1 Practice Management Software in 2009: Overview & Demo 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 Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s) Remote access Case Management Program Billing/Accounting?

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

7 Case 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 other databases,  Other court systems; sharing data across LAN or WAN  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) Civil 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 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

13 Why does an attorney need a Case Management Program?  Attorneys manage information  Age of electronic information is here to stay  Attorneys can store, sort, organize, link, retrieve, exchange, share electronic information more easily than hard documents  New devices (PDAs, scanners, digital cameras, ) cause a ‘splintering' of resources… Practical Reasons

14 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  Easy to determine caseloads, delegation of work, supervision  “Digital” information can be cost-effectively shared with between staff and clients, courts Ethical Reasons

15  Compare & ContrastContrast  Generic v. Generic  Generic v. Practice Specific  Practice Specific v. Practice Specific  Priority Needs!  Reports  Case Status  Caseload management  Integration (sharing data) with other departments, courts, outside entities, other parties?  Daily Work: document management; communications management ( s, phone, notes); deadlines, tasks  Reports:  Ad Hoc Reports, i.e. Prosecutor Disposition Report, Prosecutor Caseload Report How do you choose?

16 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 case 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 Implementation Plan…..10 Steps to Success10 Steps to Success

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

18 Demonstration of Practice Management Solutions Abacus Law 2008 Amicus Attorney 2009 Lexis-Nexis Time Matters 9