Courts, rules, orders and agreements create deadlines every day. Firms of every size, from a solo practice to a large office, protect themselves with a simple routine applied to every new date.
Enter dates from the source
Every deadline should come from a document: an order, a notice of hearing, a rule applied to a service date, or a written agreement. Record the source with the date so anyone can check it later.
Two sets of eyes
The attorney decides how a deadline is calculated. A second person confirms that the date on the calendar matches the source. Calculation and entry should never rest on one person alone.
Reminders at intervals
- Thirty days out: plan the work.
- Fourteen and seven days out: check progress.
- One day out: confirm it is done or filed.
One calendar for the whole team
Personal calendars and sticky notes are where deadlines get lost. Keep one shared docket that everyone working the matter can see, and review it together every week.
Close the loop
When a deadline is met, mark it done with the date and what was filed or served. When an order changes a date, update it and keep a note of the change.
Our case deadline tracker keeps dates by matter with overdue, this week and next 30 days at a glance.
Litigation support is performed at the direction of a licensed attorney. How a deadline is calculated is counsel's decision under the applicable rules and orders.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or regulatory advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible agency or a licensed professional.
