# Check the signed-client handoff

Canonical page: https://agents.paretoid.com/workflows/check-the-signed-client-handoff/

Category: CRM & Follow-up

Practice relevance: cross-practice. Useful supporting administrative method; no claim of practice-specific legal instructions.

Jurisdiction/provider scope: Lawmatics–Clio Manage documented handoff; availability/configuration must be verified, no assumption of an Australian matter-creation route.

Check field mappings and destination IDs before and after an approved matter sync.

Status: Proposed / not tested. The public discussion supports the problem; the method source supports only the documented features. No outcome from this adapted recipe has been verified.

Verification: The linked sources support the complaint and documented method components. We have not run this recipe or verified its results. The example below is synthetic, not a customer result.

## The problem

Check field mappings and destination IDs before and after an approved matter sync.

Why it matters: A signed form alone does not establish firm acceptance or a clean transfer into matter management. Checking approved prerequisites and destination IDs helps staff catch missing fields, duplicates, and unexpected status changes.

## Sources and evidence

- pain: [Pain evidence: Public discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/LawFirmMarketing/comments/1wub11m/comment/pd1q2lg/)
  ; author comment 2026-09-30. The firm asks for a reliable Clio Manage handoff after engagement signing.

- method: [Method: Lawmatics to Clio Manage integration](https://help.lawmatics.com/en/articles/10699984-clio-manage-integration)
  The guide describes conversion and sync, field mapping, options, and resync. Conversion can mark a lead Hired and open a Clio matter; it does not establish legal acceptance or conflicts clearance.

Source checked: October 15, 2026. Pain reports are self-reported and identities are unverified. Method documentation supports components, not a tested end-to-end workflow. This CRM recipe shares its firm discussion with other CRM tasks; it is not another independent firm report.

## Suggested approach

Start when: Staff marks engagement accepted and prerequisites cleared

1. validate required administrative fields and chosen sync mapping, then compare destination after an approved sync

2. Keep row or page references and mark missing or ambiguous evidence. Do not apply the suggested changes.

3. The responsible staff member checks the draft against the source records and approves any separate action.

## What you need

- Existing authorized access to the correct source account and records; no new login, credentials, installation or permission grant is included.

- Responsible lawyer/operations reviewer approves scope, definitions and any later action.

- AI optional; use only approved minimized data and retain originals separately.

- Use synthetic inputs first. Keep real data in firm-approved accounts and processing, with appropriate access, confidentiality and retention controls. Aliases alone do not anonymize records. Never paste credentials, API keys or unnecessary client details.

## How to use

Documentation-checked component path; proposed workflow, not tested

- This verifies configured mapping and observed presence, not legal engagement validity or a tested sync. Supported file types/size limits and exported destination IDs remain unverified.

Access and setup:

- The live account, entitlement, exact headers, records and field coverage have not been observed.

### 1. Inspect the configured handoff

Tool: Lawmatics

Location: Settings > Integrations > Clio > existing integration settings and field mapping

Read the existing conversion-sync, document-sync, note-sync and relationship-sync settings; capture mapping pairs and field types. Do not connect, toggle, convert or resync.

Expected output: Read-only integration configuration capture.

Next step: Use this as the expected-field checklist for a small, staff-nominated set of already synced matters.

Check before continuing: Convert changes Hired status and Converted Date; Sync to Clio can occur without hiring. Folders do not sync. Compatible field types are required; open text is an exception.

Execution status: Public official documentation checked 2026-10-15; no login, export, live query, import, installation, configuration, message or client workflow was executed.

Step documentation: https://help.lawmatics.com/en/articles/10699984-clio-manage-integration

### 2. Compare the actual source and destination records

Tool: Lawmatics and Clio Manage

Location: Lawmatics matter > Details / Files / Notes; corresponding Clio Manage matter > details / Documents / Notes

Staff verifies the exact source/destination record pair using an existing cross-reference or a checked record-link map. Capture required values and document presence/version metadata on both sides, plus approved signed-engagement completion evidence. No client documents are uploaded to AI.

Expected output: Paired evidence ledger with source and target links kept internally, mapped-field observations and file presence.

Next step: Assign matter aliases; pass only presence flags, field aliases and discrepancies downstream.

Check before continuing: Hired status is not proof of a signed engagement. Documentation does not establish a universal export of destination IDs, sync event logs, file-type/size support or file integrity; missing proof blocks those checks.

Execution status: Public official documentation checked 2026-10-15; no login, export, live query, import, installation, configuration, message or client workflow was executed.

Step documentation: https://help.lawmatics.com/en/articles/10699984-clio-manage-integration https://help.lawmatics.com/en/articles/10699825-matter-profile-overview

### 3. Make the checked, minimized handoff

Tool: Excel / source-record reviewer

Location: Restricted original workbook > separate analysis workbook > Scope worksheet

Make a one-to-one PairMap checked by staff, retaining source_ref, target_ref, staff_verified, signed_engagement_verified and signed_evidence_ref. Map the actual integration requirements and observations from the paired records into Checks: expected is the approved mapped-field or file requirement; source_present and target_present come from inspected source and destination records; target_value_matches is the staff-verified comparison, not a sync-status inference; evidence_ref points to the supporting capture. Keep matter_alias and field_or_file_alias on each Checks row. Unknown or uninspected facts stay unknown. Include the signed-engagement evidence in PairMap; Hired status alone does not establish it. Keep untouched original exports/screenshots and the identifying source map in restricted firm storage. Build a separate minimized analysis file; do not hide raw client data on another tab. Include the complete Scope/coverage note in the AI-visible workbook or prompt. Use aliases and administrative metadata only. Unknown is not zero, false, completed or absent.

Expected output: PairMap(matter_alias,source_ref,target_ref,staff_verified,signed_engagement_verified,signed_evidence_ref); Checks(matter_alias,field_or_file_alias,expected,source_present,target_present,target_value_matches,evidence_ref); Scope(integration_settings,capture_time)

Next step: Format each approved range as a named table. Carry source-row references and coverage into the analysis workbook.

Check before continuing: Every field has an observed source or an explicit missing reason; staff assignments are marked editorial, not native.

Execution status: Public official documentation checked 2026-10-15; no login, export, live query, import, installation, configuration, message or client workflow was executed.

Step documentation: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/merge-queries-power-query https://help.lawmatics.com/en/articles/10699984-clio-manage-integration

### 4. Ask AI to inspect the checked inputs

Tool: Excel Copilot, optional

Location: Analysis workbook > Copilot icon at lower right > Chat only

Open the minimized workbook containing the named tables and Scope. Paste the exact prompt; if unavailable, perform the same rule checks manually.

Prompt:

```text
Use PairMap, Checks and Scope only. Stop any pair without staff_verified=true. Report missing or unequal required mapped fields and files. Distinguish signed engagement verified by staff from Hired status and Sync event. Do not infer that a success label proves all files transferred, that identical names mean the same file, or that a missing destination ID proves failure. Return exception,evidence_refs,verification_needed,reviewer_status=pending. Do not sync or resync.
```

Expected output: Handoff exception list with explicit blocked pairings.

Next step: Copy checked results into a new Review sheet, retaining source references and unresolved blockers.

Check before continuing: All passes require paired record evidence; no match by similar names.

Execution status: Public official documentation checked 2026-10-15; no login, export, live query, import, installation, configuration, message or client workflow was executed.

Step documentation: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/copilot/get-started-with-copilot-in-excel

### 5. Human review and final action

Tool: Responsible firm reviewer

Location: Internal Review worksheet / review document

Intake owner and receiving matter team review the source-linked checklist. Save signed-off acceptance or return unresolved items to the operator.

Expected output: Reviewed handoff acceptance/exception record.

Next step: A separately authorized administrator decides any mapping fix or resync, preserving originals and considering overwrite effects.

Check before continuing: No live integration change, matter conversion or file transfer performed.

Execution status: Public official documentation checked 2026-10-15; no login, export, live query, import, installation, configuration, message or client workflow was executed.

Step documentation: https://help.lawmatics.com/en/articles/10699984-clio-manage-integration

## What you will get

handoff-review.csv: intake_alias, check, source_value, destination_value, status, evidence_rows, owner; plus a single-sync/resync test plan

## Human review and limits

Human acceptance/conflict clearance is required. Check overwrite behavior, relationship mapping, destination status and file permissions; resync behavior must be tested before production.

The assistant drafts or reports only. Check source records and review the output before a human performs any separately approved send or change. No automatic legal decision, money movement, account connection or publication is included.

What to measure: During the pilot, count findings confirmed by the reviewer, false alarms, and missing-input cases. Do not infer time or money saved.

## Original prepared-input schema

handoff.csv: intake_alias, firm_acceptance_approved, conflict_check_status_supplied_by_staff, required_field_values, source_status

field-map.csv: source_field, target_field, source_type, target_type, required, overwrite_rule

sync-results.csv: intake_alias, sync_run_id, destination_matter_id, destination_status, field_name, observed_value; use synthetic records only for first tests

Synthetic example input:

```text
H1: signed, firm acceptance not approved
H2: approved, required field missing
H3: approved and complete; two sync runs have different matter IDs
```

Expected synthetic output:

```text
H1: blocked pending firm acceptance
H2: missing-field exception
H3: possible duplicate creation, investigate before reuse
```

Failure check: Repeat a synthetic sync and compare matter IDs, status, relationships, file permissions, and overwrite behavior. The prompt only writes this test plan.

## Starter files

Native blank scaffolds and original synthetic examples may use different schemas. Follow NATIVE-INPUT-MAPPING where supplied. These files do not connect accounts or install automation.

- [Download starter kit](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09-starter-kit.zip) — All inputs, synthetic examples and review notes in one ZIP. No automation is installed.

- [Start here: get the sources and prepare the review](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/START-HERE.txt) — Documentation-checked acquisition, explicit manual mapping, exact prompts and human review limits

- [Setup and review checklist](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/README.txt) — Required inputs, file use, review steps and limits

- [Handoff blank CSV](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/handoff-template.csv) — Blank input headers for handoff.csv

- [Handoff synthetic example](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/handoff-example.csv) — Synthetic test records for handoff.csv

- [Field map blank CSV](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/field-map-template.csv) — Blank input headers for field-map.csv

- [Field map synthetic example](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/field-map-example.csv) — Synthetic test records for field-map.csv

- [Sync results blank CSV](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/sync-results-template.csv) — Blank input headers for sync-results.csv

- [Sync results synthetic example](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/sync-results-example.csv) — Synthetic test records for sync-results.csv

- [Synthetic example expected results](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/expected-results.txt) — Compare a pilot result with the planted exceptions

- [Native input scaffold: PairMap](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/native-pairmap-template.csv) — Empty editorial table for PairMap; populate from verified source evidence after reviewed mapping; not a native export

- [Native input scaffold: Checks](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/native-checks-template.csv) — Empty editorial table for Checks; populate from verified source evidence after reviewed mapping; not a native export

- [Native input scaffold: Scope](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/native-scope-template.txt) — Approved text input for Scope; complete from verified evidence and include in the AI-visible packet

- [Native input mapping and scope guide](https://agents.paretoid.com/assets/starter-kits/g09/NATIVE-INPUT-MAPPING.txt) — Old-file-to-native-input compatibility map, acquisition requirements, privacy and blocking gates

## Optional original prepared-input prompt

Destination: Your firm-approved AI assistant · prepared files

This original prompt uses its own prepared-input schema. Do not mix it with native-step tables without the supplied mapping.

```text
For these synthetic intake records, check our signed-engagement approval, administrative checklist and Lawmatics-to-Clio field map. Return missing fields and incompatible types. Draft a single-sync and resync verification plan that confirms the same matter ID is reused. Do not mark a lead Hired, determine conflicts clearance or create a live matter.

INPUTS
handoff.csv: intake_alias, firm_acceptance_approved, conflict_check_status_supplied_by_staff, required_field_values, source_status
field-map.csv: source_field, target_field, source_type, target_type, required, overwrite_rule
sync-results.csv: intake_alias, sync_run_id, destination_matter_id, destination_status, field_name, observed_value; use synthetic records only for first tests

OUTPUT
handoff-review.csv: intake_alias, check, source_value, destination_value, status, evidence_rows, owner; plus a single-sync/resync test plan

Use only the supplied synthetic or firm-approved inputs. Cite source row or page IDs for each finding. Keep unknowns unresolved. Return a draft for the responsible staff reviewer. Do not send messages, connect accounts, change records, move money, or make legal decisions. Keep source files unchanged. If an input or permission is missing, list what is needed and stop that check.
```

Proposed / not tested · editorial prompt

Published by Law Firm Agents. Proposed adaptation; not tested. Not legal advice.
