Getting started right with MasterFile

Since MasterFile is a multifaceted product, putting it to work effectively depends on what’s most important to you and your requirements.

For example, do you need to:

keep track of hundreds or thousands of facts, chronological events, their sources, argument and counter argument, relevant issues, questions, authorities and other case knowledge, or
organize and secure your work product files and the documents you receive, also making them available for mobile users to work with out of the office on their notebooks, or
organize, index and search hundreds of thousands of pages of documentary evidence, deposition transcripts, authorities, etc. and key evidence extracted from them, or
create a reference database of case authorities used by your firm with extracts of the key information?

Fact Management & Argument Drafting in 6 simple steps

In this article we focus on setting out and keeping track of your facts and argument. A good way to learn is to pick a new case or one that’s just begun and just dive in with these 6 simple steps. If you’re new to MasterFile, we suggest you have a quick look at our short ‘MasterFile Quick Start Concepts and Tutorial’ videos here, to get a feel for the software. Or, if you just need to load case documents and manage that workflow, see ‘How to load your first case file’s documents into MasterFile’ here. Another good starting point is ‘Case Knowledge Management and MasterFile’s exclusive Fact & Argument technology’ to familiarize yourself with the concepts behind MasterFile’s fact and argument drafting features. That’s here.

Let’s get started.

1. Create the list of players
Make a list of all the players (witnesses, lawyers, legal assistants, officials, experts, organizations, etc.) involved in the case and for each, create a player keyword. Include everybody who has authored a document or is relevant to some fact. Don’t worry if you miss some players as you can add them later, but starting with a good list will greatly speed up loading documents and evidence.

For each player complete a brief summary of their role in the case so all members of your team understand the relevance of the player — be brief.
2. Create the issue list and subject topic index
For each issue, including legal issues, that need to be addressed or can affect the outcome of your case or investigation, create an issue keyword.

Determine any other subject topics or classifications for documents, extracts and facts. For example if there are several locations that are relevant, such as branch offices, create keywords for each under a category called “Locations”.
3. Set out the key facts and load the documents or evidence that substantiates them
As you develop the initial understanding of the case, set out relevant facts and chronology events. Be sure to load key documents that substantiate these facts and events. Create any extracts so you can instantly locate key evidence.

You should also include facts which may not be part of the event chronology, such as hypotheticals, assumptions, disputed facts, facts from relevant authorities, research and facts that may need further investigation.

For each fact, be sure to:
- Assess and assign a relevance, impact assessment and status.
- Record any questions raised or further research required.
- Assess your confidence level in your position so critical facts with the least confidence are easily identified for action.
- Link the fact to relevant issues or topics so you can find all facts related to an issue.
- Set out your argument, anticipated counter arguments and the fact’s source(s). Note that if you use the “Make Fact” button when viewing a document or extract, a doc-link back to the source evidence for the fact is automatically inserted for you.
4. Set out the remaining facts
As you review each document or issue, or discuss the case with your team, record any relevant new facts that become apparent or are brought to your attention. Don’t forget to set out any questions raised or research needed along with the fact’s sources.
5. Load the rest of the case file
Load as many of the remaining documents you feel are relevant, and review them for additional evidence and facts, creating extract and fact profiles as appropriate.
6. Complete the argument for each fact
For each fact which has work outstanding, complete the argument to make your case for that fact, providing doc-links to documents, extracts or other facts as necessary to substantiate each point in your argument.

To help you collect much of the above information from your client, and then load it automatically, see our related article Get your client’s story accurately and import it easily with MasterFile’s Professional Client Intake.

We suggest you read How to load your first case file’s documents into MasterFile next as that looks at the work flow around loading documents.