Managing attorney records in eCourtDate allows your agency to maintain a centralized directory of legal representatives, assign them to cases and events, and streamline communication. You can track caseloads, share files, and send recurring case summaries to keep attorneys informed.

### Overview

- **What it is:** An attorney management module that stores attorney profiles, links them to cases and events, and enables direct communication and file sharing.
- **Why it matters:** Courts and agencies work with dozens or hundreds of attorneys. A centralized directory ensures accurate contact information, clear case assignments, and efficient communication.
- **Who uses it:** Court clerks, case managers, administrators, and pretrial officers who coordinate with defense attorneys, prosecutors, and appointed counsel.
- **Expected outcomes:** A complete attorney directory with case assignments, automated summaries, shared documents, and real-time caseload visibility.

### Prerequisites

- An active eCourtDate account with the **Attorneys** permission enabled
- At least one case or event record to associate with an attorney
- Administrator or Case Manager role for creating and editing attorney profiles
- Attorney contact information (name, email, phone, bar number)

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Access the Attorney Directory

1. Click **Attorneys** from the main navigation menu.
2. Browse the existing attorney list or use the search bar to find a specific attorney by name, email, or bar number.

#### Step 2: Create an Attorney Profile

1. Click **Create Attorney** to open the new attorney form.
2. Enter the attorney's **First Name**, **Last Name**, and **Email Address**.
3. Enter the **Bar Number**, **Phone Number**, and **Firm Name** in the corresponding fields.
4. Select the attorney's **Type** from the dropdown (for example, Defense, Prosecution, Appointed).
5. Click **Save** to create the profile.

#### Step 3: Assign an Attorney to a Case or Event

1. Open the case or event record you want to associate with the attorney.
2. Click the **Attorney** field and search for the attorney by name or bar number.
3. Select the attorney from the results.
4. Click **Save** to confirm the assignment.

#### Step 4: Share Case Files with an Attorney

1. Open the attorney's profile from the **Attorneys** list.
2. Click the **Files** tab to view shared documents.
3. Click **Upload File** and select the document from your computer.
4. Add a description in the **Notes** field and click **Save**.
5. The attorney receives a notification with a link to access the file securely.

#### Step 5: Send Recurring Case Summaries

1. Open the attorney's profile and click the **Notifications** tab.
2. Enable **Recurring Case Summary** by toggling the setting to on.
3. Select the frequency from the **Frequency** dropdown (daily, weekly, or monthly).
4. Click **Save** to activate recurring summaries.
5. The attorney receives an automated email with a summary of all assigned cases and upcoming events on the selected schedule.

#### Step 6: Track Attorney Caseload

1. Navigate to **Attorneys** from the main navigation.
2. Review the **Caseload** column to see the number of active cases assigned to each attorney.
3. Click an attorney's name to view the full list of assigned cases, events, and recent activity.

### What to Expect

Once an attorney profile is created and linked to cases, all relevant case data is accessible from the attorney record. Recurring summaries are sent automatically on the schedule you configure. File uploads are immediately available to the attorney through secure links. Caseload numbers update in real time as cases are assigned or resolved.

### Best Practices

- Keep attorney contact information current by reviewing profiles quarterly.
- Use the **Type** field consistently across your agency to distinguish defense, prosecution, and appointed counsel.
- Enable recurring summaries for high-volume attorneys to reduce manual communication.
- Upload case documents directly to the attorney profile to maintain a centralized record of shared materials.
- Monitor caseload distribution to ensure equitable case assignments.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can an attorney be assigned to multiple cases at the same time?**
A: Yes. There is no limit to the number of cases an attorney can be assigned to. The **Caseload** column on the attorney list reflects all active assignments.

**Q: What happens when I remove an attorney from a case?**
A: The attorney loses access to that case's files and notifications. Historical records of the assignment are preserved in the case activity log.

**Q: Can attorneys access their case information through eCourtDate?**
A: If your agency has portal access enabled, attorneys can view assigned cases, upcoming events, and shared documents through a secure portal link sent to their email.

**Q: How do I update an attorney's email address?**
A: Open the attorney's profile from **Attorneys**, click **Edit**, update the **Email Address** field, and click **Save**. Future notifications and summaries will use the updated email.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** An attorney does not receive recurring case summaries.
**Symptoms:** The attorney reports not receiving emails on the configured schedule.
**Solution:** Open the attorney's profile, navigate to the **Notifications** tab, and confirm that **Recurring Case Summary** is toggled on and the correct email address is listed. Check that the email is not being caught by a spam filter.

**Issue:** Duplicate attorney profiles exist in the directory.
**Symptoms:** The same attorney appears multiple times in search results with slightly different names or email addresses.
**Solution:** Identify the correct profile, transfer case assignments to it, and archive the duplicate by opening it and changing its status to **Inactive**.

### Related Articles

- [How to Manage Cases](how-to-manage-cases)
- [How to Manage Events](how-to-manage-events)
- [How to Upload and Share Files](how-to-upload-files)