The Problem with Spreadsheets
Most firms start managing matters in a spreadsheet. It works until it doesn't: columns proliferate, sorting breaks, and nobody can tell at a glance where the bottleneck is. By the time a deadline is missed, the spreadsheet has already lied to you.
Kanban for Legal Work
Kanban (from the Japanese for 'signboard') was developed for manufacturing but translates almost perfectly to legal matter management. Each matter is a card that moves through defined columns representing its lifecycle stage. You can see every matter and its current stage without filtering or sorting.
The Gavel Pipeline
We use five stages: Intake (new matter, conflict check pending), Active (matter opened, work in progress), Review (internal or client review required), Pending (waiting on a third party, court date, or regulatory decision), and Closed. Firms can customise the column names and colours to match their existing workflows.
Deadline Countdown Badges
Every matter card in Gavel shows a countdown badge for the next important deadline. When a deadline is within seven days, the badge turns amber. When it is within 48 hours, it turns red. A glance at the board tells you which matters need attention today.
Moving Matters Forward
Dragging a card to the next column triggers a log entry, timestamps the stage change, and — if you have configured it — sends a notification to the responsible fee-earner. The matter history gives you a full audit trail of every stage transition.