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Sort Client Files by Matter

Per-client filing is the backbone of professional services work. Lawyers, accountants, consultants, and agencies typically maintain one folder per client (sometimes per matter or engagement), and every document that arrives, an engagement letter, a contract, a deposition transcript, an invoice, a court filing, belongs inside the correct client folder. The challenge is that documents arrive faster than they can be filed by hand, and they often land in a generic Downloads or scanner intake folder where the client context is lost. This prompt teaches Sortio to inspect each incoming file, match it against your existing roster of client folders, create a new folder when the client is unfamiliar, and rename the file with a clear document type prefix so that finding the latest deposition or the original engagement letter takes seconds instead of minutes.

Last updated: 5/12/2026
3 prompts included

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Prompts

Route Files into Existing Client Folders

Look at each file in this folder. If it belongs to one of my existing client folders, move it there. If not, create a new folder named after the client and move it. Rename each file to include the document type (for example, Engagement Letter, Contract, Invoice, Deposition, Court Filing, Correspondence) followed by the original filename.
Expected result: Each file is routed into the correct per-client subfolder. Files for unrecognized clients trigger the creation of a new client folder. Every filename is prefixed with a recognizable document type so the folder contents are scannable at a glance.
Folder structure after:
Clients/
  Acme Holdings/
    Engagement Letter - acme-engagement-2026.pdf
    Contract - acme-msa-signed.pdf
    Invoice - acme-invoice-march.pdf
    Correspondence - acme-email-thread.eml
  Smith, Jane/
    Engagement Letter - jsmith-retainer.pdf
    Deposition - jsmith-depo-transcript.pdf
    Court Filing - jsmith-motion-to-dismiss.pdf
  Reyes Construction/
    Contract - reyes-subcontract.pdf
    Invoice - reyes-progress-billing.pdf
  Northshore Bakery/
    Engagement Letter - northshore-engagement.pdf
    Correspondence - northshore-intake-notes.docx

Per-Matter Subfolders Inside Each Client

For each client folder, organize files into matter-based subfolders. Use the matter number or matter name from the filename or document content. Inside each matter folder, separate files by document type: Pleadings, Discovery, Correspondence, Billing, Research.
Expected result: Each client folder contains one subfolder per matter, and each matter is internally split into the standard document-type buckets that legal and consulting teams expect.
Folder structure after:
Clients/
  Acme Holdings/
    2026-001 Trademark Dispute/
      Pleadings/
        complaint.pdf
        answer.pdf
      Discovery/
        interrogatories-set-one.pdf
        document-production-log.xlsx
      Correspondence/
        opposing-counsel-letter.pdf
      Billing/
        invoice-march-2026.pdf
      Research/
        trademark-precedents-memo.docx
    2026-014 Vendor Contract Review/
      Pleadings/
      Correspondence/
        client-update-email.eml
      Billing/
        invoice-april-2026.pdf
  Smith, Jane/
    2026-007 Divorce/
      Pleadings/
        petition.pdf
      Discovery/
        financial-disclosures.pdf
      Correspondence/
        client-call-notes.docx
      Billing/
        invoice-january-2026.pdf

Unsorted Intake Triage

Sort everything in my Intake folder. If the file matches an existing client folder under Clients, move it there. If the client is new but you can identify the name from the document content, create a new client folder. If you cannot identify the client at all, move the file to Intake/Needs Review with a one-line text note explaining why.
Expected result: Identifiable documents are routed directly to the correct client folder. New clients get fresh folders. Anything ambiguous is parked in Needs Review with a reason, so nothing is silently misfiled or lost.
Folder structure after:
Clients/
  Acme Holdings/
    acme-amended-contract.pdf
  Reyes Construction/
    reyes-change-order-3.pdf
  Pinecrest Dental/
    pinecrest-engagement.pdf
    pinecrest-w9.pdf
Intake/
  Needs Review/
    scan-2026-04-12-001.pdf
    scan-2026-04-12-001.note.txt
    untitled-fax.pdf
    untitled-fax.note.txt

Customization Tips

  • List your top clients explicitly in the prompt ("Acme Holdings, Smith Jane, Reyes Construction, Northshore Bakery") to improve match accuracy.
  • If you use matter numbers like 2026-001, mention the format so Sortio looks for it in filenames and content.
  • Add a "Closed" or "Archived" subfolder under each client and instruct Sortio to leave it alone so finalized matters are not disturbed.
  • Combine this with date sorting inside Correspondence to chronologically order email and letter threads.
  • For solo practitioners who do not use matter numbers, drop the per-matter layer and keep a flat structure inside each client folder.

Troubleshooting

Problem:

A file is routed to the wrong client because two clients have similar names.

Solution:

Disambiguate by adding additional identifiers to the prompt, such as company suffix or city.

Steps:

  1. 1Edit the prompt to include each clients full legal name and a distinguishing identifier (city, suffix, matter number).
  2. 2Move the misfiled document manually to the correct client folder.
  3. 3Re-run the sort on the intake folder.

Problem:

New client folders are created for what is actually an existing client (name variation).

Solution:

Add a list of known aliases to the prompt.

Steps:

  1. 1List aliases in the prompt, for example "Acme Holdings, also written as Acme Hldg or ACME".
  2. 2Merge the duplicate folders manually after the run.
  3. 3Re-run the sort to confirm new files route correctly.

Problem:

Document type prefixes are inconsistent across files.

Solution:

Provide an explicit, closed list of document types in the prompt.

Steps:

  1. 1Specify the allowed document types: Engagement Letter, Contract, Invoice, Deposition, Court Filing, Correspondence, Memo.
  2. 2Add "If the document does not match one of these, use Other" as a fallback.
  3. 3Re-run the sort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Sortio read the actual content of client documents to identify the client?

Only when you explicitly enable content-based sorting. By default, Sortio uses filenames and metadata. For client identification, enabling content analysis is usually worth it, and it can be done in Offline mode so confidential client material never leaves your machine.

Can I lock certain client folders so files are never moved out of them?

Yes. Add an instruction like "Do not move files that are already inside a client folder; only route files from the Intake folder into client folders." Sortio will treat existing locations as authoritative.

How does this work with privileged or confidential client material?

Use Offline mode. Sortio processes the files locally on your device with no cloud connectivity, so privileged documents never leave your computer. Many law firms and accounting practices run Sortio exclusively in this mode.

Related Glossary Terms

per client filinglegal matter managementclient folder structurelaw firm file organizationdocument routing

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