> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.holace.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Lead → Journey Conversion

> Promote a qualified lead into an active journey. The pre-conversion checklist, journey types, contract terms, and what happens to the original lead record.

Conversion is the moment a prospect becomes a client. A signed retainer, a HIPAA authorization, a completed intake — and a press of the **Convert to Journey** button. After that, the case shows up on the active docket and the rest of HoLaCe takes over: stages, services, medical records, demand letters, settlement.

## Where to start the conversion

Two paths get you to the same place:

1. **Leads list** — find the lead, click the **⋮** menu, choose **Convert to Journey**.
2. **Lead detail page** — open the lead, scroll to the bottom, click **Convert to Journey**.

\[Screenshot: Lead row action menu with Convert to Journey highlighted]

The **Convert to Journey** action only appears on leads that aren't already converted and don't already have a journey attached.

## The conversion workflow

Conversion is a three-step guided wizard. You can back out at any step until you click the final **Convert to Journey** button on Step 3.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Pre-conversion checklist">
    HoLaCe verifies four required items before letting you proceed:

    * **Contract Signed** — the client has signed the representation agreement.
    * **HIPAA Received** — HIPAA authorization is on file.
    * **Intake Completed** — the initial client intake is done.
    * **Contact Information** — the lead has a valid email or phone number.

    Each item shows a green check or a red warning. The **Continue** button stays disabled until all four are green. If something is missing, click **Cancel**, return to the lead detail page, fix the gap, and start the conversion again.

    \[Screenshot: Pre-conversion checklist showing four items with green checks]
  </Step>

  <Step title="Journey details">
    Fill in the journey-level details:

    * **Journey Type** (required) — Car Accident, Dog Bite, Premises Liability, Habitability, or Litigation. If the lead's `practiceArea` is set, this pre-fills.
    * **Contract Signed Date** — pulled from the lead if you've already recorded it.
    * **Contract Amount** — optional, in dollars.
    * **Contingency Percentage** — defaults to 33.33% (the typical PI standard); override per the signed retainer.
    * **Notes** — anything you want recorded as the conversion's narrative entry.

    \[Screenshot: Journey details form with type, contract amount, contingency, signed date, notes]
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm and convert">
    A summary card shows everything you entered. Hit **Convert to Journey** and HoLaCe creates the journey, links it to the lead, and changes the lead's status to **Converted**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What carries over

When a lead becomes a journey, the following data flows automatically into the new journey record:

| Field                              | Where it goes                                 |
| ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| First name, last name              | Journey client name                           |
| Email, phone, alternate phone      | Journey contact                               |
| Address (street, city, state, ZIP) | Journey address                               |
| Date of incident                   | Journey incident date                         |
| Statute of limitations date        | Journey SOL date                              |
| Practice area / case type          | Journey type (mapped to the picker in Step 2) |
| Lead source, source details        | Journey origin metadata                       |
| Assigned attorney/paralegal        | Journey owner                                 |

Custom fields, comments, activities, and documents attached to the lead **stay on the lead record** — they're not duplicated onto the journey. The journey holds a back-reference, so you can always pivot from the journey back to its origin lead.

## What the new journey looks like

Right after conversion, the journey:

* Lives on the **Prospect** Avenue (the first of the four — Prospect → Prelitigation → Litigation → DNQ).
* Has its journey pipeline status set to **PENDING\_LIABILITY** — meaning HoLaCe is waiting on a liability determination before treatment work begins.
* Inherits the team assignment from the lead (if the lead was assigned).
* Has a fresh `journeyNumber` generated for in-firm reference.

\[Screenshot: New journey card on the Prospect avenue with PENDING\_LIABILITY status]

## What happens to the original lead

The original lead record is **not deleted**. It:

* Has status changed to `CONVERTED`.
* Gets a `convertedDate` timestamp.
* Stores a foreign-key link to the new journey.
* Stops appearing in the default leads view (the **Show Converted** toggle reveals it).

This preservation is deliberate — your conversion-rate reporting and your audit trail both depend on the original record sticking around.

## If something goes wrong

If you click Convert and see an error, the most common causes are:

* **A required checklist item slipped** — refresh the page; the checklist re-validates against current data.
* **The lead was already converted in another tab** — check the lead detail page; if it shows **Converted**, no action needed.
* **Permission issue** — only Firm Admins, Attorneys, and Paralegals can convert leads. Contractors and Service Providers cannot.

<Note>
  Once a lead converts: [Case Management → Journey Lifecycle](/case-management/journey-lifecycle)
</Note>