How to Add a New Client

How to Add a New Matter for an Existing Client

How to Add a Prospective Client

How to Add a New Client

   To add a new client from the Clients list

  1. From the File menu, point to Open, and then select Clients.
  2. Click on the toolbar.
  3. The New Client Record window will be displayed. Select the Next Available Client ID, or select Specific Client ID and enter a unique, unused Client ID.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Enter the Client Name in Last/First format and press the Tab key.
  6. In the Contact Information window, enter the contact information for the client.
  7. Click to save the new contact and return to the Client Information window.
  8. Enter the remaining client information and click to save the new client record.

   To add a new client from the Client Information window

  1. From the File menu, point to Data Entry, and then select Client.
  2. Click on the toolbar.
  3. The New Client Record window will displayed. Select the Next Available Client ID, or select Specific Client ID and enter a unique, unused Client ID.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Enter the Client Name in Last/First format and press the Tab key.
  6. In the Contact Information window, enter the contact information for the client.
  7. Click to save the new contact and return to the Client Information window.
  8. Enter the remaining client information and click to save the new client record.

Note: New Client IDs can only be automatically assigned when using a Numeric Key Type. They cannot be assigned when using Mixed or Alpha Key Types.

How to Add a New Matter for an Existing Client

   To add a new matter to an existing client from the Clients list

  1. From the File menu, point to Open, and then select Clients.
  2. Select an existing client in the list.
  3. Click on the toolbar.
  4. The New Client Record window will be displayed with Next Available Matter selected. This option will add "1" to the decimal portion of the largest matter for the Client ID shown in the Client ID field.
  5. Click OK.
  6. The for the base client will be displayed.
  7. Verify the Client Name and matter contact are the contact(s) you want to use for this matter.
  8. Enter the remaining matter information and click to save the new matter record.

   To add a new matter to an existing client from the Client Information window

  1. From the File menu, point to Data Entry, and then select Client.
  2. Type an existing Client ID in the Client ID field. You can type the base portion of the Client ID (i.e., the value left of the decimal) or more.
  3. Click on the toolbar.
  4. The New Client Record window will be displayed with Next Available Matter selected. This option will add "1" to the decimal portion of the largest matter for the Client ID shown in the Client ID field.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Verify the Client Name and matter contact are the contact(s) you want to use for this matter.
  7. Enter the remaining matter information and click to save the new matter record.

How to Add a Prospective Client

Instead of adding a new client, add a new contact instead. This allows the contact record to be searchable using the Conflict of Interest Search without assigning a Client ID. Then, when the contact becomes a client, use the existing contact record when creating the new client to streamline data entry.

New Client Defaults: When adding a new client, the client's default options will be the defaults defined on the Client Defaults tab in Customization. However, when adding a subsequent matter for a client that already exists, certain information will be inherited from the client's highest numbered active matter (provided you are using a Numeric or Mixed Key Type). For example, if client 221.01 exists, when you add matter 221.02, the default options will be the same as client 221.01's rather than the defaults shown in Customization.

Practice Management Note: Whenever a client is added in Tabs3, a record is written to the TABS_CM3.DTA data file. This data file can be used by a third party for importing Tabs3 client information for new clients.

See also:   Toolbar Buttons
  Types of Client Billing Addresses