Starting a New Note: From the Call to the First Screen
When you get the call from the DSCC or your client, you want to be recording information immediately. Here is how Custody Note gets you to a new note as quickly as possible.
One of the practical priorities when designing Custody Note was reducing the time between receiving a call and having a note open on screen. The new note workflow is intentionally short.
Opening a New Note
From the main window, a single click opens a new blank note. You are taken immediately to the Reference section — the first tab — which prompts for the core details you will have to hand from the moment you receive the call: the client's name, the custody suite, and the matter reference.
You do not need to fill in every field before the note is saved. Custody Note saves automatically as you type, so there is no risk of losing information if you need to put the laptop down and walk into the custody suite.
What to Enter First
The first fields in the Reference section are designed around the information you typically receive before arriving:
- Client name and date of birth
- Custody suite or police station
- The offence or offences alleged
- The time of the call or instruction
You can return to fill in custody reference numbers, officer details, and additional information once you arrive at the station. The app does not require a complete record before you proceed.
The Tab Structure from the Start
As soon as a new note is open, all the tabs are visible: Reference, Custody, Disclosure, Consultation, Interview, Outcome, and Fees. This lets you jump to the relevant section at any point during the attendance without needing to complete earlier sections first.
In practice, most representatives work through the tabs in order — but the flexibility to jump directly to, for example, the Interview tab if you arrive mid-interview is built in from the start.
Multiple Notes
Custody Note supports having multiple notes open simultaneously, which is useful if you are dealing with co-defendants or need to refer to an earlier attendance while writing up a new one. Each note appears as a separate entry in the records list and can be opened side by side in most Windows configurations.
Note: This article is intended as general information for criminal defence practitioners in England and Wales. It does not constitute legal advice. Solicitors and accredited representatives should exercise their own professional judgment in each case. Law and practice may change; always verify current requirements with primary sources.