GENERAL INFO.	You can set up folders and subfolders on your computer exactly as you wish. If you have a wonderful paper filing system, you can exactly match each filing cabinet, each drawer, and each file folder with a computer folder or subfolder.
MY COMPUTER	The “My Computer” icon on your desktop can be compared to the room at your office where your filing cabinets are located.
SAMPLE DEBTOR ATTORNEY SETUP	One simple debtor attorney setup is shown below. A folder was created for all bankruptcy cases and subfolders were created to store the pleadings for each debtor/client.
SAMPLE CREDITOR ATTORNEY SETUP	One simple creditor attorney setup is shown below. A folder was created for all bankruptcy cases and subfolders were created for each creditor/client. Then sub-subfolders were created to store the pleadings filed on behalf of the creditor/client in each debtor’s bankruptcy case.
NAMING YOUR PLEADINGS	There are no rules in the EDKY that require you to name your pleadings in a particular manner. You are no longer limited to 8 characters like you were with the older DOS operating systems. You can use up to 256 characters to name your pleadings. The name of your pleading should be complete enough so that anyone in your office who is called upon to file the pleading will be able to find the correct pleading to file (regardless of who created and saved the pleading).
UNIFORM SYSTEM	No matter what file management system you set up, it is important that you have all your staff adopt the same system. In the past, when a staff member was absent, if a pleading needed to be filed, someone else on your staff could usually sort through the papers on the absent person’s desk and find the pleading and send it to the court. With CM/ECF, if a staff person is absent and a pleading needs to be filed, someone else on your staff will need to be able to find the computer file (either on a network drive or on the absent person’s computer). The pleading will then need to be converted to .pdf format and filed electronically. If everyone in your office names their pleadings with their own system, and stores them in their own unique folder setup, it will be extremely hard for you as the attorney, or someone else on your staff to find a pleading and file it in the absence of the staff member who created the pleading.
ALMOST PAPERLESS CLIENT FILES	With the exception of original signature pages, which the USBC EDKY requires you to keep for 2 years after the case is closed, you can have almost completely paperless client files now. § Even though you must maintain some signature pages, you may be able to have one file folder for the original signatures from 2003, 2004, etc. § Another system would be to have 26 file folders (one for each letter of the alphabet) and store original signatures alphabetically Since you will have a scanner as part of your CM/ECF setup, even papers such as yellow note pad pages and telephone memo pages can be scanned and stored in the electronic client file if you wish. Although you may continue to maintain paper files in your office if you prefer, you may wish to consider the money you can save and the efficiency it will create within your office if you move in an electronic file direction. § Electronic service by the court will save you the money you spend now on copy paper, copier and printer toner, postage and staff hours spent at the copier § Electronic filing will save you the money you spend now on priority shipping costs or postage and staff hours spent delivering pleadings to the court § Creating electronic client files and scanning documents and storing them in the electronic client file will save you the money you spend now on paper, file folders, filing cabinets, on-site or off-site storage, and staff hours spent filing papers § You will not have to worry about intake hours § You usually will not have to pay the same copying fees to get a copy of a court document as you did in the past § Documents will not be misfiled as often and if they are misfiled, a simple search of your computer can locate them quickly instead of paying your staff to spend hours searching through paper files NOTE: If you do move in an electronic file direction, multiple and frequent backing up of your electronic files will become critical !!!