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Legal-Specific Practice Management Software in 2010: Demo of Three Leading Software

Legal-Specific Practice Management Software in 2010: Demo of Three Leading Software. Susan L. Traylor, Practice Management Advisor, Law Office Management Assistance Program, State Bar of Arizona. Link many matters to 1 Client (Contact). CLIENT = person. CLIENT = person.

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Legal-Specific Practice Management Software in 2010: Demo of Three Leading Software

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  1. Legal-Specific Practice Management Software in 2010: Demo of Three Leading Software Susan L. Traylor, Practice Management Advisor, Law Office Management Assistance Program, State Bar of Arizona

  2. Link many matters to 1 Client (Contact) CLIENT = person CLIENT = person (Contact,Customer) (Contact, Customer) PI Matter 1 PI Matter 1 Bankruptcy Bankruptcy PI Matter 2 PI Matter 2 (Case, Project) (Case, Project) (Case, Project) (Case, Project) (Case, Project) (Case, Project)

  3. Link many contacts (client, attorneys, parties, ... people) to 1 matter Opposing Attorney Opposing Attorney Court Reporter Court Reporter Witness Witness Client Client Judge Judge PI Matter 1 PI Matter 1

  4. Creates a... For all of a law office’s information GrandCentral Station

  5. Billing/Accounting? Word or WordPerfect E-mail organization Contacts (Clients, Attorneys, Parties, People) Assemble Document Document Management Practice Management Software Phone calls Appointments Track time Reminders Organize web research Calendaring/Docketing Matters/Cases Remote access SmartPhones, PDAs

  6. Selecting practice management software is like buying a...

  7. Practice Management Software.....is like a house • Foundation features common to all • Some have features distinguishing them from others • You must pick the right one for you • Allow time, and patience, to move in, get settled • There's a place for everything • It's a good investment, especially over time

  8. FOUNDATION features… • Contact Information • Case/matter/file information • Calendaring • Timekeeping • Grouping/classification • Document management • Document assembly • MS Word and WordPerfect Compatible • Reports • Customizable fields And…

  9. FOUNDATION features...cont’d • Integrated e-mail • Links to standard time and billing programs • Synchronization with personal digital assistants • Inactivity reminders • Date calculator • Remote access • Security settings • Training and support

  10. DISTINGUISHING features • Flexibility for Customization • Home many forms and fields can be added to the program? • Linking with other programs • Popular e-mail software, i.e. Outlook, Groupwise, Rules based docketing vendors, i.e. Compulaw, • E-filing vendor • Linking/Partnership with web services • Online research vendors, i.e. Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw • Online e-filing service • Practice-Specific • Program is already customized for particular practice area(s) • Litigation, Prosecution, Personal Injury, etc. And…

  11. DISTINGUISHING features • Security • Many options to control access to data • Client/Server Version Available? • For large law firms or heavy usage • Front-Office/Back Office Integration • Includes time & billing capability, • Includes full accounting capability • Work from Word Processing Application • Can create a link to client/matter while working within Word or Word Perfect • Web-Based Capability Available? • Can login to the program through a web portal to access database from anywhere; • Can provide extranet capability to staff and clients;

  12. Three (3) Examples of TraditionalPractice Management Software Abacus Law Amicus Attorney Time Matters

  13. Practice Management Software “In-the-Cloud” • SaaS: Also known as “Software-as-a-Service” or “thin client” • Software is not installed on your computer or your network; • You pay a monthly subscription to use it; • Much less maintenance required; • Users login to the software using a web portal to access database from anywhere (“User Name” and “Password”) • Typically, you data is stored on the vendor’s servers; you may copy your data to your own computer, but if you do not pay your subscription fee, you will no longer have the “interface” to manipulate your data. (You may, however, be able to import it into another software.) • Examples of SaaS software are: Clio, Rocket Matter.

  14. Practice Management Software “Outlook Plug-in” • Puts your Outlook “On Steroids”! • You must have Outlook 2003 or newer • Software is not installed on your computer or your network; • You pay a monthly subscription to use it; • Much less maintenance required; • Users login to the software using a web portal to access database from anywhere (“User Name” and “Password”) • Your data is stored on your computer (network) and copied to the vendor’s server; if you do not pay your subscription fee, you will no longer have the “interface” to manipulate your data. (You may, however, be able to import it into another software.) • Example of Outlook Plug-In is: Credenza

  15. Features IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER!!! Whichfoundation features are most important to you …AND… How the does the program perform the foundation features most important to you Whichdistinguishing features are most important to you …AND… How the does the program perform the distinguishing features most important to You

  16. Why does an attorney needPractice Management Software? Practical Reasons • Attorneys manage information • Age of electronic information is here to stay • Attorneys can store, sort, organize, link, retrieve exchange, electronic information more easily than hard documents • New devices (SmartPhones, scanners, e-mail) cause a ‘splintering' of resources… • Paper-less Office!

  17. Why does an attorney need aCase Management Program? Ethical Reasons • Conflict Checking • Calendaring deadlines and reminders • Reduce errors caused by duplicative data entry • Reduce errors caused by misplaced hard-copy notes, documents, files, case information • Easily track billable/non-billable time • “Digital” information can be cost-effectively shared with between staff and clients

  18. Keys to your SUCCESS... Allow Setup Time Allow Training Time • Time to install the program • Time to customize the program to fit your practice style and area(s) • Time to “move” data from your existing programs (aka “migrate” data) into your practice management software • Classroom training • Web cast training • Training CD-Roms, manuals • Certified Consultant to train in your office • Help from vendor, through website or tech support

  19. Practice Management SoftwareTraining, Customization and Consultation Susan Traylor LOMAP Practice Management Advisor State Bar of Arizona Certified Consultant for AbacusLaw, Amicus Attorney, Time Matters susan.traylor@staff.azbar.org (602) 340-7355 CONTACT

  20. Demonstration ofThree Leading, “traditional” Practice Management Software Abacus Law Amicus Attorney Time Matters

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