Opening a matter and the conflict check
One form opens the matter, creates the client if they're new, and checks for conflicts before anything is saved.
Click New Matter on the Matters page, or New matter from search or a client's panel (which fills in that client).
The client
Start typing in Client: a name, ID number or phone number. Caseo shows up to six existing clients, and the last option is always + New client. Typing a company name with its registration number, for example "Mzansi Retail (Pty) Ltd 2019/123456/07", fills in the company form for you.
A new client
| Kind | Individual, Company, Trust or Estate. |
| ID or passport | For individuals: a South African ID number or a passport (with issuing country). For organisations: the registration number, VAT number and a contact person. |
| Address | Required. |
| Phone, email, alternative number | Optional. Label the alternative number: Work, Home, Spouse, Next of kin or Other. |
As you type an SA ID number, Caseo checks it and shows the date of birth, sex and citizenship it contains, or warns you if the number can't be right (wrong length, impossible date or failed check digit). A warning never stops you saving. If the ID or phone number already belongs to a client, Caseo tells you so you can use the existing client.
The matter
| Type | Your six most common matter types as chips, the rest under More…. Set the list under Settings → Lists. |
| Matter | A description, for example "RAF claim: collision N1 Midrand, 14 July 2026". |
| Against | The other side and their attorney. Used for the conflict check. |
| Assigned | The attorney responsible. |
| Opened | Defaults to today. |
| More details | Status, referral source (add a new one on the spot), your own reference, and a closed date if you're capturing a finished matter. |
Tick Create another to go straight into the next one. ⌘/Ctrl+Enter creates the matter. Afterwards Caseo shows the new reference with a copy button, and offers Add reminder, Record deposit and Open matter.
The conflict check
While you type, Caseo checks two things:
- The other side and their attorney against every client the firm has.
- Your client against the other side and opposing attorney on every matter the firm has.
Names are matched loosely, the way a person would: order, titles, initials, "(Pty) Ltd" and common misspellings don't hide a match. ID and registration numbers typed into the field are matched too. Each hit is marked Exact, Likely or Possible, with the matter it came from.
If there are any hits, you must choose before the matter can be created:
- I have checked: no conflict, or
- Conflict waived, with a reason.
The result (clear, checked or waived), who made the call and when, is saved on the matter and in its history, and shown in the matter's Overview.
Something unclear or out of date? Email hello@caseo.co.za.