Migrate from The Attorney Case File to Nutshell

The Attorney Case File's client workbook combines the client as an individual and the client's organization in one record. We split this into Nutshell Person (individual contact) and Nutshell Company (organization), preserving the primary role as the Person name and the secondary role as a linked Company. If the client is a solo practitioner or individual client, only a Person record is created.

Each The Attorney Case File matter maps to a Nutshell Deal. The matter number from The Attorney Case File is stored as a custom text field (Case_Number__c) on the Nutshell Deal so attorneys can reference the original case identifier. The matter name becomes the Deal name, and the matter's current stage is translated to a Nutshell custom pick-list field (Case_Status__c) since Nutshell's native stage field is sales-pipeline oriented.

Opposing counsel, co-counsel, and third-party contacts from The Attorney Case File matter parties list migrate as Nutshell Person records with a custom field (Contact_Role__c) set to 'Opposing Counsel', 'Co-Counsel', or the relevant label. These are linked to the same Deal that represents the matter.

The Attorney Case File stores court name and jurisdiction per matter. Since Nutshell has no native court or jurisdiction field, we create a custom text field (Court_Jurisdiction__c) on the Deal record and populate it with the court name. This field is displayed on the Deal record for reference during case management in Nutshell.

The Attorney Case File's case notes (attorney work summaries, procedural notes) migrate as Nutshell Notes attached to the corresponding Deal. We preserve the original author and create timestamp by setting the Note title to the matter name and the Note body to the full note content. For notes belonging to a client rather than a matter, the Note attaches to the Person record.

The Attorney Case File stores documents within matter folders. Nutshell attaches files directly to records (25 MB per file limit). We export each document, re-upload it to the linked Nutshell Deal record, and write the original folder path to a custom text field (Original_Folder_Path__c) on the Deal so the firm can re-establish its folder hierarchy in Nutshell or a connected document storage tool.

The Attorney Case File tracks time entries, billing rates, and invoices per matter. Nutshell has no native billing or time-tracking module. We preserve the total billed amount, total hours, and last invoice date as read-only custom fields on the Deal for historical reference, but the billing workflow must be rebuilt in a dedicated legal billing tool post-migration.

The Attorney Case File allows per-practice-area custom fields (e.g., immigration case type, bankruptcy chapter, litigation damages claimed). We map each to a Nutshell custom field on the appropriate object (Deal or Person) with the same data type. Pick-list fields map to Nutshell dropdown custom fields with the original values preserved.

The Attorney Case File's conflict-check sequences and matter-intake workflows are legal-automation constructs with no Nutshell equivalent. We export the workflow definitions as a structured document and provide a rebuild guide for Nutshell's automation features and any third-party workflow tools the firm adopts.

The Attorney Case File assigns attorneys and staff to matters. Owner resolution maps by email match against Nutshell users. Unmatched owners are flagged before migration — the firm either creates the Nutshell user account first or assigns records to a designated fallback user. No record lands without a Nutshell owner.

The Attorney Case File logs phone calls, emails, and meetings per matter or per client. These migrate as Nutshell Activities linked to the appropriate Deal or Person record. Original timestamps and the attorney/staff owner are preserved. Note that Nutshell's activity model is simpler than a full legal billing log — billable time entries remain in The Attorney Case File's billing module.

Any prospective client records in The Attorney Case File that are not yet opened as matters migrate as Nutshell Lead records. The Lead captures the contact name, email, phone, source of referral, and any notes. Once the firm opens a matter, the Lead is converted to a Person record linked to the new Deal.