Docketing Dates - Use of Orion's Critical Date Feature

The Orion Practice Management System provides a robust calendar/docketing system that may be tailored to the firm's needs.  If you do not see the Events tab on your Contacts screen (in the bottom panel), it may mean either that you have not been granted security rights to see this part of the program or your firm has not purchased/implemented Orion Practice Management.  Please contact your administrator to determine if you simply need additional rights.  If the firm desires to purchase Orion Practice Management Licenses that include the features for the Calendar and Docket Functions, please contact Orion.

To set up a "to do list" or series of dates on the calendar based on a start date such as a DOL date, you will need to use the Critical Date feature.

Click on the Critical Dates icon on your task bar and select the Critical Date Protocol from the drop down. Note the critical date protocol must be setup in Orion Administration prior to being able to use it. This requires some knowledge of how Orion handles docketing. Orion can provide training for your firm to the person who will be responsible for setting up protocols as part of a Practice Management Implementation of Docketing. To schedule training please contact Orion.

Fill out the appropriate setup information for the critical dates:

Choose the Matter with which the Tasks/Appointments will be associated by keying the Client-Matter Number in the field or choosing it from the look up (F8).

Choose the Assigned by person.

Choose the Default Assigned to person.

If you need to add additional people, click on Assignments List.

Choose a Default Venue.

Choose a Start Date.

Click on Create Critical Dates.

The system will display the Tasks/Appointments that will be created to allow you to preview them. You may choose to leave them the same or edit them if needed. Note the "time" spacing between Tasks and Appointments is set up by the original protocol for a reason, so edit them only if it is really necessary. If a date is moved and it affects dependent events you will be prompted to say yes or no if you want the dependent events to move as well. The edit affects only these particular dates you are presently creating, not the default protocol itself.

If the dates are okay to place on the calendar, click on Save Critical Dates.  If you decide not to put them on calendar, click on Delete Critical Dates.