Sometimes it can seem a little daunting to get started in a new platform but thankfully, we have built Juristic after principles you know from your case management system. As such, everything should be fairly intuitive.
Conceptually, Juristic's tools are built into a folder structure called Groups and Cases.
Juristic saves Timelines, Structures and tasks inside case folders ("Cases") - just like you are used to! However, instead of having client folders, Juristic saves cases inside top level folders ("Groups").
Groups
Groups are intelligent folders for your Cases, which you can then create within each individual Group. Some use Groups at client level - and others use them in their respective workgroups. You also have a personal folder that is just yours. But Groups are not just folders - they also contain all template content that will be accessible from or copied to Cases.
For example, if you work with corporate advice, but also occasionally do litigation, you could benefit from having two different groups: (1) Corporate; and (2) Litigation.
Cases
Cases work as sub-folders for Groups and will contain specific timelines, Structures, deadlines and tasks.
For example, in the Litigation group, you could create a Case folder for every litigation case you have. This would create the following folder structure, similar to what you may be used to from your DMS or file management systems: Litigation > 01-0001 Kristensen v Petersen.
Tip: We recommend adding case numbers before every Case folder name.
To create your first Case, you first need a Group to put your cases in, similar to how you need a client to put cases under in your case management system. If you already have a Group to put the Case in, you may skip the next step.
On the dashboard "Overview" (the top button in the left menu), you can see a list of recent activity as well as a list of either Groups and Cases. Click "Groups" in the pill menu and then "Create new" in the top right corner of the Group overview. Enter a name and click Save. You can also write a description, but you do not have to.
To create a new Case, go inside the Group you want to put your Case into.
Then click "Create new" in the top right corner of the Case overview. Enter a name and click Save. You can also write a description, but you do not have to.
You are now ready to create a timeline or whiteboard!
Building Blocks
Building blocks are the fundamental components used to create Timelines and Structures in Juristic. They come in various types:
Output: This type of building block is used to generate report content for the Structure automation module, providing valuable information and insights.
Red flags: These building blocks serve as pop-up warnings, alerting users to important information or potential legal issues within the case.
Attributes: Attributes are assignable characteristics for Elements, helping users categorize and differentiate information within the Structure.
Relationships: Relationships represent the connections or lines between Elements, showing how different pieces of information are related to each other.
Scenarios: Conditions are the logic or intelligence that determines when certain actions should be taken within the Structure.
Elements: Elements are like boxes that can be easily dragged into the Structure, allowing users to organize and visualize information effectively.
Additionally, Elements (sometimes referred to as Nodes) can include:
Documents: These building blocks represent the documents included in Timeline and Structure, providing a comprehensive overview of the case's documentation.
People: People building blocks represent the individuals involved in the case, allowing users to track and manage the roles and responsibilities of each person effectively within Timeline and Structure.
Templates and Standard Content
One of Juristic's core features is the ability to create dynamic templates or standard content.
These must be created on Group level, which will then be accessible in or copied to each Case in that particular Group. We differ between templates and standard content.
Templates are Timelines, Structures or Deadlines that will be accessible in each Case. Deadlines are dynamic - based on the Case starting date - and Timelines and Structures can be created based on the templates when needed. For example, if you need to create a new legal structure and don't want to do it all from scratch, you can create a new Structure will all the necessary illustrations with just 1 click. Additionally, Timeline templates can be imported into existing Timelines, which makes them the perfect SOP tool!
Standard content is the collection of Building Blocks (Elements, Relationships, Documents, People, etc.) that will be copied to each new Case in the Group. For example, if you create an element called Company, a copy of Company will be created in all new Cases. Since they are copies, they will be editable in each Case, which will not change anything on the Group level or in any of the other Cases. Conversely, if you change the Element in the Group, for example renaming it, it will only create changes going forward and not retroactively change anything in the existing Cases.