Chat & Communication

Overview

The chat system in AdlDesk connects you directly with the lawyers and staff you work with. It is the primary channel for day-to-day communication about tasks, document feedback, and case coordination. As a paralegal, you can message lawyers and other internal staff but you cannot initiate direct conversations with clients.

Chatting with Assigned Lawyers

Click the Chat icon in the left sidebar to open the messaging panel. Your recent conversations are listed there. To start a new conversation, click the compose icon and search for the lawyer by name. Type your message and press Enter or click Send. Messages support basic formatting: use ** for bold and _ for italics. You can also use the @ mention to tag a colleague within a group conversation.

Receiving Task Notifications via Chat

When a lawyer assigns a new task to you, AdlDesk automatically sends a system notification into your chat feed. The notification includes the task title, due date, priority level, and a direct link to the task detail page. You will also receive a notification when a task you completed is reviewed or when a comment is added to one of your tasks.

Sharing Documents in Conversation

To share a document in chat, click the attachment icon (paperclip) in the message input bar. You can upload a file directly or link an existing document from a case. Linked documents show a preview card in the conversation thread and can be opened without leaving the chat. Sharing a document in chat does not replace officially uploading it to the case — always upload to the case Documents tab as well.

Group Chats for Case Teams

Each case automatically has a case team group chat. Navigate to the case and click the Team Chat button to join the conversation. All team members assigned to the case — including lawyers, paralegals, and the firm admin — are participants. Use group chat for case-specific coordination rather than individual messages to reduce miscommunication.