From Static Trackers to Living Workstreams 

The Spreadsheet Gap 

Most matters still begin life in Word tables or sprawling Excel trackers. Version‑control headaches, hidden columns, and manual updates drain billable hours and bury risk until it is too late. Lupl set out to solve that gap by giving lawyers a purpose‑built tracking layer that lives inside every matter, not in someone’s desktop files. 

What Is a Workstream? 

Think of a Workstream as a living checklist that sits inside a Lupl matter. You can start with ten ready‑made templates, from “Budget & Proposal” to “Issues List,” or craft your own. 

Each Workstream is: 

• Structured. Every row is an item or task with ownership, deadlines, and linked documents. 

• Matter‑centric. Updates stay tied to the matter, so nothing drifts into inboxes or local drives. 

• View‑agnostic. Flip between table, Kanban, or calendar views without losing data. 

Unlimited Custom Columns = Unlimited Context 

Static trackers force you to squeeze legal nuance into generic columns. Workstreams let you add unlimited custom fields, from Jurisdiction and Approver to % Complete and Conflict Status. Supported data types include: 

• Text, number, date, currency 

• Dropdown and multi‑select for consistent choices 

• Checkbox and linked items for dependencies 

• Attachments that pull documents straight from iManage or NetDocuments 

The result is richer data, cleaner reporting, and fewer clarification emails. 

Import in Seconds, Not Days 

Already have a legacy checklist in Excel? Drag it into Lupl and the system auto‑maps columns into a Workstream. Export back to Word or Excel when partners or clients need a static snapshot. Migration friction drops to near‑zero. 

Real‑Time Visibility for Every Role 

• Associates filter by “Next 7 Days” and see exactly what needs drafting. 

• Partners group by status to spot bottlenecks before clients do. 

• KM teams save best‑practice Workstreams as templates, so every new matter starts 80 percent complete. 

Because Workstreams feed Lupl dashboards and workload views, leaders get a macro lens on capacity without chasing updates. 

Patterns in Practice: What High‑Performing Teams Do Differently 

1. Surface risk early. Add a Deadline Risk column that highlights tasks approaching due. 

2. Codify accountability. Use a Responsible Role field rather than individual names to keep ownership clear during staffing changes. 

3. Connect knowledge objects. Link documents, emails, and prior research directly to tasks so context travels with the work. 

4. Review cycle times. Export Workstream metrics quarterly to benchmark how long key task types actually take, and adjust staffing or process accordingly. 

Implementation Checklist 

• Map what you track today. Identify the spreadsheets or tables that matter most to each practice. 

• Define common fields. Agree on shared column names, Deadline, Owner, *Status, *to enable firm‑wide reporting. 

• Pilot with one active matter. Keep the scope tight, gather feedback, and iterate before rolling out broadly. 

• Measure impact. Track reduction in manual follow‑ups, fewer missed dates, and minutes saved in partner updates. 

• Templatize success. When a Workstream works, save it as a template so every similar matter starts on rails. 

The Takeaway 

Static trackers lock knowledge in silos and waste precious hours. Living Workstreams keep data, documents, and discussion in one place, automatically organized around the matter. The payoff is fewer surprises, faster hand‑offs, and more time for high‑value legal work.