Goal
The goal of this article is to help you understand what case types are, how they differ from practice areas, and how your firm can structure them in a way that best supports your workflows. By clarifying and organizing case types, you’ll be able to create efficient internal processes and more consistent client experiences.
What is a Case Type?
A case type is a specific kind of legal matter that falls under a broader practice area. For example, Family Law is a practice area, while divorce or child custody are case types within it. Case types help categorize the exact legal issue a client is dealing with, making it easier to organize, track, and manage cases efficiently.
Some law firms keep their case types broad, while others create very specific ones. Some practice areas inherently have broader case types, but you’ll also see variety within the same practice area. For instance, most Immigration case types tend to be broad and shaped by the firm’s internal workflow. In Personal Injury, one firm may use a single case type like Personal Injury – General, while another may break it down into accident-specific case types such as Motor Vehicle Accident or Animal Bite. Neither approach is inherently better—it usually comes down to how your team manages workflows and preferences.
How you organize your case types will primarily depend on your firm’s internal processes:
A broader case type (like Personal Injury – General) means the workflow is more generalized, with one set of tasks and steps that can be applied across many different cases.
A more specific case type (like Motor Vehicle Accident or Dog Bite) usually exists because the workflow requires unique steps that wouldn’t apply to other situations.
How do my case types affect how I set up Hona?
Your case types form the foundation for building your project types (case trackers) in Hona. Project types are the backbone of how Hona keeps your clients informed—once configured, they automatically trigger updates, reminders, and other Hona features to help clients stay engaged and in the loop.
What are some steps I could follow to help me organize my case types?
Think about your existing cases, or the cases you hope to take on.
Think about your workflow: How would you separate these cases into groups? Do all of your cases share the same workflow, or do you have different steps/tasks for different types of cases?
Think about your staff: will your staff understand the distinction between your case types, and will that help them follow the correct workflow?
Think about your clients: When sending updates to your clients, what do you already send them? Are there updates you send some clients but not others? What is the difference between their cases?
How case types are configured in your Case Management Software (CMS/CRM) is different depending on the one you're using. To learn more about how to configure yours, please visit our Integrations page and find your CRM/CMS.
Why This Matters
Clear, well-defined case types are the foundation for how Hona supports your firm. They ensure that your workflows are consistent, your staff know which tasks to follow, and your clients receive timely, accurate updates. Whether you choose broad or specific case types, aligning them with your internal workflows will help your firm stay organized, deliver better service, and maximize the value of Hona’s automation.
Examples:
The table below will provide examples of different case types within some common legal practice areas.
Practice Area |
|
Case Type | Description |
Personal Injury |
|
Personal Injury (General) **Recommended | A legal case where someone seeks compensation for harm or losses caused by another party’s negligence, accident, or intentional actions.
Most Personal Injury cases will follow the same general workflow, regardless of what kind of accident caused the client's injury. Some examples of accident-type specific case types are below. |
Motor Vehicle Accident | Representation for clients injured in car, truck, or motorcycle accidents seeking compensation for damages. |
Slip and Fall / Premises Liability | Cases where clients are injured on another party’s property due to unsafe conditions. |
Product Liability | Cases where defective or dangerous products cause harm to consumers. |
Wrongful Death | A legal case brought when someone’s death is caused by another party’s negligence or misconduct. |
Medical Malpractice | Claims involving injury caused by medical negligence, misdiagnosis, or surgical error. |
Workplace Injury / Workers’ Compensation | Representation for employees hurt on the job pursuing workers’ comp or related claims. |
Family Law |
|
Divorce (Contested) | Divorce proceedings where spouses disagree on issues such as custody, assets, or support. |
Divorce (Uncontested) | Streamlined divorce process where both spouses agree on key terms. |
Child Custody | Legal arrangements determining parental rights and visitation schedules. |
Adoption | Legal process of transferring parental rights to adoptive parents or other legal guardians. |
Estate Planning |
|
Estate Plan | Legal assistance with determining how a client's assets and affairs will be managed during their life and after death. |
Probate Administration | Guiding executors and beneficiaries through the court-supervised process of settling an estate. |
Power of Attorney | A legal authorization that allows one person to make decisions and act on behalf of another in financial, medical, or personal matters. |
Wills (Will & Testament Drafting) | Preparing legal documents to direct the distribution of assets after death. |
Trusts (Living Trust Creation) | Establishing trusts to manage and distribute assets outside of probate. |
Estate Litigation | Representation in disputes over wills, trusts, or estate administration. |
Criminal Defense |
|
DUI / DWI Defense | Representation for clients charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. |
Drug Possession / Distribution | Defense against charges related to controlled substances. |
Theft / Property Crime | Cases involving alleged burglary, larceny, shoplifting, or related offenses. |
Assault / Violent Crime | Defense representation for clients charged with assault or violent crimes. |
Expungement / Record Sealing | Legal process of clearing or sealing a criminal record.
|
Immigration |
|
Naturalization / Citizenship | A general case type that involves assisting clients through the process of becoming a U.S. citizen after meeting eligibility requirements, including a period of lawful permanent residency, good moral character, English language proficiency, knowledge of U.S. civics, and taking an oath of allegiance.
While Citizenship typically is the end-goal for a client working with an Immigration firm, there are many very long-term processes that must be completed first (like obtaining permanent resident through a green card). Some immigration firms only assist with parts of the Citizenship process due to the fact it can often take many, many years to complete in full.
That being said, "Citizenship" is a great example of a case type that could be used to describe the entire legal process from beginning to end, or it could be referring to the final processes/steps taken when the client is finally eligible to receive their Citizenship. |
Adjustment of Status | A legal process that allows an eligible non-U.S. citizen to apply for lawful permanent resident status (a green card) while remaining in the United States. |
Consular Processing | A legal process that allows an eligible non-U.S. citizen to apply for lawful permanent resident status (a green card) while outside of the United States. |
Family-Based Green Card Application | Representing the applicant or their family sponsors in order to obtain lawful permanent residency in the U.S. |
Employment-Based Green Card Application | Representing clients whose employment are sponsoring them to obtain lawful permanent residency in the U.S. |
Asylum | Representing clients seeking protection from persecution in their home country. |
Deportation / Removal Defense | Defending clients facing removal proceedings in immigration court. |