shown in the screen shot above.

Similarly you can add Opponents and Other parties like witness or experts by clicking the relevant buttons at the top of the pop up.

Press the "Save" button after each update and close the popup once done. 

IMPORTANT 

Each case type + location is mapped to a position group. Each position group has a list of titles like Claimant and Defendant. Each title has a type like Registered by or Against. While mapping the case type, we learned how to add auto task if the case is registered by or against our client. So based on the position title you select while adding the client party, the set of auto tasks will pop up to assign as soon as you close the pop up.

Assign the auto task with deadlines to respective users or delete the tasks if you don't wish to allocate.

You will see the list of added parties in a list that can be amended or deleted using the action buttons. 

Claims and Case Summary

As shown in the above image, you can set the claim amount with the clear description of the claim if applicable. You may leave this blank if the case is not related to any claims. 

"Set this as the Case Claim Amount" - enable this checkbox if you want to make this case claim amount as the total claim about of all the grouped cases. This is relevant when you have multiple linked cases with different claims but the final claim amount for those cases is picked from a specific case. 

"Add Cheque Details" - use this button to add cheque details if any. If you don't find the bank details in the pop up, go to "Master Settings" -> "Accounting" -> "Banks" to add one.

"Keyword" - Select the relevant keywords if applicable, or ignore this step. This is useful when you have a legal library in place and want to fetch past related judgement related to the selected keywords on the case view.

Judicial Member and Auto Tasks

"Add Judicial Member" - Use this to add any judicial member for record like Judge.

"Note" - add any note for the case for reference.

"Auto Task" - as explained earlier, you will have auto tasks to be assigned based on case type + location mapping. If you issued allocating them after the parties addition, you can do so by clicking the button again. 

Lawyers and Hearings

In the last section of step 4, you will be able to:

1. Select the Responsible Lawyer - this user will have full access to the case and works as an owner to this case. All secretaries who are mapped to this lawyer will also get same access to do the work on behalf of the lawyer. You can only select one lawyer here. In order for the lawyer to be shown in the list, that lawyer must be mapped to the case location.
2. Select the Supervising Lawyers - you can select multiple lawyers as supervising to give them access to this case. Again the secretaries of these lawyers will also gain access.
3. Add custom fields - you can add upto 2 custom fields on the case level as a drop down selection. The name and data of the selection can be managed from Master Setting -> Common Master -> Common Master
4. Add the first hearing - if the first hearing is known, use the button "Add Hearing" to add your first hearing. Add the details like hearing date, time, chamber, roll and department/circle. Add the hearing comment and sync it to outlook calendar if you have Microsoft 365 integration enabled.
5. Upload relevant documents - you can upload case related documents by using the Choose File option, don't forget to add Tags and Expiry date if you want to get the email reminder when the document approaches expiry.
6. Add external links - you can add multiple external links like courts link to this case or any relevant client cloud storage