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Managing Your Case

Once you've hired a solicitor, the eSolicitors platform helps you manage your legal matter efficiently.

Your Case Dashboard​

After hiring, you'll have access to a dedicated case dashboard showing:

  • Case Status - Current stage of your matter
  • Recent Activity - Latest updates and actions
  • Messages - Communication with your solicitor
  • Documents - Shared files
  • Payments - Billing and payment status
  • Timeline - Key dates and milestones

Case Status Stages​

Your case will progress through stages:

New → In Progress → Under Review → Awaiting Action → Nearing Completion → Completed

Status Meanings​

StatusWhat It Means
NewJust engaged, work starting soon
In ProgressActive work being done
Under ReviewAwaiting review or approval
Awaiting ActionWaiting for something (often from you)
Nearing CompletionFinal stages of the matter
CompletedMatter concluded

Communicating with Your Solicitor​

Platform Messaging​

The safest way to communicate:

  1. Go to your case dashboard
  2. Click "Messages" or "New Message"
  3. Type your message
  4. Attach files if needed
  5. Click Send

Benefits:

  • Secure and encrypted
  • Full history retained
  • Easy to reference later
  • Notifications sent to solicitor

When to Message​

Good reasons to message:

  • Providing requested information
  • Asking questions about your case
  • Reporting changes in circumstances
  • Responding to solicitor's queries
  • Sharing relevant documents

Response Expectations​

  • Most solicitors respond within 24-48 hours
  • Complex queries may take longer
  • Urgent matters should be flagged
  • Check your solicitor's response time in their profile

Sharing Documents​

How to Upload Documents​

  1. Go to your case dashboard
  2. Click "Documents" or "Upload"
  3. Select files from your device
  4. Add a description (recommended)
  5. Click "Upload"

Supported File Types​

  • Documents: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT
  • Spreadsheets: XLS, XLSX
  • Images: JPG, PNG, GIF
  • Max Size: 25MB per file

Document Security​

Your documents are protected by:

  • 256-bit encryption in transit
  • Encrypted storage
  • Access limited to you and your solicitor
  • Audit trail of who accessed what

Organising Documents​

Documents are automatically organised by:

  • Upload date
  • File type
  • Status (pending review, approved, etc.)

You can also:

  • Add custom labels
  • Search by name or description
  • Filter by date or type

Tracking Progress​

Activity Feed​

Your case dashboard shows recent activity:

Today 10:30 - Document uploaded by you 09:15 - Message from Sarah Smith (Solicitor)

Yesterday 16:45 - Case status updated to "In Progress" 14:20 - Payment of £500 confirmed

Milestones​

Key milestones appear in the timeline:

  • Engagement started
  • Documents received
  • Key submissions made
  • Court dates (if applicable)
  • Completion date

Notifications​

You'll receive notifications for:

  • New messages from your solicitor
  • Document requests
  • Status changes
  • Payment requests
  • Important deadlines

Notification methods:

  • Email (default)
  • SMS (optional)
  • In-app (always)

Your Responsibilities​

Respond Promptly​

When your solicitor asks for something:

  • Respond as soon as possible
  • Delays can affect your case
  • Flag if you need more time

Provide Accurate Information​

  • Be honest and complete
  • Don't hide relevant information
  • Correct any errors immediately
  • Ask if you're unsure what's needed

Keep Records​

Good practice:

  • Download important documents
  • Note key dates and deadlines
  • Keep a record of what you've sent

Stay Informed​

  • Read all communications
  • Ask questions if you don't understand
  • Review documents sent to you
  • Attend scheduled meetings/calls

Handling Issues​

Not Getting Responses?​

  1. Check the message went through
  2. Wait 48 hours (reasonable response time)
  3. Send a follow-up message
  4. Mark as urgent if needed
  5. Contact eSolicitors support if no response

Concerns About Your Case​

If you have concerns:

  1. Raise with your solicitor first - Most issues can be resolved directly
  2. Document your concerns - Keep records of communications
  3. Use the complaints process - If not resolved
  4. Contact eSolicitors support - We can help mediate

Requesting a Change​

If you want to change something:

  • Scope of work
  • Timeline
  • Communication method

Message your solicitor to discuss. Changes may affect fees.

Putting Your Case on Hold​

If you need to pause:

  1. Message your solicitor to discuss
  2. Understand any implications
  3. Agree on next steps
  4. Request formal hold if needed

Note: Pausing may affect:

  • Court deadlines
  • Limitation periods
  • Costs

Case Completion​

When your matter concludes:

  1. Final Review - Check all work is complete
  2. Final Payment - Settle any outstanding fees
  3. Documents - Download all relevant documents
  4. Leave a Review - Help other clients find great solicitors
  5. Feedback - Share your experience with us

After Completion​

  • Your case dashboard remains accessible
  • Documents stored for your records
  • Can download anything you need
  • Case marked as complete

Next Steps​

Tip: Check your case dashboard regularly for updates. Prompt responses help your case progress smoothly.