Actionstep Vocabulary

vocab:
  name: Actionstep API Vocabulary
  description: Key terms and concepts used across the Actionstep legal practice management REST API.
  url: https://docs.actionstep.com/
  version: "1.0"
  updated: "2026-06-13"

terms:

  - term: Action
    definition: >-
      A Matter in the Actionstep system. For historical reasons, matters are referred
      to as "actions" in the API. Represents a legal case or transaction managed by a law firm.
    endpoints:
      - /actions
      - /actions/{id}

  - term: Participant
    definition: >-
      A person or organization associated with Actionstep, such as a client, contact, or
      staff member. Participants can be linked to matters through action participants.
    endpoints:
      - /participants
      - /participants/{id}

  - term: ActionParticipant
    definition: >-
      The relationship between a participant and a matter (action), defining the role the
      participant plays in a given matter.
    endpoints:
      - /actionparticipants
      - /actionparticipants/{id}

  - term: ActionType
    definition: >-
      A configurable matter type that defines the workflow, data fields, and billing settings
      applicable to a class of legal matters.
    endpoints:
      - /actiontypes
      - /actiontypes/{id}

  - term: Bill
    definition: >-
      An invoice generated for a matter, capturing fees, disbursements, and trust transactions
      to be billed to a client.
    endpoints:
      - /bills
      - /bills/{id}

  - term: Disbursement
    definition: >-
      An out-of-pocket expense incurred on behalf of a client that is recorded against a matter
      and included in billing.
    endpoints:
      - /disbursements
      - /disbursements/{id}

  - term: TimeEntry
    definition: >-
      A record of billable or non-billable time spent by a staff member on a matter, used for
      time-keeping and billing purposes.
    endpoints:
      - /timeentries
      - /timeentries/{id}

  - term: Task
    definition: >-
      A to-do item or action item assigned to a staff member, optionally linked to a matter,
      with due dates and completion tracking.
    endpoints:
      - /tasks
      - /tasks/{id}

  - term: FileNote
    definition: >-
      A note or memo attached to a matter or contact, used to record communications, observations,
      or other relevant information.
    endpoints:
      - /filenotes
      - /filenotes/{id}

  - term: DataCollection
    definition: >-
      A custom data structure (like a database table) that can be associated with a matter type,
      enabling firms to capture structured custom data.
    endpoints:
      - /datacollections
      - /datacollections/{id}

  - term: DataCollectionField
    definition: >-
      A field definition within a data collection, specifying the name, type, and validation
      rules for custom data captured on a matter.
    endpoints:
      - /datacollectionfields
      - /datacollectionfields/{id}

  - term: DataCollectionRecord
    definition: >-
      An individual record (row) within a data collection, storing the actual custom data for
      a specific matter.
    endpoints:
      - /datacollectionrecords
      - /datacollectionrecords/{id}

  - term: RestHook
    definition: >-
      A webhook registration that enables Actionstep to push event notifications to an external
      URL when specific events occur within the platform.
    endpoints:
      - /resthooks
      - /resthooks/{id}

  - term: QuickCode
    definition: >-
      Short reference codes used for billing items such as activity codes, task codes, and
      expense codes, often aligned with UTBMS standards.
    endpoints:
      - /quickcodes
      - /quickcodes/{id}

  - term: UTBMSCode
    definition: >-
      Uniform Task-Based Management System codes used for legal billing, providing standardized
      activity and task codes for law firm billing.
    endpoints:
      - /utbmscodes
      - /utbmscodes/{id}

  - term: ActionFolder
    definition: >-
      A folder within a matter used to organize documents and files associated with a legal case.
    endpoints:
      - /actionfolders
      - /actionfolders/{id}

  - term: ContactDocument
    definition: >-
      A document linked to a contact (participant) in Actionstep, stored within the document
      management system.
    endpoints:
      - /contactdocuments
      - /contactdocuments/{id}

  - term: PhoneRecord
    definition: >-
      A telephone number record associated with a participant, capturing contact phone details.
    endpoints:
      - /phonerecords
      - /phonerecords/{id}