Tim Anningson Gavel & Gown Software Inc.
Keeping up with the juggernaut that is legal technology Is flat-out impossible -Law Practice November/December 2014
Types of Legal Software Document Management Knowledge Management Business Development / CRM Document Assembly Litigation Support E-discovery Court Docketing Legal Research Document Comparison Other Specialized Tools Practice Management
What is Practice Management Software? Practice management software organizes and puts you more in control of your law practice, helps you perform your legal work and makes you and your team more efficient.
End to End of Your Practice Getting new retainers check conflicts first Matter Management File Intake consistent/automated Legal Calendaring Communication Management Email Email Email! Document Management and Automation Time & Expense Business Development attract clients Better Client Service keep clients happy, get referrals
Why Practice Management Software? Do More. Bill More. Go Home Early. Better organized practice. Greater efficiencies & teamwork. Capture more billable time from existing work. Improved client service & business development. Bill & collect more easily. Have more time for the important things in life. Sleep better at night (reduced risk).
Matter Management File intake Increases efficiency & organization; reduces risk All matter info organized & at your fingertips From chronologies to documents, communications to billable time Anything else you want Shared with all team members Efficiencies Automated document generation Plan next steps Save workflow checklists Automated file alerts Nothing gets overlooked
Legal Calendaring Limitation periods, Adjournment tracking Task Automation e.g. Do button Linked events Group calendaring Task delegation & monitoring Deadlines, Priorities (progressive), Completion status, Days on list, Bring forwards Date calculations Outlook/Exchange/Google integration Smartphone integration
Communication Management Messages Phone Calls Attendance notes See what was said before by whom Follow-ups Time entries Emails Tame the email tiger! Organize, find, bill
Communication Management Email is a vital part of your law practice Critical to have it managed, organized, shared and billed! Email happens on many devices Need to be able to use any of them True integration needed
Document Management Organize all electronic documents By client matter file By contact By event In one place Find what you need fast Can be simple, or can impose firm structure and controls on your documents Go paperless
Time Tracking Practice management makes this easier & more accurate Also helps you capture more! Automatic time entries E.g. mark a task done Time Entry Reminders Everywhere (e.g. email, calendar, phone calls) Dailies! Time Entry Assistant Time Sheet, monthly overview, statistics, timer All straight to billing ROI is easy to see!
Better Client Service Be able to respond when client calls unexpectedly Information up-to-date and at your fingertips Including anything your colleague has done Reminders to report to clients Know when client work is exceeding quotes Reminders to bill more promptly
Improve Teamwork Common information on shared work Changes to information go instantly to everyone Assistants can perform tasks for others Delegate tasks; monitor progress Phone messages Sticky notes Firm availability
It Helps You Pro-active reminders about your practice Daily practice reminders Daily billing reminders Personal dashboards
Reduce Risk Better tracking of client communications Client reporting Deadlines calculated, calendared & met File activity warnings Conflict checks
Conflict Checking So much more than just searching for a client name Any contact Any phone call even in notes of call Any email full text Any letter or other document Legal determination is still up to you
Peace of Mind Nothing falls between the cracks All that organization You are on top of your practice! Law practice is like trying to hold 200 ping-pong balls under water at the same time. I m convinced that Amicus has increased my income, lessened my malpractice exposure, enabled me to provide better service to my clients, and has increased my free time. There s just a lot less stress when things are organized so beautifully. Chelsea K. WA
Tips Ease of use matters! Not what can it do, but what can you do with it? Get a free trial Marketing check-lists aren t enough It s all about workflow What are you looking to accomplish? What else are you using that you want to integrate? Cost vs investment Any size firm will benefit
Thank you for listening! www.amicusattorney.com