Create Your First Matter (Step‑by‑Step)

Last updated: February 23, 2026

Goal: get to a generated matter with a high‑quality summary and a clean, high‑signal chronology.

1) Start on the Home page

  • This is where all your matters live.

  • When you create a matter, only you see it initially. Share with colleagues any time.

  • The list view shows contributors on each matter.

2) Click New matter (top‑right)

3) Choose your Area of Law

  • This selection mainly helps Mary anticipate document types; Mary will still adapt well if it’s not an exact match.

4) Pick your preferred format (for entries)

  • Detailed = longer entries; near‑verbatim context where helpful.

  • Concise = shorter entries; you’re always one click from the source page for full detail.

  • Guidance: choose Detailed when records are highly technical/voluminous or you need rich context inline; choose Concise when you prefer fast scanning.

  • Heads‑up: for now, you can’t toggle Detailed/Concise after creation (in‑matter toggling is coming).

5) Gather & upload your documents

  • Upload source: from your computer today (we’re expanding integrations; you may already see options like iManage—think similar pickers for other systems over time).

  • Accepted now: PDFs and email files (.eml & .msg).
    (Full Microsoft Office—Word/PowerPoint—is coming very soon.)

  • Mary handles scanned PDFs, tables, charts and handwriting—no pre‑processing needed.

  • Per‑upload limits (you can always upload again later):

    • Up to 500 files at once

    • Up to 10,000 pages total per upload

    • Up to 500 MB per file

    • If a file is larger, split it (e.g., in Adobe) and upload the parts together.

  • Rolling records? Create the matter with what you have and add more documents any time; new facts slot straight into the chronology in date order.

6) Select your Key document(s) (important!)

This one step powers everything else.

  • A Key document gives Mary legal context; Mary uses it to draft the Matter Summary and drive Relevance Ratings.

  • Good examples (pick one or more):

    • Key documents (pick 1–2 to steer Mary)

      • Initiating pleading / application
        Frames the dispute or charges.
        Examples: Statement of Claim/Complaint/Particulars; Defence/Response; Family: Application/Response; Criminal: Charge sheet; Workers’ Comp/TAC: Claim/application; Regulatory: Show-cause notice, infringement notice, examination/compulsory notice; Class actions: Originating application, representative Statement of Claim.

      • Instruction letter / case memo
        Your plain-English issues & theory.
        Examples: Letter of instruction/advice, internal case memo/issue list, brief to counsel; Class actions: Lead-plaintiff case memo outlining common issues and class definition.

      • Core instrument / governing document
        What rights & duties turn on.
        Examples: Contract (and variations), deed, policy wording, terms & conditions, consent orders; Regulatory: Licence/permit/authorisation, enforceable undertaking; Class actions: Prospectus/PDS, product terms, policy wording or standard form contract underpinning the claim.

      • Client’s first narrative
        The clean “what happened / who / when” story.
        Examples: Intake form, initial file note or consult transcript, first statement, letter of demand; Class actions: Class-member questionnaire/intake template used at onboarding.

      • Expert / clinical / forensic summary
        High-signal reports without the noise.
        Examples: Medico-legal report, admission/discharge summary, technical/forensic incident report or risk review (e.g., privacy/cyber, product failure), auditor findings; Class actions: Economic loss scoping memo or technical summary common to the class.

      • Regulator / agency / insurer decision or posture
        Defines issues, deadlines, burdens.
        Examples: Regulator notices/letters (e.g., ASIC, ACCC, OAIC, TGA, APRA, EPA, SEC/FTC), show-cause/enforcement letters, WorkCover/TAC decisions, police brief cover docs.

  • You can skip, but you’ll then write the Matter Summary yourself and miss stronger auto‑relevance from the start. I strongly recommend selecting one.

7) Review & submit

  • Check your selections on the review screen and submit.

8) Generation time & progress

  • Processing ranges from ~2 minutes up to ~35 minutes for very large, dense sets.

  • A progress bar shows status; continue your work and return when it’s ready.