Getting Started with Advocate CMS
Set up your workspace, add team members, and start tracking your first case — all in under 5 minutes.
Last updated: April 2026
What is Advocate CMS?
Advocate CMS is a unified legal workspace that replaces scattered messages, physical diaries, and fragmented files. It centralizes case tracking, hearing schedules, secure document storage, and team task management into one platform.
Whether you're a solo advocate practicing at a single court or part of a firm spanning multiple jurisdictions, Advocate CMS gives you a single dashboard to manage everything.
Step 1: Sign Up (30 Seconds)
Visit [adcms.hikmotic.com/signup](https://adcms.hikmotic.com/signup) and create your account. You'll get a **7-day free trial** — no credit card required. Use the email address you want your team to recognize you by.
Step 2: Complete Your Profile
After signing up, fill in:
- **Your name and title** (e.g., "Rajesh Kumar, Advocate")
- **The court(s)** where you practice
- **Your bar council registration number** (optional but recommended for professional credibility)
This information helps your team members know who they're collaborating with.
Step 3: Invite Your Team
Navigate to **Settings > Team Members** and invite your juniors, clerks, and co-counsel by email. Each person can be assigned a role:
| Role | What They Can Do |
|------|-----------------|
| **Admin** | Full access — manage cases, team, billing, and settings |
| **Lead Advocate** | Create and manage cases, approve documents, assign tasks |
| **Junior Advocate** | View assigned cases, upload documents, complete tasks |
| **User** | View-only access — good for clients or external counsel |
Roles are explained in more detail in our [team roles guide](https://adcms.hikmotic.com/help-center/setting-up-team-roles-permissions).
Step 4: Add Your First Case
Click **"Add Case"** on your dashboard and fill in:
- Case number / filing number
- Court name and bench (if applicable)
- Opposing counsel's name
- Next hearing date
- Brief case title (e.g., "Sharma v. Agarwal — Civil Suit")
That's it. The case now appears on your dashboard. From there, you can:
- Add hearing dates and reminders
- Upload and organize documents
- Assign tasks to team members
- Track case status over time
Step 5: Check Your Dashboard
Your main dashboard shows:
- **Upcoming hearings** — sorted by date so you know what's next
- **Task assignments** — what's been assigned to you or your juniors
- **Recent activity** — who uploaded what, when a case was updated
Take a few minutes to explore each section. You can always come back and refine your setup.
Need More Help?
- [How to add and manage cases](https://adcms.hikmotic.com/help-center/how-to-add-and-manage-cases)
- [Setting up team roles](https://adcms.hikmotic.com/help-center/setting-up-team-roles-permissions)
- If you're stuck, [contact support](https://adcms.hikmotic.com/contact)
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**Ready to start?** [Sign up for your free trial →](https://adcms.hikmotic.com/signup)