Getting Started – Text Guide

New to CLASS?

1. Before Using CLASS

This page outlines the IT requirements needed to run CLASS, as well as how your User Account will work.

2. CLASS Navigation

Here, you’ll see how the menu structure works in CLASS.

3. The National Legal Assistance Data Standards Manual

The Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department published a National Legal Assistance Data Standards Manual which can be found here. The manual introduces common client and service data recording across all four legal assistance services.

The manual contains, among other things, a classification system for ‘Services’ and definitions for each Service type. It is critical to understand these as it heavily influences data entry and reporting in CLASS.

Main functions

The User manual is the most important area of the online guide for standard users. It provides help for the items that sit under the ‘CLASS’ menu in CLASS. A selection of contents is listed below

4. Searching

Searching in CLASS is used to find clients and services. This chapter outlines the search logic and how to search most effectively. It also includes some information about the filter builder.

5. Conflict Checking

A critical function of CLASS is checking for conflicts of interest.

6. Clients

This Chapter outlines how to find, create and edit clients.

7. Services

This chapter outlines how to find, create and edit ‘Services for the Individual’ as set out by the Data Standards Manual, such as Information, Legal Advice, Representation and more.

It is also important to understand ‘Actions‘ that can be attached to a Service. This is where notes, reminders, court appearance and critical dates are created and managed.

‘Services for the Community’ include Community Legal Education (CLE) activities or resources, and stakeholder engagement.

8. Intake Workflow

Intake is a 5 step process combining creating clients, service selection, Triage, managing additional parties, conflict checking, and note taking.

9. Triage

Triage is the new mechanism for placing a client on hold before appointments, conflict checks or supervision, especially when it is unclear what specific service will be required.