CLWM flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Lead time vs cycle time

Cycle time is the elapsed time to complete one unit of work; lead time includes queue and wait time from request to delivery. Lead time equals cycle time plus wait time.

Little's Law

Average work in progress equals arrival rate multiplied by average lead time. Reducing WIP at a constant arrival rate proportionally reduces lead time through the workflow.

Swimlane process map

A process diagram with one lane per actor. Each step sits in the lane of whoever performs it, and any step crossing lanes marks a handoff where delay or error typically occurs.

Bottleneck identification

The bottleneck is the step with the longest time per unit or the least capacity. Throughput of the entire workflow cannot exceed the bottleneck's rate.

Conflict check sequence

Search party names, adverse parties, related entities, and personnel affiliations before any substantive work. A matter cannot open until the conflict screen returns clear or is resolved.

Intake triage criteria

Priority is assigned by deadline or limitation severity, matter value, risk exposure, and complexity. Any limitation date creates a calendar entry at the moment of intake.

Engagement letter essentials

A written engagement states scope and exclusions, fee basis and rate, cost responsibility, client duties, and termination terms, and is signed before work begins.

Client identity verification

Verification requires a government photo identity document plus a corroborating source. Entity clients require identification of owners and controllers to the applicable threshold.

Version numbering convention

Drafts before approval use 0.x numbering. The first issued version is 1.0, minor edits increment the decimal, and a substantive re-issue increments the whole number.

Document status lifecycle

Documents move through Draft, In Review, Approved, Executed, and Superseded. Executed and Superseded records are read-only and cannot be edited in a compliant repository.

Document register

A register lists each document's owner, version, status, distribution list, and retention class. The register, not the folder structure, is the authoritative index of the matter file.

Check-in and check-out

Locking a document during editing prevents concurrent overwrite. Edits made outside the system of record create shadow copies that must be reconciled before the document is finalized.

Cost performance index

CPI equals earned value divided by actual cost. A value below 1.0 indicates that spending is outpacing progress against the budgeted plan for the matter.

Estimate at completion

EAC equals budget divided by CPI when current cost trends continue. Comparing EAC to the approved budget forecasts overrun before the matter closes.

Budget variance formula

Variance equals actual minus budget, divided by budget. Report variance by phase and by timekeeper role, since total variance can mask offsetting phase overruns.

Alternative fee arrangement risk

A fixed fee shifts volume risk to the firm. A capped fee shifts overrun risk to the firm above the cap. A success fee ties part of compensation to the outcome achieved.

Rule anatomy

Every automation rule has a trigger event, a condition set using explicit all-or-any logic, and an action. Ambiguous condition logic is the most frequent rule defect.

Deadline calculation inputs

Deadline rules require a trigger date, a counting method of calendar or business days, a jurisdiction holiday calendar, and a roll-forward rule for weekends and holidays.

Automation exception routing

Failed or unmatched automation cases route to a named human queue with an owner and due date. Silent failure on a legal deadline is the highest-severity automation risk.

Template variable mapping

Each template variable must map to a validated data source field. Unmapped or invalid variables cause document generation to fail or produce incorrect output.

Matter number as primary key

The matter number links time entries, documents, tasks, calendar events, and invoices. A matter opened without a number cannot be reliably billed or reported.

Ethical wall

A restriction that blocks specific users from specific matters regardless of their role permissions. It supplements role-based access control rather than replacing it.

System-generated calendar entries

Deadlines are created by the case management system from the matter record rather than typed manually, preserving the link between the deadline and its source event.

Data migration reconciliation

Before cutover, field mapping and deduplication rules are applied, then source and target record counts are compared to confirm that no records were lost.

Technology competence duty

A lawyer must understand the technology used in a matter well enough to identify its risks and supervise its output, including automated drafting and review tools.

Scope of confidentiality

Confidentiality covers all information relating to the representation, not only privileged material. Inadvertent disclosure triggers notification and mitigation obligations.

Imputed conflicts

A conflict affecting one lawyer is generally imputed to the entire firm. A screen alone does not cure it unless the applicable rules permit screening for that situation.

Confidentiality label tiers

Records are labeled Public, Internal, Confidential, or Highly Confidential. Access controls follow the label assigned to the record rather than its location in a folder tree.

Legal hold effect

A hold suspends scheduled disposition of affected records. Release requires written confirmation from counsel that the matter is concluded and no obligation remains.

Intake conversion rate

Conversion equals matters opened divided by intake inquiries. A low rate usually points to triage criteria or response time rather than to the source of inquiries.

Rework rate

Rework rate equals documents or tasks returned for correction divided by total completed. A rising rate signals a template, training, or review-gate defect in the workflow.

ADKAR sequence

The change sequence is Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement. A gap at Desire cannot be closed by adding more training or documentation.