Contact Roles

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Below is a description of common roles that a contact can have as well as suggestions of when to use certain roles.

Please note: We can add additional roles beyond the roles listed below. Just contact Support to set these up.


Account Administrator – the primary user who has full permission to do anything within the system. There should only be one primary admin.

Account Administrator (backup) – users who should have full permission to do anything in the system. You can have multiple backup admins.

Assignee – a business entity where inventors (i.e., assignors) can be employed by. Very little difference between a client and assignee.

Client – used by law firms to define a corporate client.

Client/Solo Practitioner - used by law firms to define an inventor who is also a client.

Company – used by law firms and corporations to define business entities that are not clients. Corporations should create a company contact record for themselves.

Foreign Associate – any law firm or individual that’s considered as foreign counsel for both law firms and corporations.

Inventor – used to identify inventors for corporations or law firm clients.

Law Firm – used for a law firm that corporations may use. It’s also used by law firms to identify themselves. Specifically, law firms should create their own record if they send out invoices. Add a TaxID number if you plan to generate LEDES files.

All other roles – the remaining roles all have the same functionality. They are labels for what role individuals may have within a law firm or corporation. They can all be used interchangeably without affecting functionality.