Contributors vs. Agents
When you ask the firm to invite someone to your matter, you choose between two very different levels of access. Picking the right one matters: it controls what the person can see and do, and how the firm reviews your request.
Contributor: shares what they know
A contributor is someone who can help build your case file — a witness, a family member with relevant documents, or anyone who knows something about the events in your matter.
- Answers questions from the legal team.
- Adds their own timeline events describing what they observed.
- Uploads and reviews documents shared with them.
- Cannot see your full matter, communicate on your behalf, or make any decisions about your case.
Agent: acts on your behalf
An agent is someone you authorize to manage your matter for you — a spouse, adult child, attorney-in-fact, or a representative of a company. Corporate clients always act through an agent.
- Full access to the matter: timeline, documents, billing, messages, and agreements.
- Communicates directly with the legal team on your behalf.
- Has authority to make decisions about the case for you.
How agent requests are reviewed
Because an agent can make decisions that affect your legal rights, agent requests get extra scrutiny. Whether you request an agent or the agent starts the process themselves, the same information is collected and the same review happens:
- You describe the relationship (family member, business partner, attorney-in-fact, etc.) and how you are authorizing them — in writing, orally, or through an employment relationship.
- You must explain why an agent is necessary — for example, health reasons, distance, or a company acting through its officers.
- You describe the scope of their authority — what they may do on your behalf.
- You can upload supporting documents, such as a Power of Attorney or a signed authorization letter. Written authorization requires a supporting document.
- An attorney reviews the request and makes the call. The attorney may approve full agent access, offer contributor access instead, or decline the request.
- Approved agents are recorded in a formal agent authorization on the matter, documenting who authorized them, why, the scope of their authority, and any supporting documents.
How to request an invitation
Open the person's record under your matter's People tab, then open the User Access tab and click Request Invitation. Choose Contributor or Agent, and the firm will review your request. If you're not sure which to pick, start with Contributor — you can always request an upgrade later.