Attorney decisions and the review packet
How attorneys record decisions from a compact review packet, and how a decision links to the matter's workflow.
For: Attorney
On this page
Attorneys in LegalBook see what needs a lawyer and decide it item by item. Every decision is recorded on the matter, with who made it and why.
Where decisions wait
- Attorney home shows, in order: today's hearings and deadlines, then Legal decisions required, Reviews / sign-offs, Client escalations requiring attorney, Returned / reworked items, Deadline risk and Matters with no progress.
- Decisions lists the reviews routed to you (including intakes waiting to be accepted as matters) and discrepancies routed to attorneys, plus your decision log.
- Reviews and Escalations list the work items and escalations routed to you.
There are no bulk approvals. Each item is decided on its own.
On a phone, Home and Decisions are two of the four tabs at the bottom of the screen. See Installing LegalBook on your phone.
The review packet
Selecting an item opens a review packet: a compact summary of what you are being asked, the relevant facts, documents, notices and the work that led here. If production staff made a recommendation, it is shown in a grey box labelled as not authoritative.
From the packet:
- For a filing, approve it, or reject or request more information (which sends it back as changes requested).
- For a discrepancy, resolve it.
- For anything else, record a decision.
Rejecting or declining needs a reason of at least 20 characters.
Decision types
Approve, reject, request more info, instruct, accept matter, decline matter, strategy, waiver, appeal or motion, closure and other.
Instruct and strategy decisions are summarized as instructions on the production matter view, so staff working the matter see what the attorney decided.
Record a decision by hand
In the matter, choose Record decision… from the Actions menu (or press r). Pick the type, write the decision, and link the documents and facts it rests on.
Changing a decision
Decisions are never edited. To change one, supersede it with a new decision. Both stay on the record.
Decisions and workflows
When a workflow reaches an attorney gate, it waits for the decision. A decision recorded on the gate's work item, or while the workflow waits, opens the gate for that round only. The workflow notes which decision opened it. See How workflows run.
Who can decide
Recording a decision needs an Attorney or Supervising attorney role. A firm can require that the attorney is assigned to the matter. External co-counsel decides only where the firm allows it. A support session acting on an attorney's behalf can see the packet but cannot record a decision.