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This page summarizes the essential skills a lawyer needs to work effectively in Acumin on desktop. An exercise at the end helps familiarize you with the function.
1. Time Entry (Daily Core)
Entering accurate time is the most frequent activity for lawyers in Acumin. Master the following:
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Timesheet screen: Choose client, matter, time code, and add a clear description. Use the built-in timer to capture work as you go.
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Favourites and aliases: Add favourite clients/matters and set personal aliases to speed selection (e.g., type a nickname to find a matter).
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Auto-text replace: Expand short codes into standard narratives to save typing and improve consistency.
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Chargeable vs. non-chargeable: Apply the correct codes for non-billable activities on chargeable matters and for blank non-chargeable entries so reporting is accurate.
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Submit to assistant: Use the submit-to function to route entries for review/posting to your main assistant.
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Validate before posting: Run validations and correct any highlighted fields before posting.
2. Dashboards and Shortcuts
Customize Acumin to fit your workflow:
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Personalize your login open form, task bar, and quick shortcuts for common actions.
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Use the Client/Matter Dashboard to see essentials at a glance: matter details, reminders, billing status, and engagement information.
3. Search First and Manage Conflicts
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Search before creating: Always search for a person, company, or group before creating a new record to prevent duplicates.
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Conflict checks: When opening a client or matter, review the potential conflicts list and document your assessment per firm policy.
5. Understand the Billing Cycle
Even if assistant/accounting issues invoices, understanding the flow improves accuracy and client satisfaction:
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From time to WIP to invoice: Your entries accumulate as WIP and feed into draft invoices.
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Draft Detailed Invoice (DDI) review: Mark corrections, write-ups/downs, and narrative edits, then return to your assistant/accounting.
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Roles and approvals: Know who reviews, who signs, and expected turnaround times in your practice group.
6. Lawyer–Assistant Collaboration
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Visibility: Your assigned assistant can review your time, run reports, and help manage WIP without account sharing.
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Routing: The main assistant appears by default in submit-to fields and receives billing tasks through the Billing Management tools.
7. Must-Know Reports
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Hours Worked dashboard: Track progress to targets and identify gaps early.
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No Time / Low Time: Ensure your time is complete for the period.
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WIP, Trust, and AR: Monitor unbilled work, trust balances, and receivables for proactive client conversations.
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Personalized reports: Use any firm-configured reports tailored to your practice.
Quick Start Checklist
- Pin your most-used clients/matters as Favourites and set aliases
- Create 3–5 auto-text snippets for common narratives
- Configure your login open form and task bar shortcuts
- Add key matter reminders and verify Outlook sync settings
- Run and review your Hours Worked and No Time reports
- Practice searching for a Person before adding a new one
Tips and Good Practices
- Enter time the same day; use the timer for long-running tasks.
- Write narratives as if the client will read them; avoid jargon.
- Use precise activity codes to improve billing analytics.
- Group similar small tasks under a single narrative where firm policy allows.
- Validate daily; post and submit for assistant review promptly.
Exercise: Entering Time in the Timesheet
Follow the steps on the exercise page to practice creating a lawyer time entry via the Timesheet.
Lawyer Time Entry in the Timesheet (Acumin.desktop) | Acumin Documentation