This Weekly Recap Template is designed specifically for legal professionals to efficiently document their weekly activities, ensuring accurate billable hour tracking, precise case progress updates, and organized client communications. It helps lawyers, paralegals, and in-house counsel maintain meticulous records, reducing the burden of end-of-week reporting and improving overall case management. Use this template to create a clear, concise summary of your work, making it easier to track progress and prepare for future tasks.
Weekly Time & Billing Summary
38.5 hours (e.g., 25.0 client work, 13.5 admin)
Input the total number of billable hours logged for the week, broken down by category if applicable.Smith v. Jones (Discovery Phase), Acme Corp. (Contract Review)
List the primary clients and matters you dedicated significant time to this week.CLE course on IP law, Firm marketing meeting, Mentoring junior associate
Document any non-billable professional development or administrative tasks completed.Case Progress Updates
Filed motion for summary judgment, Deposition of witness A completed, Settlement offer received
Outline significant achievements or completed stages for active cases.Draft response to interrogatories (due 10/25), Prepare for client meeting re: new acquisition (10/22)
List critical tasks and their upcoming deadlines for the following week.Difficulty scheduling expert witness, Opposing counsel delaying discovery production
Note any obstacles or issues that arose and their potential impact.Client Communications & Meetings
Client intake for new estate planning matter, Status update call with Johnson & Co.
Detail all client meetings, including date, client name, and purpose.Client approved litigation strategy, Instructed to pursue settlement, Declined mediation
Record any important decisions made or instructions given by clients.Send draft agreement to client X, Schedule follow-up call with client Y to discuss offer
Identify any actions needed based on client interactions.Deposition & Document Review Summary
Deposition of Dr. Evelyn Reed (expert witness) - 4 hours, Attended deposition of defendant's CEO
Summarize any depositions you participated in, including the deponent and duration.Dr. Reed confirmed causation link, Defendant's CEO admitted to knowledge of defect
Highlight critical points or evidence discovered during depositions or document review.Reviewed 500 documents for privilege (Matter A), Coded 150 documents for responsiveness (Matter B)
Provide an update on document review efforts, including volume and purpose.Firm Administration & Professional Development
Partnership meeting, Practice group strategy session, Marketing committee call
List any internal firm meetings and their main topics.Webinar: 'Ethics in AI for Lawyers', 2-hour CLE credit
Document any continuing legal education or training courses completed.Finalize brief for appellate court, Conduct initial client intake for new referral, Begin research on novel legal issue
Set specific, actionable goals to achieve in the upcoming week.How to Use This Template
- Open the Weekly Recap Template in CraftNote to begin your weekly review.
- Fill in each section with detailed, niche-specific information, using the placeholders as guides for content.
- Utilize CraftNote's dictation feature to quickly populate fields after client calls or court proceedings.
- Attach relevant documents or links to specific fields for easy reference when compiling your full report.
- Save and tag your completed recap with relevant case numbers or client names for future searchability and audit trails.
Customization Tips
- Add a 'Court Appearances' section for litigators to track hearings, motions, and trial days, including outcomes.
- Integrate a 'Business Development' section for solos or partners to log networking events, referral sources, and potential client follow-ups.
- Duplicate the 'Case Progress Updates' section for each major active case to provide granular updates for complex litigation or transactional matters.