Law office software helps one firm create the "paperless" office

"Our firm, which has grown from two attorneys in 1986 to eight attorneys and four legal assistants now, has used AbacusLaw since the initial version was released. Throughout our expansion, AbacusLaw has grown along with us."

Over 10 years of improvements

From a solid calendar program, AbacusLaw has evolved into a mature and robust total case management solution. The latest version of AbacusLaw has all the features a litigation and/or transactional law firm would expect to find in programs costing thousands of dollars (if such a complete law office software program could be found).

The beauty of the AbacusLaw program is that the company has listened long and hard to its users. The result is a program for which functionality has been developed for attorneys whose needs have been addressed by programmers whose technical expertise is second to none.

Unlike the programs which tout "written for attorneys by attorneys", the staff at AbacusLaw has had input from such a wide variety of law firms that the product is a managing attorney's answer to total case management. Although the learning curve is nominal, the solutions offered by implementation are exceptional. Our attorneys, law clerks, legal assistants and other administrative personnel are able to manage their cases, time, calendars and documents from AbacusLaw as the core program.

A manageable learning curve

Since the age range of our attorneys is from 49 to 67, one would have expected the learning process to be difficult. Most of our attorneys had little or no experience with computers; some did not know how to type. However, the ease with which all personnel learned and eventually mastered the program was pleasantly surprising. Daily startup for all personnel is with AbacusLaw and most stay in the program the entire day.

Integration completes case management

One of the most exciting features of the program is its ability to link to documents and notes and display the documents instantly. The ability to do this has given us the reality of leaving the "paper" case file at the office and conducting even the most complex trial with only a portable computer at the trial table. Since all notes and documents can be searched instantly, there is no fumbling or delay in finding what we want when we need it.

Mailing lists for newsletters, assembly of complex client documents and, perhaps most importantly, recording the time to be billed for the client service, are completed from the core program. The attorney or administrative personnel working on the case knows instantly what action has (or has not) been taken on a case, when action needs to be taken and when events must be completed.

Savings in real dollars

An example of an "unexpected" hard dollar cost saving was realized in May, 1997 when we were able to eliminate all paper case file notes. Previously, attorneys or legal assistants made notes which were printed each month and filed in the case folder. This was in addition to the notes taken on legal pads or whatever other convenient paper was available.

Now, the file note data from AbacusLaw is transferred for billing and the need to print file notes and place them in client files has been totally eliminated. Placed in perspective, this eliminated the need to print and file in excess of 1000 pages of notes each month. The supply costs for the paper and laser printing supplies, as well as the clerical time needed to physically file that much paper, has been eliminated with the resulting cost savings and reduction.

Additionally, the notes from all timekeepers are now available instantly and there is no more waiting for printing and filing to be completed before being able to view a complete record of the case. This in itself has saved many hours of wondering if the file is complete and many late nights prior to trial searching for notes which should have been filed or which may have found their way into some other file.

Again, this is only one of the numerous time and cost savings features of AbacusLaw. Multiply this one example by the numerous solutions that AbacusLaw offers and the cost of the program is not only affordable but minimal for any size law firm.

Networking is easy

The ability of network users to view all activities of a case file, all file notes and the calendars of all people has increased productivity significantly. The days of using index cards or word processing outliners to accomplish these tasks is over; the cost savings from using AbacusLaw are so great that the initial cost of even a full network installation is usually recovered within a matter of months after the installation of the program.

At our site, AbacusLaw requires absolutely no administration for a network installation of 15 workstations. All workstations have full access to all information for case management and, with its security level control, we have not had any user cause any difficulty with lost data or information deletion. Security levels allow newer users to "experiment" with the features of the program with no fear of data loss. As a user's proficiency increases, he or she is allowed to be more interactive with the program and become more productive.

Technical support is friendly and helpful

Each upgrade of AbacusLaw has been supported by a technical staff that is knowledgeable, helpful and responsive. Unlike other vendors, the staff at AbacusLaw talks with its customers, listens to their concerns and needs and provides solutions. We have never, over the years of upgrades and improvements, had a problem that remained unresolved. Each upgrade was thoroughly tested in the field and all data which was transferred from one upgrade to the next was fully intact and verifiably accurate.

The staff at AbacusLaw realizes the importance of data integrity (particularly where critical dates could create liability for missed deadlines) and this is a prime consideration before a release version is issued.

In summary . . .

In the past years, we have reviewed other programs that tout the total case management concept. Each falls short of AbacusLaw for a variety of reasons. Our technology consulting section of our association makes recommendations to other law firms and individual attorneys for law office software and related programs. Our recommendation for case management is without hesitation or reservation to purchase AbacusLaw and get up and running immediately.

The latest version of AbacusLaw has raised the bar to a new level which places it far above all other case management software.

Barry J. Dalnekoff, Dalnekoff & Mason, P.A.
Annapolis, Maryland

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