In a law firm, a case manager performs several roles. He or she works with clients to help determine next steps in client’s lives, helps clients access resources and support systems, and helps the law firm navigate the transition of the client to another legal system.
As a case manager, you can work as an individual or as a team. As an individual, you can work as a caseworker or advisory specialist. As a team, you can work as an alliance of three or one combined with a counselor.
The most common role of the case manager is working with clients on and off client premises. Because this job can be very socializing, many people start out as caseworkers and then move on to becoming casesitters or advisers.
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Keep accurate records for each client
Clients are expected to keep accurate records of their case history, particularly court documents. These include keeping records of appointments, court hearings and documents filed.
As the case manager for a legal action, you may be asked to provide detailed testimony as part of the casework. This may include giving evidence at a trial or hearing, testifying at an administrative hearing, or providing explanatory testimony in an interpretive document.
In addition to testimony, you may be asked to provide detailed documentation as part of the casework. This includes taking notes during sessions (with the help of a note pad and/or a laptop), collecting relevant documents (using a paper collection guide or equivalent), and analyzing these documents for trends, evidence, and causation.
You may also be asked to assist with tracking down documentation or witnesses, which can be time consuming and require special preparations.
Meet with clients to review case information
As case managers, counselors work with people who are in trouble to help them get and stay healthy. They help them navigate legal troubles like involuntary commitments and drug or firearms orders. They help them navigate emotional struggles like trauma and social anxiety.
Case managers also work with clients who are not in trouble but who don’t feel ready for a treatment plan so they can learn how to manage their anxiety on their own. Many find satisfaction in helping people realize that they can now handle things without the counselor’s assistance.
They may also work with clients who are at court hearings or other formal events, helping them feel less alone. By being present with them, they feel less stressed out and speak up more confidently.
On top of this, case managers gain valuable experience through working with legal problems.
Act as liaison between client and courtroom
They help the client understand their rights and help them navigate the system to get what they need. They also help prepare the client for their case.
Clients typically don’t know what a case manager does. They communicate with other people and businesses, so being prepared for a case interview can help them feel like they are helping.
Some cases may be very emotional, so the case manager may provide some reliefs or support during court appearances. Having a well-prepared client can make court appearances less stressful, which can lead to a better outcome for the client.
Since cases may sometimes get resolved quickly, having a good case interview prep might be worth doing again and again. Doing some practice cases with your clients can help them feel more prepared for future court hearings.
Prepare witnesses for hearings and trials
As a case manager, you help witnesses to understand how to tell their story while remaining anonymous. You help them find solutions to problems they face in their daily lives that relate to the caseña’s work.
As a case manager, you can make payments, arrange for transportation, and handle other personal needs of the witness such as alcohol and drug treatment and support.
You can also represent the witness in court if required by law. As a case manager, you can make more money than a lawyer can because you can provide more services. As a lawyer, you can stay at home and take care of your client but as a lawyer you can get paid more!
As a case worker, you can go on vacation with your team or just shut down for the weekend so you can help your team out.
Maintain the integrity of evidence
Case managers play an important role in evidence handling. They can help preserve evidence, avoid destruction of evidence, and help the parties understand their rights as evidence casesaders.
Many casesaders rely on electronic records and phone messages to conduct business. These records are integral to their case handling operations, making proper care to save information a crucial step in being an effective caseader.
To prevent tampering with evidence, case managers can:
Consider keeping copies of all documents received, notes taken during interviews with witnesses, emails sent and received by parties, and any other materials that may be relevant to the case. Make a habit of checking these items every week to see if anything has been added or removed and whether it needs to be preserved.
Coordinate settlements with clients and their attorneys
This is an important role that case managers play in a law firm. As the case manager, he or she works with the lawyers, clients, and family members to help facilitate settlements for his or her clients.
As a settlement agent, you work with other attorneys and firms to help facilitate settlements for your clients. You may work with other lawyers as a consultant, but as the only full-time employee at the firm, you must be exceptionally qualified in your area of expertise.
It is your job to help clients decide what they are willing to pay and how much they are willing to pay for their case, as well as helping the attorneys determine how much they will get from this case.
Oversee discovery process
The case manager is in charge of organizing and running the discovery process in a law firm. This includes conducting interviews with senior lawyers, researching laws and guidelines for cases, and meeting with clients to determine needs and gather information.
He or she works with other team members to coordinate meetings and investigations. The role is not just for retiring lawyers, but they can still contribute by working with new clients, developing trusting relationships, and handling any concerns or questions from clients.
Teamwork is key in this role as each member works to their individual strengths. One of the responsibilities of the case manager can also be helping clients find new legal representation.
Manage time lines for cases
Case managers help coordinate cases between clients, organize meetings with clients, and support them through the process. They help coordinate case management activities such as time lines for cases and meeting times with clients.
Their work can include keeping records of meetings with clients and updating time lines as new cases come in. They may also send reminders of upcoming court dates for support purposes.
It can be challenging to keep a case manager’s time line straight in a fast-paced environment where everything is done with a sense of urgency. Case managers should have the ability to quickly update their time line at any point to support any meetings they need to attend or support documents they need to review.
To maintain your certification status, you must keep your time line current annually.