CounselLink Answer Center for Clients

Tasks

  • Updated

This article covers the following:

About Tasks

Tasks are used to track work items that need to be completed within LexisNexis® CounselLink®. Tasks can include due dates and may be linked to other tasks with dependencies. They can be assigned internally or to law firms. You can assign tasks to matters, budgets, fee offers, or intakes.

Your organization may not have tasks configured for all of these features.

Finding Tasks

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You can locate existing tasks by using using pre-configured search links in the Tasks panel on the homepage. Once you find your task, you can view all of its details on the Task Details slide out window.

Click here to learn more about the search features in CounselLink.

Tasks Panel on the Homepage

The Tasks Panel on the homepage contains quick links to the Tasks Search page and to tasks you've assigned or created.

Using the Tasks Search Page

Click the Search link in the upper right corner of the Tasks panel. From here, you can use the search bar to find key words and filters and columns to modify your results. You can also use saved views to retrieve your previously saved search criteria for quick access.

Using the Tasks Panel

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The Tasks panel on the homepage contains quick links to the Tasks Search page and to your assigned or created tasks.

Click here to learn more about homepage panels.

You can filter the list of tasks in your panel by:

  • Tasks assigned to me
  • Tasks assigned by me
  • Due date categories such as Due Tomorrow, Next 7 Days, or Overdue

Click the Search button in the upper right to access the Tasks Search page.

Viewing Task Details

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Once you find a task and click on it, you will access a slide-out panel with an overview of the task's details.

You can perform various actions on the task slide-out window. Access these actions by clicking the vertical three-dotted More Actions icon.

 

Action Description
Edit

Click this option from the More Actions drop down to edit a task.
Reassign Click this option from the More Actions drop down to reassign a task.
Change Status

Click this option from the More Actions drop down to change the status of a task. You can also click Mark Complete near the current status to mark a task as 'Done.'
Add Comment

Click this option from the More Actions drop down to add a comment to the task. You can also click the plus sign by the Comments box to add a comment.
Show History

Click this option from the More Actions drop down to view a window with the history of actions performed on the task.

Adding a Task

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You can add a task and assign it internally or with a law firm. Depending on your organization's configuration, you can add a task from the Matter Overview page, the Budget Overview page, the Fee Offer Overview page, or the Intake Overview page.

You can also add a task to a matter through the CounselLink add-in for Outlook.

  1. Click the +Add Task button on Tasks tab from the overview page. The Add Task window displays.

  2. Click the Task Set tab if applicable.

    The Add Task Set window displays.

    1. Place a check mark next to one or more sets.
    2. Click Add Task Set. The set or sets are added.
  3. Enter a Task Name into the field.
  4. Optional: Enter a Task Description to describe the task you are creating.
  5. Select a Task Type:
    • Internal: Only users at your organization with access to the matter can view the task.
    • Law Firm: Users at your organization and the firm of the user you select can view the task.
  6. Select a user or group in the Assign To field:
    • Role: Assign the task to the Matter Contact, Invoice Contact, or Budget Contact.

    • Person: Assign the task to a specific user. As you type the name, user options will appear in the drop down to select from.

      When you select Internal, only users at your organization will be available for selection. When you select Law Firm, users at your organization and law firms assigned to the matter will be available for selection.

    • Group: Select a group from the drop down to assign the task.
  7. Optional: Enter a Due Date for the task. Click the field to reveal a calendar drop down.
  8. Optional: Enter a Reminder before Due date in the field. Select the number of days before the Due Date selected for the assignee to receive a task due reminder via email.
  9. Optional: Select a Priority level for the task (Normal, High, or Low).

  10. Optional: Click Show Advanced Settings to enter a value for estimated hours expected to complete the task.

    If Configure Dependencies is selected, then the additional fields Dependent Task and Dependent Due Date must also be completed.

  11. Click Add Task and Create Another to finish this task and start to create another. Or, click Add Task to finish creating this task and exit.

Applying Task Sets

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Task Sets are a group of activities that have been identified as standard for a given feature. Task Sets allow you to create multiple predefined tasks at once.

Your organization may not have tasks configured for budgets or fee offers.

  1. From the overview page, click the Tasks tab.

  2. Click Add Task.

  3. Click the Task Set button.

  4. Locate the task set from the list. To sort, click the column header. To help you locate your task set:
    1. Use the keyword search across all fields
    2. Click the Task header to sort alphabetically
    3. Use the Count filter to sort by tasks included in the task set

  5. Click the check box or check boxes to determine the set(s) to be used.

    The Select All check box adds all of the task sets to a matter. This is not recommended.

  6. Click Add Task Set.

Dependent tasks are nested below their parent task(s). All dependencies are listed in a Pending status and can not be started until the parent task is completed.

Editing a Task

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You can edit a task and reassign it to another user or group, adjust the due date, add or remove a dependent task, and more. You can also edit tasks from the Office Add-in.

You can only edit one task at a time.

Editing a Task from the Overview Page

  1. Find the task name from the Tasks tab on the overview page.
  2. Place a check mark next to the task.

  3. Click the Edit Task button. The Edit Task window displays.

  4. Edit the info on the page as necessary. 
  5. Click Save Task.

Editing a Task from the Tasks Panel

  1. Select the task from under the Tasks tab on the overview page. The Edit Task window slides out.
  2. In the Task panel slide out window, click the More Actions menu for more edit options.

  1. Click the Edit Task button. The Edit Task window displays.

  2. Edit the info on the page as necessary. 
  3. Click Save Task.

Deleting a Task

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  1. Find the task name(s) from the Tasks tab on the overview page.
  2. Place a check mark next to the task(s).

  3. Click the Delete Task button. The Delete Task window displays.

  4. Click Delete Task. The Task Overview page displays a deletion confirmation.

Reassigning a Task

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You can reassign a task to a different user from the Tasks tab or from the task slide out window. You can also reassign a task by editing it.

Reassigning a Task on the Tasks Tab

  1. Find the task on the Tasks tab of the Matter Overview page.

  2. Click the pencil icon next to the assignee name.

  3. Click the Reassign Task button. The Reassign Task window displays.

  4.  In the Assign To area, select one of the following:

    If no role, person, or group is selected, the task goes to Unassigned and will not show up on any user's list.

    • Role: Assign the task to the Matter Contact, Invoice Contact, or Budget Contact.
    • Person: Assign the task to a specific user. As you type the name, user options will appear in the drop down to select from.
    • Group: Select a group from the drop down to assign the task.
  5. Click Reassign Task.

Reassigning a Task from the Task Window

  1. Click the name of a task to access the task window. 

  2. In the task panel slide out window, click the More Actions menu for more edit options.

  3. Click the Reassign button. The Reassign Task window displays.

  4.  In the Assign To area, select one of the following:

    If no role, person, or group is selected, the task goes to Unassigned and will not show up on any user's list.

    • Role: Assign the task to the Matter Contact, Invoice Contact, or Budget Contact.
    • Person: Assign the task to a specific user. As you type the name, user options will appear in the drop down to select from.
    • Group: Select a group from the drop down to assign the task.
  5. Click Reassign Task.

Changing Task Status

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You can update the task status as work progresses. There are a number of places you can change a task's status on the Tasks tab.

Using the Change Status Button to Update Multiple Tasks

  1. Find the task name(s) from the Tasks tab on the overview page.
  2. Place a check mark next to the task(s).
  3. Click the Change Status button. The Update Task Status window displays.

  4. Select a new status from the drop down list.

    If you select Done, enter time spent in the Actual Hours field.

  5. Click Update Status.

Using the Status Button on a Task

  1. Find the task name from the Tasks tab on the overview page.
  2. Click on the task's status button (e.g., In Progress) in the Status column.

  3. In the Update Task Status window, select a Status from the drop down list.

    If you select Done, enter time spent in the Actual Hours field.

  4. Click Update Status.

Updating a Task Status from the Task Window

  1. Click the name of a task to access the task window. 
  2. In the task panel slide out window, click the More Actions menu for more edit options.
  3. Click the Change Status button. The Update Task Status window displays.

  4. Select a new status from the drop down list.

    If you select Done, enter time spent in the Actual Hours field.

  5. Click Update Status.

Task Comments

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Task comments allow you to respond to existing comments or create new ones. You can tag users within your organization on the matter or users at law firms assigned to the matter.

Task History

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To access and view the history of a task, click the History tab of the overview page where the task is associated. The Task History screen displays.

Here, you can view any changes that have been made to tasks.