When the case is flowing, the work is flowing… or is it? We hear caseflow and workflow used interchangeably in many courts, and the truth is, they’re distinct functions that both need to be moving along smoothly to serve your community.
In fact, workflow is the single most important factor in effective caseflow. Let’s dig into each one.
Caseflow management is the process of moving cases through the necessary steps to ensure due process and equal treatment for all litigants and defendants. When done effectively, caseflow management ensures the timely resolution of all cases that are filed.
Workflow management supports caseflow by ensuring tasks are completed on time to keep the caseflow moving. Workflow involves automated triggers and notifications that move the case through its timeline. It’s how the caseflow objectives are met.
So which of these is the work of your case management system (equivant JWorks)? When you have the right CMS, it’s both.
Your CMS should support every case during every part of the justice process. Courts and attorneys can lay out a case management plan for each type of case, including deadlines to keep cases on track and workflows to make it happen.
Workflows consider all resources—from the people involved to the paperwork that moves among them—and ensure the people are notified (and reminded, if needed), the paperwork is complete and filed properly, and all of it happens according to the assigned timeline.
Caseflow and workflow. Both need to happen for due process to be served in your community, and one can’t be done without the other.
If your caseflow or workflow or both aren’t working as they should, contact us. We have over 30 years of experience keeping cases moving, and we can help you find an efficient path forward.
