Explaining Legal Software

Case Database & Information Management

Case Database & Information Management

Advanced Paperless for Lawyers12/30/2010

Types of SoftwareTypes of Software

Front Office (PMS)

Back Office (Billing and Accounting)

DMS (Document Management)

Front Office (PMS)

Back Office (Billing and Accounting)

DMS (Document Management)

What is a PMS?What is a PMS?

Combines calendaring/docketing/tickler functions case information tracking address book functionality document assembly capabilities email integration

Portability Laptops PDA’s

Avoid malpractice Turn wasted time into billable time

Combines calendaring/docketing/tickler functions case information tracking address book functionality document assembly capabilities email integration

Portability Laptops PDA’s

Avoid malpractice Turn wasted time into billable time

Includes Case Mangement

Includes Case Mangement

Software that allows you to go to one place and see every: phone call, document, email, time entry, and note that everyone in the firm has made regarding a particular matter/case

Practice Management Software includes Case Management

Software that allows you to go to one place and see every: phone call, document, email, time entry, and note that everyone in the firm has made regarding a particular matter/case

Practice Management Software includes Case Management

PMS SoftwarePMS Software

PricingPricing

1st\Add UserAmicus Premium: $699\$599Amicus Small Firm: $499\$399TimeMatters Enterprise: $700\$400PracticeMaster: $295\$150Advologix: $90\$75 a MonthClio*: $49\$25 a MonthRocket Matter**: $59 a Month

1st\Add UserAmicus Premium: $699\$599Amicus Small Firm: $499\$399TimeMatters Enterprise: $700\$400PracticeMaster: $295\$150Advologix: $90\$75 a MonthClio*: $49\$25 a MonthRocket Matter**: $59 a Month

Maintenance PlanMaintenance Plan

This is the profit center for the software companies (except Clio)

Amicus Small Firm $280/$180Amicus Premium $350/$250TimeMatters $350/$150Practice Master $130/$53Clio IncludedRocketMatter IncludedAdvologix Included

This is the profit center for the software companies (except Clio)

Amicus Small Firm $280/$180Amicus Premium $350/$250TimeMatters $350/$150Practice Master $130/$53Clio IncludedRocketMatter IncludedAdvologix Included

Hosted vs In-HouseHosted vs In-House

Hosted or SaaS have become popular in the upcoming years

Clio and Rocketmatter are the two most popular SaaS Practice Management solutions

Browser Agnostic so they will run on anything

Young in their product cycle (less features)

Hosted or SaaS have become popular in the upcoming years

Clio and Rocketmatter are the two most popular SaaS Practice Management solutions

Browser Agnostic so they will run on anything

Young in their product cycle (less features)

Why We Like SaaSWhy We Like SaaS

TCO of ownership is cheaper (Maybe)The more uptime you have, the more

money Clio makes so your interest are aligned with theirs

They have escrowed your data so if they go out of business (unlikely) you have access to your data for 5 years

Don’t need a server

TCO of ownership is cheaper (Maybe)The more uptime you have, the more

money Clio makes so your interest are aligned with theirs

They have escrowed your data so if they go out of business (unlikely) you have access to your data for 5 years

Don’t need a server

My OpinionMy Opinion

Amicus is most intuitive and easy to use

TimeMatters has the most bells and whistles, most customizable

PracticeMaster is a solid product, but seen very little in the area

Clio and Rocketmatter are young and promising and never go down

Amicus is most intuitive and easy to use

TimeMatters has the most bells and whistles, most customizable

PracticeMaster is a solid product, but seen very little in the area

Clio and Rocketmatter are young and promising and never go down

Back Office SoftwareBack Office Software

BILLING & ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE

● Most packages are becoming integrated.

● Timeslips requires you to also have an accounting package like Quickbooks or Peachtree.

● PCLaw, Tabs 3, Juris, and Billing Matters have billing and accounting functions.

● Legal specific accounting software makes it hard to commit malpractice

DMS SoftwareDMS Software

DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

● Opened Ended vs. Close Ended

● Most Practice Management

Software include an Open Ended DMS

• PCLaw is Open

• Worldox is Closed

DMS – Closed

DMS – Open

PricingPricing

Worldox: $395 a User (80 Tech Support)

NetDocs: Size?OpenText: ExpensiveAutonmy: Expensive

Worldox: $395 a User (80 Tech Support)

NetDocs: Size?OpenText: ExpensiveAutonmy: Expensive

How to Buy SoftwareHow to Buy Software

Get several demosMake Sure it Integrates with your:

Billing / AccountingWord ProcessorMobile Devices

Get several proposals with software and installation \ training \ customization costs

Get several demosMake Sure it Integrates with your:

Billing / AccountingWord ProcessorMobile Devices

Get several proposals with software and installation \ training \ customization costs

Free Trials \ DemosFree Trials \ Demos

Free Trials are a joke, no one every takes the time to install and test them out. (Clio and Rocketmatter are the exception, nothing to install)

Get a Demo from the Software Company and then one from a consultant

Consultant lives in Law Firms, the software company does not

Free Trials are a joke, no one every takes the time to install and test them out. (Clio and Rocketmatter are the exception, nothing to install)

Get a Demo from the Software Company and then one from a consultant

Consultant lives in Law Firms, the software company does not

Integrations – Billing and Accounting

Integrations – Billing and Accounting

There is no one software that does everything well

Take the best billing / accounting software and link it to the best practice management software

There is no one software that does everything well

Take the best billing / accounting software and link it to the best practice management software

Integration (Other)Integration (Other)

Word ProcessorWord or Wordperfect only (no

open office or google docs) Internet Browser (IE and Firefox only)*DMS (Document Management

System)Email Client (Outlook or Groupwise)*Clio and RocketMatter work in any

browser

Word ProcessorWord or Wordperfect only (no

open office or google docs) Internet Browser (IE and Firefox only)*DMS (Document Management

System)Email Client (Outlook or Groupwise)*Clio and RocketMatter work in any

browser

Mobile DevicesMobile Devices

Wireless vs Wired SyncShould offer wireless sync through

exchangeSeparate TimeKeeping Feature

Wireless vs Wired SyncShould offer wireless sync through

exchangeSeparate TimeKeeping Feature

Mobile DevicesMobile Devices

Wireless vs Wired SyncMost of Legal Software links

through Outlook.Amicus Attorney has a mobile

product that works on Blackberry and Windows Mobile

Worldox has a Mobile VersionClio optimized for iPhone and links

well with Google.

Wireless vs Wired SyncMost of Legal Software links

through Outlook.Amicus Attorney has a mobile

product that works on Blackberry and Windows Mobile

Worldox has a Mobile VersionClio optimized for iPhone and links

well with Google.

Hardware \ Networking People

Hardware \ Networking People

Extremely dedicated, hardworkingProbably not a lot of experience in

installing Legal SoftwareGet a consultant who can work

with your hardware people and let them know the best practices

Extremely dedicated, hardworkingProbably not a lot of experience in

installing Legal SoftwareGet a consultant who can work

with your hardware people and let them know the best practices

Upgrade Software and Hardware

Upgrade Software and Hardware

The minimum requirements ensure that you get the minimum return on your investment

Get your hardware company to upgrade your network, computers, operating systems, word processors

Wait at least a month to install the PMS once the upgrades have been completed

The minimum requirements ensure that you get the minimum return on your investment

Get your hardware company to upgrade your network, computers, operating systems, word processors

Wait at least a month to install the PMS once the upgrades have been completed

Proposal TimeProposal Time

Get the cost from your hardware company

Get a proposal from a consultant on the software and installation / training / customization costs

Get everyone involved in some part of the decision process

Get the cost from your hardware company

Get a proposal from a consultant on the software and installation / training / customization costs

Get everyone involved in some part of the decision process

Install TimeInstall Time

Have several staff meetings to fill out an implementation sheet

https://www.box.net/shared/static/9h06y5vhjc.pdfPlan for Training and Down TimeHave a positive productive

attitude

Have several staff meetings to fill out an implementation sheet

https://www.box.net/shared/static/9h06y5vhjc.pdfPlan for Training and Down TimeHave a positive productive

attitude

Force TrainingForce Training

Plan for training, make it mandatory, turn on the answering system and leave cell phones outside

Getting the paralegals and assistances to attend training, with the ideal that they will in turn, training their attorney, is a stupid ideal and a waste of time

Plan for training, make it mandatory, turn on the answering system and leave cell phones outside

Getting the paralegals and assistances to attend training, with the ideal that they will in turn, training their attorney, is a stupid ideal and a waste of time

Training SessionsTraining Sessions

Basic – Done Immediately- For Everyone - 3 Hours

Advances Use - 2 – 4 weeks Later – For Everyone – 2 Hours

Administrator Training – Done Immediately – Admins/Power Users only – 3 Hours

Basic – Done Immediately- For Everyone - 3 Hours

Advances Use - 2 – 4 weeks Later – For Everyone – 2 Hours

Administrator Training – Done Immediately – Admins/Power Users only – 3 Hours

Thank You For Listening!

Thank You For Listening!

Law Office Technology www.lawot.com

Craig Bayer cbayer@lawot.com

Law Office Technology www.lawot.com

Craig Bayer cbayer@lawot.com