We’re excited to introduce Custom Fields: a new way for your team to include and track more unstructured data in the files you upload to Paladin via SFTP.
What's the difference between Custom Fields and Custom Tags?
Paladin continues to support Custom Tags, which let firms categorize matters and timekeepers using predefined, structured values—such as a set list of matter type, committee memberships, or language proficiencies. These tags remain an important part of organizing your data by type or category, but these tags aren't able to capture unstructured or variable information, like numbers, dates, or free text responses.
Custom Fields offer an additional layer of flexibility, allowing you to include unstructured or freeform data—like class years, billing totals, court admission dates, or internal flags—directly in your data files. These fields support a variety of formats, including text, numbers, dates, and yes/no (Boolean) values, giving you more control over how you enrich and analyze your data in Paladin.
With both Custom Tags and Custom Fields, you now have more options to tailor your data to your firm’s needs—and unlock deeper insights through more meaningful reporting.
What are Custom Fields Used For?
You can create Custom Fields for:
Matters: Data relevant to cases, clients, or engagements.
Timekeepers: Tracking timekeeper-specific information.
They can be used to:
Track numbers, such as billing totals or percentages.
Track dates, such as court admissions or last promotion.
Track yes/no values using Boolean fields.
Store freeform text, like former names, notes, or descriptions.
These fields are fully customizable and aren’t limited by predefined options. Your team defines the label, the type of data, and where it should appear—giving you more control over the data you collect and use.
Where Do Custom Fields Appear?
Once configured, Custom Fields will appear alongside your existing data in Paladin and be available for:
Search and filtering
Data visualization
Exports and reporting
How to Get Started
If your firm already imports data into Paladin, your team can work with us to set up Custom Fields through your existing Data Load files. You’ll define:
The name of each field
The type of data (Number, Date, Boolean, or String)
Whether it should apply to Matters or Timekeepers
Please see the technical documentation here for more information on adding custom fields to data files. Reach out to your Client Success Manager or [email protected], and we’ll guide you through the setup.
Once Set-Up is Complete
You’ll be able to populate these fields during data imports
Fields will be available in filters, dashboards, and reports
No need to rely on predefined lists—you define the data structure