For alphabetical filing order, which is used to determine the sequence?

• A. Filing dates only.
• B. Client name, matter name, or other index marker.
• C. Document length.
• D. Random assignment.

Answer: (B)

Alphabetical filing orders the sequence by the letters in a defined index marker, usually the client name, then the matter name or another identifying tag. This means you place records in the order you would see if you listed the index markers from A to Z. Using the client name first ensures all materials for the same client stay grouped together, and then sorting by the matter name (or the secondary index) organizes multiple matters for that client in predictable order. This approach makes retrieval efficient because you can scan the shelf or the directory in straight alphabetical order to locate the exact file.

Filing by dates would group materials by when they were created or received, which disrupts quick lookup by client or matter. Document length has no bearing on order and wouldn’t help you locate related files. Random assignment provides no predictable structure, making retrieval time unpredictable.