We're pleased to announce the latest release of Access Legal Case Management, Version 2.17.
This update includes various enhancements and bug fixes detailed below. A PDF copy of the release notes can also be found here.
Release Summary
Release 2.17 includes fixes across several areas of ALCM to improve reliability and data accuracy.
Duplicate records could previously occur when submitting time entries, adding diary entries, attaching documents, or creating clients, particularly during fast repeated clicks or slow network responses; these have been resolved through improved submission handling and duplicate checks.
Printing large documents from edit mode now shows an accurate and consistent page count across all print destinations.
The EChit process has been improved so that data flows correctly from templates into the EChit screen, cancellations no longer produce an error, and submissions with long field values no longer fail unexpectedly.
Land Registry OC1 and OC2 requests now submit the full matter reference, including any suffix, ensuring consistency with other transaction types.
Finally, a reported instance of an email appearing to be sent to an incorrect recipient was investigated thoroughly and confirmed not to be a system defect.
Also, Access Evo Navigator brings the first wave of Access Evo Navigator MFEs to ALCM, covering Find Case, Find Client, Find Document, Log Time, and Legal Dictation (Add Dictation and the full Legal Dictations management view). These give fee earners and support staff instant, in-context access to core case management tasks, search, time recording, and dictation workflows, directly from Evo Navigator without needing to open ALCM first.
PLEASE NOTE: Access Evo Navigator is available now to early adopters only. The features described in this section will only be switched on for users participating in our Access Evo Navigator Early Adopter Programme. If you are not registered on our EAP and would like to try these features out, please contact your designated Customer Success Team.
ALCM - Bugs
Duplicate Time Records
Summary:
Some users found that submitting a time entry could occasionally create two identical records instead of one, particularly when clicking submit quickly or during a slow network response. This had the potential to cause confusion during time tracking and inflate billing totals if left unnoticed. The issue was resolved so that every time entry submission now results in exactly one record, giving firms confidence that their time recording and billing figures are accurate.
Incorrect Page Count When Printing Large Documents
Summary:
When printing multi-page forms while in edit mode, the print dialog sometimes displayed an incorrect page count, and the number shown could even change depending on the selected printer or paper size. While this did not stop documents from printing, it risked misleading fee earners about the true length of a document and could lead to wasted paper. The issue was resolved so that the page count shown when printing from edit mode now matches the document's actual length, consistent with all other print methods in ALCM.
EC (EChit) Command Not Working in ALCM
Summary:
When running templates that raise financial EChit transactions, such as ECHIT.XML, fee earners found the EChit screen sometimes failed to populate with entered data, or showed an application error when cancelled. This blocked some financial postings from completing in ALCM, requiring a workaround via OneOffice. The issue was resolved so the EChit screen now populates correctly, saves completed transactions to file history, and cancels without error.
Land Registry OC1 "Your Reference" Field Truncated
Summary:
When submitting a Land Registry Official Copy request using the "BG OC1 Reg or Plan (Elec)" transaction type, the "Your reference" field sent to Land Registry only included the base matter reference, dropping any suffix (for example, S2513 instead of S2513/3). This meant the reference shown on Land Registry statements did not match the full matter reference used in ALCM, making it harder to reconcile transactions. The issue was resolved so the full matter reference, including any suffix, is now submitted correctly for OC1 and OC2 requests.
Duplicate Records on Client, Diary, and Document Actions
Summary:
Users occasionally found that a single action, such as creating a client profile, adding a diary entry, or attaching an email or document to a case, resulted in two identical records being created, with no error shown to indicate anything had gone wrong. This affected client records, diary entries, and drag and drop attachments across multiple cases, and risked inaccurate records going unnoticed. The issue was resolved so that each action now reliably produces exactly one record, whether creating a client, adding a diary entry, or attaching a document.
Email Sent to Incorrect Recipient from a Recently Sent Email
Summary:
A small number of isolated reports described an email being sent to the recipient of a different, previously sent email rather than the intended contact. Given the sensitivity of this type of issue, it was investigated thoroughly across the email sending and composing functionality. The review found no evidence of a defect that could cause recipient details to carry over between emails, and each report coincided with local network or performance issues at the time. The item remains under observation, and clients are encouraged to report immediately if it occurs again so it can be reviewed in real time.
EChit Submission Fails with Server Error
Summary:
When submitting an EChit through a template, some users encountered an unexpected error and the transaction failed to save if any of the entered details exceeded the length allowed for that field. This could happen without a clear explanation to the user. The issue was resolved so that field length is checked and handled cleanly before saving, preventing the error and giving a clear message if a value is too long.
Access Evo Navigator - Phase 1 (ALCM)
Navigator puts core ALCM (Access Legal Case Management) capabilities front and centre in Access Evo, so users don't need to dig into individual products to get common jobs done. With Phase 1 covering Find Case, Find Client, Find Document, Log Time, Add Dictation, My Cases, and Dictations Queue, customers get:
Faster access to everyday tasks: the things fee earners and support staff do most (finding a case, logging time, queuing a dictation) are surfaced immediately rather than buried in a specific application
Less context switching: instead of opening a separate case management system, key actions are available directly from the Evo front end
A unified starting point: Navigator becomes a single, consistent entry point into ALCM workflows across the wider Evo ecosystem, rather than each capability living in its own silo
PLEASE NOTE: Access Evo Navigator is available now to early adopters. The features in this section will only be switched on for users participating in our Access Evo Navigator Early Adopter Programme.
If you are not registered on our EAP and would like to try these features out, please contact your designated Customer Success Team.
EVO Navigator - Log Time
Overview
Log Time is a quick-action panel built into Evo Navigator that lets you record billable time against any legal matter without leaving your current workspace. Search for a case, start the built-in timer, fill in a few details, and submit directly to ALCM.
What's included
Built-in timer: Start, pause, and reset a live stopwatch. Billing units are calculated automatically as time elapses.
Quick case search: Find any matter by reference, client name, or keyword and link your time entry to it in seconds.
Cost capture at a glance: MPU, Units, Rate, and Amount are shown in a dedicated panel, with Amount calculated automatically.
Uncharged time toggle: Mark time as non-billable while still logging it in ALCM.
Running Logs: Review, edit, or delete any time entry logged this week, with a summary of hours, units, and unbilled value.
Direct submission to ALCM: Submit a finalised entry, or save a draft to come back to later.
Mobile ready: Log Time is already accessible on mobile devices today. A fully optimised, touch-friendly mobile experience is coming in a future release.
Launch from Evo Navigator
1. Open the quick-action panel in one click
2. Click the Log Time icon in the Evo Navigator quick-actions bar.
The panel opens as a compact side panel and is immediately ready for you to start entering time. The header shows whether you are creating a new entry or editing an existing one loaded from your Running Logs.
The value
As customers, you could search for a matter, start the timer, capture your costs, and submit straight to ALCM, all without leaving Evo Navigator.
EVO Navigator - Document Search
Overview
Document Search is a dedicated quick-action panel inside Evo Navigator that gives fee earners and support staff instant access to every document stored across all ALCM matters, without having to open a case first. Search by document name, content, matter reference, fee earner, or any keyword, and results appear in a clean, sortable grid ready to preview and act on.
Key capabilities
Full-text search
Preview and download
Open in ALCM
Recent searches
Sort and paginate
Getting started
Click the Document Search icon in the Evo Navigator quick-actions bar.
Tip: Document Search is also accessible via the Evo AI chat. Type a natural-language request like "Find the witness statement for matter JD/1234" and the AI will open Document Search with the results already populated.
Search Modes
Choose your mode from the dropdown to the left of the search bar before typing:
Keyword: matches documents containing any of your words. Good for broad exploration when you're not sure of the exact wording. Example: settlement agreement
Phrase: matches the exact sequence of words in that precise order. Use this when you know the specific text you're looking for. Example: "Smith v Jones 2024"
Document Preview
Clicking any result row, or the eye icon, opens a full-screen preview modal that loads the actual file content so you can read, confirm, and act on the document without leaving Evo.
Inside the preview you can:
Open Case in ALCM — click the "Open Case" button, deep-links to the matter as a new Evo tab
Download the file — click the download icon in the header
Print the document — click the print icon (available for supported file types)
Close the preview — click the X, click outside the modal, or press Esc
EVO Navigator - Client Search
Overview
Find Client is a quick-action micro-frontend (MFE) panel inside Evo Navigator that gives legal professionals instant access to the ALCM client database. Search by name, address, or case reference, results appear in a clean, scrollable table without leaving your current workspace. Click any client to view their full summary and open their cases directly in ALCM.
Key capabilities
Auto search - results load automatically as you type, no button to press
3 search modes - client name, address, or case reference
Rich client details - click any row for contact details, address and all live cases
Open in ALCM
Getting started
Click the Find Client icon in the Evo Navigator quick-actions bar.
Three search modes are available:
Name (default) - client name, company name, client reference number
Address - street address, town, postcode
Case - matter reference, case number, case details
Client Summary Drawer
Clicking any row opens the Client Summary drawer, which slides in from the right side of the panel.
Opening a Case in ALCM
Inside the Live Cases section of the Client Summary drawer, each matter has an "Open Case" button.
Click Open Case — a deep-link URL is constructed using the matter's App ID, Branch ID, and File ID
Evo launches ALCM — ALCM opens in a new Evo tab titled with the matter reference and client name
Drawer closes — the Client Summary drawer closes automatically after launching
EVO Navigator – Find Case and My Cases
Overview
Find Case is a dedicated micro-frontend (MFE) panel inside Evo Navigator that gives fee earners and support staff instant access to the ALCM matter database. Search by client name, case reference, fee earner, or any keyword, results appear in a clean, sortable table without leaving your current workspace.
Key capabilities
Live search — results load as soon as you submit, no page reload, no waiting
One-click filters — narrow results to Open, Pending, or Closed cases with a single tap
Rich case details — click any row to expand full matter metadata in a side drawer
Getting started
Click the Find Case icon in the Evo Navigator quick-actions bar.
Searching for Cases
Type any part of a case reference, client name, or fee earner into the search bar.
Useful Features
Favourite Cases — star cases in ALCM and they appear instantly under the Favourites filter; you can also search within your favourites to narrow down starred matters
Real-time Status — each case shows a live Active or Complete status badge, with a green pulse indicator for active matters
WIP Limit Warning — a red warning banner appears inside the Case Summary if a matter's WIP has exceeded its limit, alerting you before opening the case in ALCM
EVO Navigator – Quick & Legal Dictation
Overview
Legal Dictation is a set of tools built into Evo Navigator that lets fee-earners capture spoken dictation, either by recording directly in the browser or uploading an audio file, and route it to a typist for transcription. Every job can be linked to a matter, assigned an urgency level, and tracked through its lifecycle from creation to completion.
There are two ways to access Legal Dictation in Evo:
Add Dictation - quick-action panel for recording or uploading fast
Legal Dictations - full management view with stages, actions and history
PART 1: ADD DICTATION (Quick-Action Panel)
Who can use it
Author — full access (record & upload)
Manager — full access (record & upload)
Typist — upload & record unavailable
How to use it
Getting Started — Open Add Dictation from Evo Navigator Click the Add Dictation icon in the Evo Navigator quick-actions bar. The panel opens as a side panel, ready for you to either record directly or upload an audio file.
Choose your method — Record or Upload File Two tabs sit at the top of the panel:
Record — dictate directly using your computer microphone; pause, resume, and review before saving
Upload File — drag and drop or browse for an audio file (MP3, DS2, WAV, M4A and more, up to 500 MB)
Note: Typist accounts have the Upload File tab locked and greyed out. Only Authors and Managers can submit dictation jobs.
3. Record tab — Record your dictation Press the large red microphone button to start recording. Your browser may ask for microphone permission, click Allow when prompted. While recording you can:
Pause & resume
Stop & review
Re-record if needed
Play back before saving
The recording is automatically converted to MP3 and uploaded to the system.
4. Upload tab — Upload an existing audio file Switch to the Upload File tab, then drag your file into the drop zone or click "browse to upload". The upload starts automatically once a valid file is selected.
Note: Supported formats: MP3, DS2, DSS, WAV, M4A, OGG, WebM, WMA, AAC. Maximum file size is 500 MB.
5. Upload progress — Watch the upload progress A status banner shows exactly where the job is in the pipeline: Creating job → Preparing → Uploading → Converting → Complete. Once the banner shows "Upload complete", the Dictation Details section unlocks automatically.
6. Dictation Details — Fill in the Dictation Details After upload, expand the Dictation Details section to add:
Job name
Job type
Matter reference (click "Select matter reference" to open the Matter Picker and link to an ALCM matter)
Typist
Urgency level
7. Save Changes — Save your job details Click "Update Job Details" at the bottom of the Dictation Details section. Changes save immediately and the section shows a summary of what was saved.
7. My Jobs — View and manage your jobs Click the My Jobs button in the top-right corner to open the slide-over jobs list, with two views: Pending Assignment and History. Click a job card's play button to listen to the audio directly, or click "Details" to reload the job into the Dictation Details form for editing.
PART 2: LEGAL DICTATIONS (Full Management View)
Overview
Legal Dictations is the complete, organisation-wide view of every dictation job in the system, designed for typists who need to action work, and for managers and authors who need full visibility of their job queues. Unlike the Add Dictation quick-action panel (focused on quickly capturing a single new recording), Legal Dictations gives you filterable stage tabs, rich job cards, and a full set of action buttons to move jobs through their lifecycle from start to finish.
Who can use it
Author — sees own jobs, can cancel & reassign
Manager — full visibility across all fee-earners
Typist — actions jobs assigned to them
The Stage Tabs
A row of tabs at the top filters the job list to a specific stage of the dictation lifecycle:
All Jobs
New
Assigned
In Progress
In Review
Complete
Action Buttons
Each job card shows action buttons depending on the job's stage and your role:
Accept
Mark Complete
Send for Review
Reassign
Cancel
Play Audio
Step-by-step workflow
Opening the view — Open Legal Dictations from Evo Navigator Click the Legal Dictations icon in Evo Navigator. The full management screen opens, defaulting to the All Jobs tab.
Filtering jobs — Use the stage tabs to filter your work Click any stage tab to filter the list. As a typist, start with New or Assigned to find jobs waiting for you. Authors and managers can use All Jobs for a full overview.
Typist — accepting a job When a fee-earner assigns a job to you, it appears under the Assigned tab. Click Play Audio to listen first, then click Accept to take ownership and move it to In Progress.
Typist — completing a job Once you've typed up the dictation, return to the job in the In Progress tab and either:
Mark Complete
Send for Review (if the fee-earner needs to check the transcription before it's finalised; the job moves to In Review for the author to approve)
5. Reassigning a job If a job needs to go to a different typist, click Reassign on the job card. A picker lets you select another typist, and the job returns to the Assigned stage for the new typist.
Warning: Cancelling a job is permanent. Use the Cancel button only if the dictation is no longer needed, cancelled jobs cannot be reactivated.
6. Job details — View and edit job details Click any job card to expand its details: matter reference, urgency, assigned typist, and audio playback. Authors and managers can update urgency or matter reference at any stage before completion.
