> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.largence.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create your first matter

> Step-by-step guide to opening a matter, running conflict clearance, and using the matter hub.

This guide walks through the full matter creation flow from start to finish.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Matters and click New matter">
    Click **Matters** in the left sidebar, then **New matter** in the top right. Alternatively press `Cmd+Shift+M` (Mac) or `Ctrl+Shift+M` (Windows).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the matter type">
    Select the type that best describes the engagement:

    * **Transaction**: deals, M\&A, commercial closings
    * **Litigation**: disputes, trials, advocacy
    * **Advisory**: counsel, opinions, strategy
    * **Compliance**: regulatory and risk matters
    * **Retainer**: ongoing client engagement

    Choose the jurisdiction (Nigeria or England & Wales) and a practice area.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign a workspace">
    Select the workspace where this matter will live. Matters inherit workspace settings and team visibility.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the client">
    Search for an existing client record or create a new one. Adding a client links the matter to your client directory and triggers conflict checks against that party.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Conflict clearance">
    Largence runs conflict clearance automatically on save. The check searches existing matters, clients, counterparties, and matter parties across your organisation.

    If a potential conflict is flagged, the matter enters the partner approval queue. A Partner or Org Admin must review and clear or block the matter before work proceeds.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add team members">
    Assign matter roles to each member:

    * **Lead**: primary fee earner responsible for the matter
    * **Associate**: supporting practitioner
    * **Paralegal**: document and task support
    * **Reviewer**: read and comment access for review workflows
    * **Billing**: time and invoice management
    * **Read Only**: view access without edit rights
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use the matter hub">
    After creation, the matter hub provides these tabs:

    * **Overview**: status, parties, reference number, and key dates
    * **Documents**: the matter document library
    * **Correspondence**: filed emails and messages linked to this matter
    * **Tasks**: assigned work with due dates
    * **Timeline**: chronological log of matter events
    * **Relationships**: counterparties and cross-matter connections
    * **Team**: matter members and ethical walls
    * **Billing**: time entries, invoices, and WIP summary
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Each matter automatically creates a Channels conversation for the matter team. Find it under the
  Channels app in the Launchpad.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  Closing a matter is permanent. Only Partners and Org Admins can close a matter. Closed matters
  remain searchable but cannot be edited.
</Warning>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Documents" icon="file" href="/practice-management/documents">
    Upload, version, and review matter documents.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Generate a document" icon="sparkles" href="/ai-and-generation/generating-a-document">
    Draft agreements with verified statute citations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Conflict clearance" icon="shield" href="/compliance/conflict-clearance">
    How automatic and manual conflict checks work.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>