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On this website I am committed to giving you
as many lawyer resources and as much information as I can on law firm
marketing. So let's discuss some software lawyer resources that
enhance attorney marketing, law practice management, and much, much more.
Finding the
right lawyer resources in software can be very confusing and time
consuming. I think I can shorten the learning curve for you.
Law Practice
Management Software
There are many factors to consider when
choosing lawyer resources in software, of course. One key to consider in
lawyer resources is law practice management software. This has
everything to do with law firm marketing. You may have some software for
your specific practice areas that you currently use or plan to use.
There can be no end to decisions about
software. To cut through the clutter of it all, don't drive yourself crazy
trying to find "the right one" if you are a solo or small firm.
If you have a medium or large firm, you
do need more specialized help since one cannot generalize on the needs of
a medium or large firm with respect to software. You would probably want
to keep reading to further your education.
It would then
be wise to go to www.law-soft.com
for a bewildering array of options and a technology firm that can handle
medium to large firm software issues, since this would be out of my area
of expertise.
"Front
End" Software for Solo and Small Firms
You really need to think about what is
often called the "front end" software first, however that
is not as important today as it was in the past. Now you can purchase the
two leading software packages for attorney marketing with both "front
end" and "back end" components if you desire. Not
surprisingly both of the leaders have added a "back end" to
their formerly only "front end" products. Think of your
"front end" in the sense it is going to do the calendar,
tickler, conflict-of-interest database, client information database, to do
list, electronic client files, document automation and the like.
First Possible Excellent Solution:
With the company reporting they have over 250,000 customers, Abacus Law certainly is an excellent solution (especially for solo and small firms) or so the marketplace would indicate. This solution also has both front end and back end options available to you. I really like their demo at
http://www.abacuslaw.com. They also have special editions for personal injury, family law, estate planning and workers’ compensation that make this option especially attractive to those practice areas.
Second Possible Excellent Solution:
For solo and small firms Amicus Attorney is an excellent lawyer resources choice in front end software and equally worthy for consideration with their back end components. This software qualifies as a “first choice” option. Amicus reports over 225,000 users as this is written. That is an impressive statistic since it indicates a lot of firms find this software of value. Find them at
www.AmicusAttorney.com
So pick from Abacus Law or Amicus Attorney for the
front end and/or the back end software and keep it simple. They both do the job well and any differences are really just a matter of taste.
Want A Third Option?
Over 30,000 users at over 1,300 firms use
Needles Case Management Software the company reports. You might want to go to their website at
www.NeedlesLaw.com and look up their references on the site. I would recommend you call some of them in your practice area. Ask them why they selected Needles over the “big two” as well as what exactly they like about the software.
If you are using “back end” software now and do not plan to replace it, do be sure you get front end case management software that is compatible with your current "back end" software.
"Back
End" Software for Solo and Small Firms
Your lawyer resources for "back
end" software, for instance PC Law, do functions like operating
account, trust account, check writing, budgeting, budget variance reports,
and the like.
Good choices for back end software
(billing software) might be:
Any of these
three would be a fine pick, with my bias being TABS in billing
software.
A Few Tips About
These Lawyer Resources…
If
you are using Timeslips or PC Law for billing now, you want
to ask Amicus or Abacus Law how their systems fit in with these two
options before purchasing one. Also
you might consider Time Matters as well as Amicus or Abacus Law.
Time Matters is not a bad choice, by the way. It
is probably number three in sales, although they don't tout their numbers
sold. The last time I saw numbers sold on Time Matters, it was over 80,000
- so they are a major player for sure.
| There may even be
some software lawyer resources "in the middle" like some
time keeping functions. If you can, you want to settle on the
"front end" software first since you want any
"back end" or "middle" software to be
compatible with your "front end" software. |
If you are
looking at practice specific software, just know that you may be
able to customize Amicus or Abacus Law for your specific practice area. It
is unlikely you will be able to totally customize practice specific
software for other practice areas.
Need More Lawyers
Resources?
Some Expert Advice…
If you want to dig into this whole area
of software lawyer resources in sometimes more painful detail, my best
recommendation is to go to the expert with extreme depth. Go to the
University of Florida Legal Technology Institute and look at the work
of Andrew Z. Adkins in particular.
I particularly like the article on
"Do You Need A Consultant" by Andy that can be found at http://www.law.ufl.edu/lti/consulting/need.shtml.
If you are a medium to large firm, hiring
Andy Adkins to consult is probably a good move.
If you are a
small or solo firm, I have good information for you about law
firm marketing software on this website. I would also suggest you read
Andy's books and articles if you want to learn more about software lawyer
resources.
This section reminds me of a quote:
"The
most successful businessman is the man who holds on to the old just
as long as it is good, and grabs the new just as soon as it is
better."
-- Lee Iacocca
Legal
firm law marketing software is better for sure. Keep reading, I have
more about law practice management software!
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