What is Laurel Connect?

Laurel Connect allows Laurel to import and export timekeeping from a PMS that is not directly connected via integrations (e.g., Aderant, 3E). The service allows firms to upload their timekeeping data (client initiatives, etc.) and receive exports of released timekeeping data on a scheduled basis.

Laurel Connect imports timekeeping data (client initiatives, timekeepers, codes, etc.) on a "triggered by upload basis" using Laurel's import format through a SFTP service.
Laurel Connect exports released time (timekeeper, hours, narratives etc.) on a scheduled basis in Laurel's export format for firms to upload into their PMS through an SFTP service.

Laurel Connect Import

Importing timekeeping data (clients, initiatives, etc.) into Laurel is done through upload of several files via SFTP. Timekeeping data will be made available to timekeepers in Laurel within 60 minutes from successful upload.

You will be provided the SFTP endpoint and credentials during onboarding.
All files must be put into a single ZIP file and placed in the imports folder.
Naming of the ZIP file must not contain any special characters such as !@#$% ^&*() or whitespace. If in doubt name it data.zip.
Import files must be formatted to instructions below for successful upload and be in UTF-8 standard.
Import files must have headers in the exact order specified.
Do not add multiple zip files to the imports folder.
Uploads will be completed in an upsert manner for updating existing or adding new data.
Closed Initiatives will continue to be searchable unless marked status = inactive on the initiatives.csv file

Please work with your Solutions Engineer to ensure the data your timekeepers need for keeping time with Laurel is supported.

Data	File Name / Type	Supported Mappings	Notes
Clients	clients.csv	-	Required.
Initiatives	initiatives.csv	Clients	Required. These are a general purpose category - in law firms, these are generally referred to as "Matters" at other firms, they may be referred to as "Projects"
Codes	codes.csv	Code Types	Not Required. These are the codes used at a initiative and attached to time entries.
Code Types	code-types.csv	-	Not Required. These specify what type of codes Currently, Laurel supports: phase, task, location, action, activity, and currency types and should be listed as such.

1) Data: Clients

Filename: clients.csv
Filetype: Comma separated values (CSV)

The clients file provides all information related to clients that need to be available in Laurel to your timekeepers. The file must be formatted with the constraints outlined below.

CSV Example

id,callSign,description,name
1,1,General Client,General Client

Column Name	Data Type	Description
id	string	Required: The client code identifier (sometimes set as externalId or client code). This can't be modified in future imports.
callSign	string	Required: Generally, the client code (ex. `12345`)
description	string	Required: Generally, the name of the client (ex. Laurel Inc). It can be identical to the `name` field if there's no concept of a full/short name.
name	string	Required Generally the name or short-name of the client (ex. Laurel).

2) Data: Initiatives

The initiatives file provides all information related to matters/projects that need to be available in Laurel to your timekeepers. The file must be formatted with the constraints outlined below.

Filename: initiatives.csv
Filetype: Comma separated values (CSV)

Note: We do not support restricted initiatives at this time.

CSV Example:

id,clientId,name,description,unitIncrements,callSign,billingType,status
1,1,General Matter,General Matter,360,00001,billable,active
2,1,Old General Matter,Old General Matter,360,00002,billable,inactive
3,1,Nonbillable General Matter,Nonbillable General Matter,360,00003,non-billable,active

Column Name	Data Type	Description
id	string	Required: The initiative code identifier (sometimes set as externalId). This can't be modified in future imports. (This will be the initativeId exported during time entry creation - please make sure this is what your PMS system uses for time entry).
clientId	string	Required: Set to the id mapping to client, found in clients.csv (or previously uploaded into Laurel).
name	string	Required: Generally, the name or short-name of the initiative (ex. General).
description	string	Required: Generally, the name of the initiative (ex. General). It can be identical to the `name` field if there's no concept of a full/short name.
unitIncrements	int	Required: The initiative increment for billed time in seconds (ie. `360`, `900`, etc.). Note these will map to 0.1 or 0.25 if your firm uses a billable increment instead
callSign	string	Required: Generally, the initiative/project/matter code (ex. `12345` or `00001`)
billingType	string	Optional: Please set to `billable` or `non-billable`
status	string	Optional: Please set to `active` or `inactive` Note: if not specified will default to `active`

3) Data: Work Codes

The codes and code-types file provides all information related to billing codes that need to be available to be set in Laurel to your timekeepers. The file must be formatted with the constraints outlined below.

Filename: codes.csv
Filetype: Comma separated values (CSV)

CSV Example:

id,codeTypeId,name,description
A101,activity,A101,Plan and prepare for

Column Name	Data Type	Description
id	string	Required: A unique identifier for this code, sometimes known as an externalId or the code itself. This can't be modified in future imports.
codeTypeId	string	Required: The `id` of a code-type object.
name	string	Required: A name, which in general is the code. For example, it may be `L100`, `L210` or `A101` in a firm context
description	string	Required: The description of the code.

Filename: code-types.csv
Filetype: Comma separated values (CSV)

CSV Example:

id,name
activity,activity-code

Column Name	Data Type	Description
id	string	Required: A unique identifier for this code type, sometimes known as an externalId. This can't be modified in future imports.
name	string	Required: The type of code Must be one of the following: `phase-code`, `task-code`, `action-code`, `activity-code`, `project-code`

Laurel Connect Export

As timekeepers use Laurel to track and release their time, released time data will be made available to firms on a hourly basis via an export file SFTP.

When not connected to a billing system, we provide multiple options to retrieve released time data:

For the more tech savvy, you have the option to integrate your system directly with our Laurel Connect Export API. Please contact us for API credentials and documentation
Have a scheduled export to the export folder which can be accessed using the same SFTP credentials provided for import.

For option #2, note the following

Export files will be formatted to Laurel's standard. You are able to customize this on request.
The export will occur daily
Export files will be available for 14 days before being deleted.

Please work with your Solutions Engineer to ensure you are able to access the export files. Firms will be required to translate export data for their upload into the billing system.

Note on export quotation escaping

For CSV exports we escape quotations using a outer quotes and double inner quotes. For example:

This is a "test" narrative for "Carl"

Will export as:

"This is a ""test"" narrative for ""Carl"""

Export File

The export file provides all information related to released time from timekeepers using Laurel. Each file is formatted as laid out below.

Filename: fromISOdate-TO-toISOdate.csv
Filetype: Comma separated values (CSV)

Column Name	Data Type	Description
_id	string	A unique id for this entry in Laurel's db. It will usually look like an ObjectId such as `641b3c5c892f282288d70be6`
clientId	string	The identifier for the Client assigned to time entry
date	datetime	The date that the time entry was worked on; in ISO 8601 format (ex.: 2023-01-05T09:30+00Z ). Also known as "Transaction Date" in some systems. NOTE: this value is provided in the user's timezone, not in UTC.
initiativeId	string	The identifier for the initiative assigned to time entry
summary	string	The narrative assigned to time entry in text format with encoding considered (ex.: “Correspondence with Cpt. Lucard regarding Space matter”).
unitIncrements	int	The initiative's increments in seconds (ex.: 360).
unitIncrementsCount	int	The number of increments (ex: 3). The total duration in seconds is calculated by multiply this number by `unitIncrements`
userId	string	Timekeeper identifier for which the time entry is assigned (ex.: 12)

Here's a sample of an export with just the default headers:

sample_default.csv

We also expose other fields that you can request to be in the output or in lieu of the default fields.

Column Name	Data Type	Description
clientCallSign	string	Generally, the client code (ex. `12345`)
clientName	string	Generally the name or short-name of the client (ex. Laurel).
initiativeName	string	Generally, the name or short-name of the initiative (ex. General).
totalDurationHours	decimal	The total duration for the entry in hours, rounded to 4 decimal places if increments are not used.
totalDurationMinutes	decimal	The total duration for the entry in minutes, rounded to 4 decimal places if increments are not used.
totalDurationSeconds	int	The total duration for the entry in seconds.

Here's a sample of an export with some custom headers:

sample_custom.csv

Additionally, the released entry may have some or many of the following codes if a timekeeper attached codes

Column Name	Data Type	Description
phase-code	string	The phase code assigned to time entry, in non-description format if possible (ex.: L400).
task-code	string	The phase code assigned to time entry, in non-description format if possible (ex.: L450).
action-code	string	The action code assigned to time entry (ex.: A108).
activity-code	string	The activity code assigned to time entry (ex.:).
currency-code	string	The currency code assigned to time entry (ex.: ).
location-code	string	The location code assigned to time entry (ex.: NYC1).

sample_default.csv

sample_custom.csv

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