A date on a list does not explain who is preparing for it or whether the work is complete. A small team needs the case context, the person responsible, and the preparation steps alongside the recorded deadline.
This checklist covers office organisation. The responsible lawyer determines and verifies legal time limits using the relevant source information before the office records a date; the checklist does not calculate those limits.
1. Verify the date before recording it
Treat verification and recording as separate steps. The person assessing the date should make sure the office has the working context needed to understand the entry.
- Identify the case and source information the date relates to.
- Have the responsible lawyer determine and verify the applicable date.
- Record the verified date against the correct case and check the entry.
- Add a case note explaining the source and working context the team needs.
2. Break preparation into named tasks
The work before a deadline may involve several actions. Describe those actions clearly, assign responsibility, and choose internal preparation dates that suit your office’s plan.
- Name the action, such as checking supporting documents or preparing a working copy.
- Assign a responsible person for each task.
- Set an internal preparation date separately from the verified deadline.
- Keep the documents and notes needed for the task with the related case.
3. Review progress before the date arrives
Choose a short review routine your office can maintain. Look at task progress and the deadline record together, rather than treating one as proof that the other is finished.
- Review the office deadline list and open the related case when context is needed.
- Check assigned tasks and ask the responsible colleague about work still outstanding.
- Update tasks to reflect work that has started or been completed.
- Check that the next person can identify the documents needed for the remaining action.
4. Close records after the work is done
A completion state should describe what actually happened. Confirm the related work, keep a short case note where useful, and leave the next action clear if follow-up is needed.
- Mark preparation tasks complete after checking the work they describe.
- Mark the deadline record complete when the responsible colleague confirms the related work is finished.
- If further work is needed, reopen the relevant record or create the next task and update the case context.