57 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
57 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
# client-comms/ — per-case communication logs
|
|
|
|
One folder per case. Inside, a running `log.md` tracking every client contact — incoming and outgoing, across phone, email, text, letter, and in-person meetings. Produced and appended by `/legal-clinic:client-comms-log`.
|
|
|
|
## Layout
|
|
|
|
```
|
|
client-comms/
|
|
├── _README.md # this file
|
|
└── [case-id]/
|
|
└── log.md # append-only running log
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
## Slug
|
|
|
|
Match the case's ID used elsewhere (intake record, `deadlines.yaml` `case_id`). One case = one folder.
|
|
|
|
## Why this exists
|
|
|
|
- **Malpractice defense** — "we communicated X on date Y" needs a record.
|
|
- **Continuity at handoff** — the incoming student can read the log and know the client's story without re-interviewing.
|
|
- **Pattern visibility** — five voicemails unreturned over six weeks is a supervision flag.
|
|
- **Client file-retention** — law school clinics have retention obligations; this is part of the complete file.
|
|
|
|
## What the log entries look like
|
|
|
|
```markdown
|
|
## [YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] — [in / out] — [medium]
|
|
|
|
**Who (student):** [name]
|
|
**Who (client side):** [client name, or third-party if call from opposing counsel/etc]
|
|
**Duration / length:** [10 min call | 3-paragraph email | 2-page letter]
|
|
|
|
**Summary:**
|
|
[What happened, 2-4 sentences. Substance plus tone where it matters.]
|
|
|
|
**Action items:**
|
|
- [Item the student owes the client, with deadline]
|
|
- [Item the client owes the student, with expected timing]
|
|
|
|
**Follow-up due:** [date if applicable]
|
|
|
|
**Notes:**
|
|
[Anything that matters but doesn't fit above — language used, family dynamic observed, client anxiety level]
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
## What this folder does NOT contain
|
|
|
|
- Substantive case analysis (that's in the intake / memo / status files)
|
|
- Drafts of documents (those are in separate case folders)
|
|
- Privileged attorney-only notes (those stay in whatever the clinic uses for internal case notes)
|
|
|
|
The comms log is factual record of contact, not legal work product. Keep substance in the log; keep strategy and analysis elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
## Retention
|
|
|
|
Append-only. Never edit past entries — if something was wrong or needs clarification, add a new entry referencing the old one. The record of what was said and when is part of the client file; rewriting history defeats the purpose.
|