Rapid Legal's History
As an online attorney service, Rapid Legal’s mission is “to propel the legal industry forward through web-based technology.” Our pioneering role in electronic court filing and process serving has enabled us to create a history that is rich with pivotal moments in web-based technology. We look forward to the next 20 years.
Retrieve Documents through the Manage Cases Feature
Did you know your Rapid Legal account stores all of your case and order activity including completed documents, such as conformed copies and proofs of service, by linking them to your case names and case numbers? This handy feature allows you to retrieve them directly inside your Rapid Legal account anytime. Using Rapid Legal’s “Manage Cases” feature, you can quickly find your cases, orders and documents. Here’s how:
Find a Case
From your account’s homepage, simply click on the Manage Cases box.
Type in the Case Name in the “Filter” field or “Case number” in the Case # field to find your case.
Please Note: Only cases considered “active” within the last 30, 60, or 90 days will appear based on your default setting.
Alternatively, you can type in a Case Name, Case Number, or Order Number within the “Search for” field on the upper right-hand corner of the Manage Cases panel which will search through our entire database’s active and inactive cases and orders (typically those within the last 12 months).
Once you have located the case, click on the green “+” symbol to open the orders within the case. Find the order number and click on the “+” next to that order number.
Print a Document (Conformed copies, proofs of service, etc.)
Click on the Documents tab which lists all documents associated with the case and then click on the “View” link under the Action column to view the document in PDF format. You can then print it according to your Adobe printer settings.
Happy searching and retrieving!
The Mediation Brief: What to Leave In and What to Leave Out
By JAN FRANKEL SCHAU // Panel Neutral with ADR Services
Many attorneys are reticent about filing a mediation brief for fear that confidential communications meant only for the mediator will be accidentally disclosed to the opposing party. Fear not! Rapid legal can make sure that your brief is delivered into the hands of the trusted mediator herself within her stated filing schedule and you can simply bring a different version for the opposing party on the day of the mediation.
The mediator will want a basic synopsis of the facts, the key legal issues still in dispute and a brief history of settlement negotiations up until that date. Most mediators don’t object to your brief being sent via email, but generally when you want the mediator to have the advantage of reviewing the exhibits and critical evidence which will make or break your case, you need a delivery service who you can trust to get it there. And you want to make sure that the weight of the evidence is in the mediator’s hands at least 1 week before, because busy mediators won’t have time to review your documents unless they can take them home over a weekend. This means keeping the information and writing crisp and direct, and highlighting the key evidence and documents wherever possible. Don’t simply send them whole deposition transcripts without directing them to the crucial testimony within.
The brief you prepare for opposing counsel can be more of a legal argument as to why your claims or defenses are likely to influence how the case can ultimately be resolved. In that one, you can (and should) always close with a line about “looking forward to resolving the matter” at the mediation—no matter how strident your arguments are before then. Opening the door to negotiation before the mediation begins is the best way to let air in so that you are most likely positioned to avail yourself and your client of this golden window of opportunity!
For more insight into what the contents of the brief should be in a particular scenario, contact your mediator or our guest blogger, Jan Frankel Schau, at JFSchau@adrservices.org. You can also follow Jan Schau’s blog at: www.schaumediation.com/blog.