LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE. Choosing the Right Software for Your Practice

LAW PRACTICE

MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

GOALS FOR THIS

PRESENTATION

• Discussion of traditional software verses

“cloud” based solutions

• Dispelling some common myths

• Discussion of major features available

• Review of specific programs

TRADITIONAL SOFTWARE

OR CLOUD COMPUTING

DEFINITIONS:

• Traditional Software

– Software installed onto desktops and/or a networked server

• Cloud Computing (aka SAAS)

– Software that is hosted and maintained by an outside vendor and accessed via a web browser

DISPELLING SOME MYTHS

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Traditional Software

• Too Expensive

• For Big Firms Only

• Impossible learning curve

Cloud Computing

• Unreliable

• Unsecure

COMPARISON OF FEATURES

• Time Tracking

• Back-End Accounting

• Trust Accounting

• Invoicing

• Contact Management

• Calendar

• Task Management

• Conflict Checks

• Compatibility with

Outlook

• Compatibility with

Google Apps

• Mobile Access

• Document

Management

• Document Assembly

• Collaboration with

client

CATEGORIES OF FEATURES

1. Accounting

• (Time Tracking, Back-end Accounting, Trust Accounting, Invoicing)

2. Calendar & Contacts

• Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Conflict Checking

3. Compatibility

• Outlook/Office, Google Apps, Mobile Access

4. Documents

• Document Management, Document Assembly, Collaboration

TRADITIONAL SOFTWARE

INSTALLATION

SOFTWARE EXAMPLES

• Amicus Attorney

• Abacus Law

ADVANTAGES OF PC SOFTWARE

• Much better integration with PC software

– Generate Word documents from software – Save emails from Outlook

• More robust feature set

• Data is more portable

• Data file is within reach

DISPELLING THE MYTHS

• Not more expensive than Cloud Software

• Open to small firms; some specifically target

small firms

Amicus Attorney

• Two versions: Premium and Small Firm

– Premium Edition: $999 ($83.25/month) – Small Firm Edition: $399 ($33.25/month)

• Additional Licenses

– Premium: $599 – Small Firm: $299

Amicus Attorney

• Accounting

– Time tracking function – Timeslips

• Offers separate accounting program

– Amicus Small Firm Accounting

– Integrated, full-featured accounting program – $399 ($33.25/month)

Amicus Attorney

• Calendar, Contacts, Tasks

– Two-way synchronization with Outlook

– Contacts shows all communication with a client – Displays last contact with client, will alert you if

you have not had contact with a client in awhile

• Formal Conflicts Check

Amicus Attorney

• Compatibility

– Generate Word/Word Perfect documents – Integrates with Outlook email

– Can view matters from within Outlook

• Mobile access

– Requires separate purchase of Amicus Mobile, $149 – Requires file server

Amicus Attorney

• Documents

– Document management  link documents to clients and matters

– Document assembly  generate document templates with data populated from program

Abacus Law

• Two versions:

– Abacus Law $699 or Abacus Gold $999

• Gold version includes accounting package

– Payment plan to pay $65/month for 3 years – Includes all updates

• Add on practice area packages

– $75/each

– Adds specific intake forms, document templates, and calendar rules for certain practice areas

Abacus Law

• Accounting

– Separate Abacus Accounting Program – Integrated

Abacus Law

• Calendar, Contacts, Tasks

– Two-way synchronization with Outlook

– Syncs via included program called Companion Link • Requires launching a separate program

– Contacts shows all communication with a client

• Calendar

– Very flexible rules-based calendar

Abacus Law

• Compatibility

– Generate Word/Word Perfect documents – Integrates with Outlook email

• Mobile option instead of regular software

– Abacus Sky – $125/month

Abacus Law

• Same document features as Amicus

– Document management  link documents to clients and matters

– Document assembly  generate document templates with data populated from program

Pro Law

• Owned by Thompson West

• “One Office”  integrated practice

management and accounting

• Integrates with Westlaw for docket

management and research

• Can access most info from within Outlook

• Price not listed on website

FEATURE MATRIX

Accounting Calendar/Contacts Compatibility Documents

Amicus Attorney Time tracking, Add-on Rules-based calendar, contacts, tasks MS Office, Word Perfect, Access matters from Outlook Document Management, Document Assembly

Abacus Law Add-on Rules-based

calendar (practice-specific add-ons), contacts, tasks MS Office, Word Perfect, Automatically link Outlook emails to matters, Google Apps Sync Document Management, Document Assembly

Pro Law “One Office” Rules-based

calendar (Rules by Westlaw), contacts, tasks MS Office, accessible from within Outlook Document Management, Document Assembly

CLOUD BASED SOFTWARE

SAAS EXAMPLES

• Clio

• Rocket Matter

ADVANTAGES OF SAAS

• Accessible from any browser, regardless of

location or operating system

– This is the only viable option for Mac users

• Ease of use

– Fewer features but more intuitive

• No maintenance

DISPELLING THE MYTHS

• It is reliable

– Generally more reliable than your internet connection

• It is secure

– Far safer than traditional software – Someone else is in charge of security

• Definitely a serious solution

– Thousands of firms use these programs, probably way of the future

Clio

• www.GoClio.com

• $45/month per attorney

• $25/month per support staff

• 30 day free trial

Clio

• Accounting

– Time-tracking application – Trust accounting

– Integrated billing/invoicing

– Can share bills online with client

Clio

• Calendar, Contacts, Tasks

– Integrates and syncs with MS Outlook

• If offline, will keep track of changes made and sync when you are back online

– Integrates and syncs with Google Apps

• Mobile access

– Optimized website for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry access

Clio

• Documents

– Allows unlimited storage of manually uploaded documents

Rocket Matter

• www.RocketMatter.com

• $59.99/month for first user

– $49.99/month for next 5 users – $39.99/month for next 15 users – $19.99/month for all other users

Rocket Matter

• Accounting

– Time-tracking

– “Bill as you Work” feature – Trust accounting

– Integrated billing/invoicing

• Will download bills into Word format for further editing • Allows complete customization of invoices

Rocket Matter

• Calendar, Contacts, Tasks

– Syncs with Outlook and Google Apps

• Conflict checking

• Integrates with Skype

• Mobile access

Rocket Matter

• Documents

– Allows manual upload of documents – Syncs with Dropbox.com

• Any changes made to client folder in Dropbox are automatically added to Rocket Matter

LexisNexis Firm Manager

• www.MyFirmManager.com

• $49.99/month/user

LexisNexis Firm Manager

• Accounting

– Time tracking – Mobile app

LexisNexis Firm Manager

• Calendar, Contacts, Tasks

– Synchronize with Outlook and Smartphones

LexisNexis Firm Manager

• Documents

– No mention of document management on website

– Only one of the SAAS that doesn’t mention it

FEATURE MATRIX

Accounting Calendar/Contacts Compatibility Documents

Clio $49.99 Trust accounting, billing Outlook sync, Google Apps sync

Manually upload documents, share with client Rocket Matter $59.99 Trust accounting, billing Outlook sync, Google Apps sync

One way sync of gContacts, 2 way sync of gCal Automatically links with Dropbox, manual upload LexisNexis $49.99 Time tracking

CONCLUSION

CONTACT INFORMATION

513.426.6063