Task guide
Confirm, extend and complete deadlines
Review the deadlines the rules suggest, confirm them, extend one only with a reason and the authority for it, and complete it with evidence.
Where deadlines come from
A deadline's Where it came from reads one of three:
- Suggested by a rule, when something that starts time running was recorded on the matter, such as service of a writ or a judgment.
- Limitation period, from the day a claim accrued.
- Recorded by hand. A deadline written by hand is born confirmed, because the person writing it is the person deciding it.
Deadlines the other side owes
A rule can count the other side's step, such as the time a defendant has to enter an appearance. Its deadline shows Other side's in the list, and on its page Whose step reads The other side's, watched for default, with If they let it pass giving the step the rule puts to the lawyer.
The firm does not complete it. Recording the event that answers it on the matter meets it. If its date passes with nothing recorded, the deadline's holder and the responsible partner are sent an Other side in default notice saying what was not done and the next step, such as applying for judgment in default.
Record what starts time running
On a matter's Deadlines tab, choose Record what happened: what happened, The day it happened and, where it matters, the Court. Each rule it starts suggests a date to confirm. The matter's What happened tab lists every such event with the dates it set running.
Review suggestions
- Open Deadlines, then Suggestions.
- For each, check the date against its rule and trigger. Confirm it as computed, Edit details and then confirm, or Dismiss it with a reason.
- Select several to confirm them together; each is judged on its own.
A confirmed date never moves silently
Once confirmed, a deadline changes only by Record an extension, which records the old date, the new date, the reason and the authority for it, such as the order granting more time, for good.
A new holiday, a moved court vacation or an edited rule never recomputes a confirmed date. Each produces a review listing the deadlines it may affect, under Deadlines, Reviews, for someone to decide.
Complete it
Complete a deadline with its evidence: a note, or a document filed on the same matter. Where it has open tasks, choose to keep them open, complete them or cancel them. A deadline not completed by its date is marked missed and escalated at once.
At risk
Deadlines opens on At risk: overdue, due today, due this week, unconfirmed, unacknowledged and needing cover. Each figure opens the Register already filtered. Near misses lists deadlines completed close to their date; see Critical deadline checks.
Reassign
Reassign moves a deadline to another holder, and both the old and the new holder are told.
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Read next
- How the deadline rules count timeThe firm's own rules for counting time, the units and calendars they count against, and why editing a rule never moves a date already set.
- Reminders and escalationHow reminders climb from the holder to the partner and the managing partner, why each must be acknowledged, and what leave does.
- The case, hearings and filingsOpen the case on a matter, list hearings and record what the court did, and keep filings, service and orders that start time running.