---
title: "Matter closure checklist"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/personal-injury-and-compensation/firm-matter-closure-checklist"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a21-firm-matter-closure-checklist"
area_id: "A21"
kind: "checklist"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A21-T1-R10", "A42-PE20261022-23", "A21-W20261018-1", "A42-A20260923-1"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-23"
---

# Matter closure checklist

> Closing a plaintiff injury file: the settlement costs disclosure was given before execution, the bill, scheme steps, tool copies, trust money, and a risk assessment before any destruction.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/personal-injury-and-compensation/firm-matter-closure-checklist  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-23

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Checklist. Steps or checks to work through and tick off.
- Practice area: [Personal Injury & Compensation](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/personal-injury-and-compensation.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales
- AI level: Yellow. You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-23
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-23 against the 5 authorities it cites, for 4 jurisdictions.

## When to use it

Use when a plaintiff injury matter is ready to close, after judgment or after a settlement the lawyer has settled. Complete the costs disclosure before the settlement is executed. Do not leave that disclosure until this list.

## Used for these tasks

- [Draft a settlement advice and conference paper](https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/draft-a-settlement-advice-and-conference-paper.md)
- [Disclose the costs estimates before a settlement is executed](https://ailawframework.com/obligations/costs-billing-and-litigation-funding/disclose-the-costs-estimates-before-a-settlement-is-executed.md)
- [Notify Medicare of a judgment or settlement and track the clearance](https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/notify-medicare-of-a-judgment-or-settlement-and-track-the-clearance.md)
- [Build a draft bill from the time records and the disclosure](https://ailawframework.com/obligations/costs-billing-and-litigation-funding/build-a-draft-bill-from-the-time-records-and-the-disclosure.md)

## How AI may be used

The tool may list closing steps that are still open on the file, and a lawyer confirms each one before the file is closed or any record is destroyed.

**AI may:**

- List unpaid bills, unsigned authorities to return, and diary rows still open
- List uploads to a tool that is not the matter repository
- Record the date the section 177 or section 312 disclosure was given, if that date is on the file

**AI must not:**

- Must not draft the settlement, or treat a missing pre-settlement disclosure as something to do for the first time at closure
- Must not set a destruction date of seven years as a legal minimum
- Must not delete the matter repository, or original medical records, as part of clearing a tool

**The lawyer checks:**

- The section 177 or section 312 estimates were given before the settlement was executed
- Medicare, Centrelink and NDIS steps recorded on the file are finished or still diarised
- Destruction waits on a risk assessment of when a claim against the firm could accrue, and on any law or order that requires retention

## Authorities

- [Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) s 177](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/lpul333/s177.html)
- [Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) s 312](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/lpa2007179/s312.html)
- [OAIC, APP 11: security of personal information](https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/australian-privacy-principles-guidelines/chapter-11-app-11-security-of-personal-information)
- [LPLC, When seven years isn't long enough](https://lplc.com.au/resources/lplc-article/when-seven-years-isnt-long-enough)
- [Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules 2015 (NSW) r 9](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/sl-2015-0244)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/personal-injury-and-compensation/firm-matter-closure-checklist and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*