Litigation Strategy, Tutorial

Creating a Case Timeline in Microsoft Visio for Litigation Teams

Posted on by Jeff Kirksey
05
Apr

Timelines are essential visual tools in litigation for presenting case events chronologically to a judge, jury, or client. Microsoft Visio, included with many Office 365 subscriptions, enables legal professionals to build customized, printable case timelines from discovery to verdict.

This tutorial shows how to use Microsoft Visio to design, annotate, and share case timelines, supporting your litigation strategy and trial preparation.

Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Case Timeline in Visio

Step 1: Open Visio and Select a Timeline Template

  1. Open Microsoft Visio.
  2. Choose New > Templates > Schedule > Timeline.
  3. Select the Basic Timeline template and click Create.

🏛️ Legal Use Case: Use timelines to display events in complex litigation like multi-party disputes or long-running investigations.

Step 2: Set Timeline Start and End Dates

  1. Click the timeline shape on the drawing page.
  2. In the popup, set:
    • Start date: (e.g., January 1, 2024)
    • End date: (e.g., April 30, 2025)
  3. Click OK.

📆 Tip: Use trial dates, filing deadlines, or discovery periods as anchors.

  1. From the Shapes panel, drag Milestone onto the timeline.
  2. Enter event titles like:
    • “Complaint Filed”
    • “Deposition of Key Witness”
    • “Motions Hearing”
    • “Trial Begins”
  3. Customize symbols or icons (e.g., gavel, calendar).

⚖️ Compliance Tip: Include key procedural deadlines to meet court rules.

Step 4: Use Intervals to Represent Phases of Litigation

  1. Drag an Interval shape onto the timeline.
  2. Set a start and end (e.g., “Discovery Period”).
  3. Label phases such as:
    • Pleadings
    • Discovery
    • Motion Practice
    • Trial Prep

🎯 Strategy Tip: Clearly define litigation stages for both internal briefings and client updates.

Step 5: Format and Share the Timeline

  1. Click Design > Themes to apply a visual style.
  2. Save the timeline as a PDF or Image for easy sharing.
  3. Store in your case SharePoint site or upload to Teams channel.

🔒 Security Tip: Set permissions to restrict editing and maintain document integrity.

Conclusion

Microsoft Visio gives litigation teams the ability to visually track and communicate complex case events. Whether used for internal coordination or courtroom exhibits, timelines enhance comprehension and support persuasive storytelling.