When a
contact becomes a
client (i.e. when the first matter is opened for the contact), they are assigned a sequential number. This number is typically the highest client number in the system, plus one. At this point, their contact number (the unique identifier assigned during
contact creation) becomes irrelevant.
The allocation of client numbers is scoped by
the practice or
service company for whom the matter relates. This means that a contact who is a client of both the practice and one of its service companies will have two different client numbers. Similarly, a matter for the practice may have the same
file number as an unrelated matter for one of its service companies.