Frequently Asked Questions

#Search & Experts

#How current is the expert database?

Expert profiles are updated by the experts themselves. Active subscribers are more likely to keep their profiles current. You can filter to Premium-only experts to see the most engaged professionals.

#Can I search by specific credentials (e.g., MD, CPA)?

Yes — include the credential abbreviation in your search query. The AI recognizes common credentials like MD, PhD, CPA, PE, CFE, and many others.

#What does "unclaimed" mean on an expert profile?

Some expert profiles were pre-loaded from public sources. An "unclaimed" profile has not been verified or updated by the expert. The contact information may be incomplete. We recommend prioritizing claimed profiles for active matters.

#How do I save an expert from search results?

Click the Add to Shortlist button on any search result card. A popover lets you select an existing shortlist or create a new one. You can also add experts directly to a case.

#Cases & Pipeline

#What are pipeline stages?

When you add an expert to a case, they enter the expert pipeline. There are 8 stages: Shortlisted, Reviewing, Contacted, Responded, Interviewing, Selected, Completed, and Declined. Drag expert cards between stages in the Kanban view, or use the table view for a spreadsheet layout.

#Can I archive a case?

Yes — open the case detail page, click the archive button, and confirm. Archived cases are hidden from your main list but can be restored later.

#How do I switch between Kanban and table views?

On the case detail page's Experts tab, use the view toggle in the top-right corner to switch between Kanban board and table layout.

#Messaging & Inquiries

#How do I contact an expert?

You can send an inquiry from the Inquiries page or from a case's Inquiries tab. Fill in the case type, summary, expertise needed, and your preferred engagement type (Consulting, Testifying, or Both). The expert receives a notification.

#What are the inquiry statuses?

Inquiries move through these statuses: Pending (sent), Viewed (expert saw it), Accepted (expert interested), Declined (expert not interested), and Expired (no response within the allowed timeframe).

#Where do I see my messages?

Go to Dashboard → Messages. All conversations with experts appear as threads. Unread messages show a badge count in the sidebar.

#Credits & Billing

#Do credits expire?

No. Credits have no expiration date.

#Can I get a refund for an unused unlock?

Unlocks are non-refundable once used. If you accidentally unlocked the wrong profile, contact support@exlitem.com and we'll review on a case-by-case basis.

#Do all firm members share credits?

Yes — when your account is part of a firm, all credits are pooled and shared across firm members.

#Account & Firm

#How do I add colleagues to my firm?

Go to Dashboard → Firm and click Invite Member. Enter their email address. They'll receive an invitation to join your firm on Exlitem. See Firm Management for details.

#Can I use Exlitem without creating a firm?

Absolutely. Firms are optional. You can use Exlitem as an individual attorney with your own credit balance.

#What firm roles are available?

Firms have two roles: Admin (can invite members, manage roles, remove members) and Member (can use shared credits and view the member list). See Firm Management for details.

#How do I update my billing information?

Go to Dashboard → Settings → Billing to update your payment method or view past invoices.

#Search Features

#Does the search handle typos?

Yes — the AI search engine has built-in typo tolerance. It also suggests corrections with a "Did you mean?" prompt when a better match exists.

#Can I see my search history?

Yes — your recent search queries are saved and can be re-run from the search page. You can also see recently viewed expert profiles for quick access.

#How do I compare multiple experts?

Select experts from a shortlist and click Compare to see a side-by-side view of their credentials, experience, and specialties.

#Notifications

#How do real-time notifications work?

Notifications are delivered instantly via server-sent events (SSE). You'll see a badge count in the top navigation bar when new events occur — such as an expert responding to your inquiry or sending a message. No page refresh needed.

#Can I control which emails I receive?

Yes — go to Dashboard → Settings and scroll to the Email Notifications card. You can toggle on or off: new messages, inquiry responses, saved search alerts, review activity, billing & credits, and product updates. Changes save instantly. See Account Settings for details.

#How do I turn off marketing emails?

In Settings → Email Notifications, toggle off "Product updates". This stops feature announcements and tips while keeping transactional emails (messages, inquiry responses, billing) active.