Previously, Paladin supported custom tags, which are categorical fields defined in the REF file and imported via TKP/MTR files. These tags work well for structured classification (e.g., practice areas, case types) but are insufficient for tracking structured numerical, date-based, and boolean values that law firms require.
In support of that, we’re introducing Custom Fields. Unlike custom tags, which are limited to predefined categorical options, Custom Fields will not use a set of options, allowing firms to store any Boolean, String, Number, or Date data without predefined constraints.
When you add a Custom Field to your REF file, and then add values for that Custom Field to specific timekeepers or matters, you will be able to see those custom field values in the timekeeper or matter detail pages as well as in Insights reports.
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Similar to Custom Tags, Custom Fields can be defined in the REF File. Paladin supports up to 10 Custom fields for Matters, and 10 Custom Fields for Timekeepers. Custom Fields can not be shared between Matters and Timekeepers.
Where custom tags use codes like CC1 and TK_CC1, custom fields can be defined with codes like M_CF1 and TK_CF1.
The REF file will now support an additional column, Data Type to define whether the custom field is a Boolean, Text, Number, or Date.
The Item Code column will be ignored for Custom Fields, since options are not defined for Custom Fields
Here’s an example REF file with custom fields added to the bottom, bolded and italicized.
| CDC Instruction Code | Item Type Code | Item Code | Item Name | Item Active Flag | Item Notes | Data Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRA | PRA001 | Appeals | 0 | Practice area for appeals | ||
| PRA | PRA002 | Bankruptcy & Debt | 1 | Practice area for bankruptcy and debt cases | ||
| PRA | PRA003 | Civil Rights | 1 | Practice area for civil rights cases | ||
| DEP | DEP001 | Litigation | 1 | Department handling litigation cases | ||
| DEP | DEP002 | Corporate | 1 | Department handling corporate matters | ||
| TKT | TKT001 | Partner | 1 | Senior lawyer in the firm | ||
| TKT | TKT002 | Associate | 1 | Junior lawyer in the firm | ||
| AST | AST001 | Supervising Partner | 1 | Partner overseeing the case | ||
| AST | AST002 | Responsible Attorney | 1 | Partner responsible for the case | ||
| OFF | OFF001 | New York | 1 | Office located in New York | ||
| OFF | OFF002 | Los Angeles | 1 | Office located in Los Angeles | ||
| MTS | MTS001 | Open | 1 | Matter is currently open | ||
| MTS | MTS002 | Closed | 1 | Matter is closed | ||
| CC1 | CC1-001 | Midwest | 1 | Custom tag for midwest region matters | ||
| CC1 | CC1-002 | East Coast | 1 | Custom tag for east coast region matters | ||
| CC2 | SC-IL | Illinois Supreme Court | 1 | Custom tag for matters reaching the IL supreme court | ||
| CC2 | SC-FL | Florida Supreme Court | 1 | Custom tag for matters reaching the FL supreme court | ||
| TK_CC1 | TK_CC1-001 | Spanish | 1 | Custom timekeeper tag for timekeepers with Spanish fluency | ||
| TK_CC1 | TK_CC1-002 | French | 1 | Custom timekeeper tag for timekeepers with French fluency | ||
| M_CF1 | M_CF1 | Disbursement Charges | 1 | Number | ||
| M_CF2 | M_CF2 | Nature of Business | 1 | Text | ||
| M_CF3 | M_CF3 | Do Not Contact | 1 | Boolean | ||
| M_CF4 | M_CF4 | FTE Percentage | 1 | Number | ||
| M_CF5 | M_CF5 | Last Court Date | 1 | Date | ||
| TK_CF1 | TK_CF1 | Class Year | 1 | Number | ||
| TK_CF2 | TK_CF2 | Maiden Name | 1 | Text | ||
| TK_CF3 | TK_CF3 | All Hours Billed | 1 | Number | ||
| TK_CF4 | TK_CF4 | Court Admissions Date | 1 | Date | ||
| TK_CF5 | TK_CF5 | Last Promotion Date | 1 | Date | ||
| TK_CF6 | TK_CF6 | Lateral Hire | 1 | Boolean | ||
| TK_CF7 | TK_CF7 | FTE Adjusted Hours | 1 | Number |
There are 4 supported data types; when defining the Custom Field in the REF file, the Data Type column must have one of these exact values.
Boolean - A field that represents either true or false
1/0 OR TRUE/FALSEText - A field of arbitrary text, which will enable text searching filters in Paladin