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

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

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

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

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

10  Flexibility for Customization  Home many forms and fields can be added to the program?  Linking with other programs  Popular 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  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 Traditional Practice Management Software Abacus Law Amicus Attorney Time Matters

13  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. Practice Management Software “In-the-Cloud”

14  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 Practice Management Software “Outlook Plug-in”

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

16 Why does an attorney need Practice Management Software?  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, ) cause a ‘splintering' of resources…  Paper-less Office! Practical Reasons

17 Why does an attorney need a Case Management Program?  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 Ethical Reasons

18 Keys to your SUCCESS... 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 Allow Setup TimeAllow Training Time

19 Practice Management Software Training, Customization and Consultation Susan Traylor LOMAP Practice Management Advisor State Bar of Arizona Certified Consultant for AbacusLaw, Amicus Attorney, Time Matters (602) CONTACT

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