TechnoLawyer: Accounting/Billing/Time Capture

Coming September 27, 2007 to Answers to Questions: Gerard Stubbert reviews his Sony Vaios as well as his son's HP Compaq Tablet PC, Peter Bender reviews Amicus Small Firm, Michael Dowden provides three helpful tips for more secure WiFi in a law firm, Corey Rich explains how to use Acrobat 8 Professional with transcripts, and Cynthia Zook explains how to fix a WordPerfect X3 bug when comparing documents. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an online expense report service, stylish software for accounting, case management, and time-billing, and a business process integration tool that can communicate with just about any legacy system a law firm might have. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Control Your Practice in Style
By Taeho Lim

Once upon a time no one seemed to care about user interface design. Then Apple released a music player with a breakthrough interface. Software companies changed their tune and focused their energy on simple, elegant interfaces. World peace ensued. Life was good. The end.

Of course, the story doesn't really end like that. Lots of bad software design still exists. But some software companies have embraced interface design as a competitive advantage. One such company is ESI Software, which recently released ESILAW 2007 (pronounced "easy law") — "time, billing, accounting, and client control software for law firms."

One of the most notable new features is not a feature per se, but a "Follow Me" help system that guides you through the functions of the program. Also new is the "QuickStart Navigator," which helps you set up the software. After setting up ESILAW, you'll find the "ESILAW Navigator," which takes you to any function in the program with one click. You can also create your own toolbar for even faster access to the functions you use the most.

If you bill your time, you can use ESILAW 2007's Timetracker to keep track of it for you. It features time codes, timers, an integrated spell checker, and more. You can also email your time entries when on the road and import your time from other programs such as Amicus Attorney. ESILAW 2007 also supports task-based billing, including UTBMS codes.

As a full-fledged accounting program, ESILAW 2007 contains many features you would expect such as check writing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, etc., and a few you might not such as expense tracking and cost recovery. In addition to entering expenses such as travel, you can also automatically capture equipment costs from virtually any cost recovery system, including Equitrac, PrintAudit, and Copitrak.

As you would expect, ESILAW 2007 enables you to generate many reports, including work-in-progress and collection realization. You can generate all your bills from a single screen. If you don't finish in one session, ESILAW 2007 will save your place so you can return later.

What the company calls "client control," you probably refer to as case or practice management. In this regard, ESI significantly beefed up its calendar in ESILAW 2007. At a glance, you can see your appointments and tasks. You can also create time entries from calendar items. Sharing calendars across your firm doesn't require any additional software.

Like many programs, ESILAW 2007 integrates with Outlook so that you can associate email with clients and matters. But ESILAW 2007 takes this integration one step further with an option to add Quickfile4Outlook, an Outlook add-on that enables you to file incoming and outgoing email into client/matter folders. Quickfile4Outlook can also archive and print email by matter.

ESILAW 2007 is compatible with Windows Vista as well as Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It sells for $249 by itself or $348 if bundled with Quickfile4Outlook. Learn more about ESILAW 2007.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that briefly discusses and provides links to three hot new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.

Coming September 20, 2007 to Answers to Questions: Kurt Schoettler discusses the Windows XP versus Vista issue, Andrea Cannavina reviews Express Scribe and Winscribe, Alvin Thomas explains the ins and outs of buying Tabs3 from a reseller, Martin Dean explains how to convert PDF files to Word format and add text to PDF files, and Cynthia Zook shares her low-tech password management solution. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, technology journalist and freelance writer Taeho Lim covers a comprehensive online service for litigators, and a "back office" accounting and time-billing program and "front office" case management program that integrate with each other. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Empower Your Front Office
By Taeho Lim

What's in your front office? A receptionist, comfy leather sofa, and a coffee table with some magazines and newspapers? Nice. But I wasn't asking about that front office. I mean your digital front office — the one you use for interacting with your clients and managing your calendar and matters.

What's that? You don't want to show it to me? Sure, I understand. You may want to take a look at the just-released Lexis Front Office powered by Time Matters 9.0.

Understanding that email remains the killer app, LexisNexis has reengineered Lexis Front Office powered by Time Matters 9.0 integration not just with Outlook, but Microsoft Exchange Server. So if you want to migrate to Windows Vista and Exchange 2007 or add a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, go right ahead.

Come to think of it, better managing your matters so that you can stop and smell a few roses before you push up the daisies is also a killer app. The new "Task Panel" enables you to find what you need quickly. Similarly, enhanced "Triggers" should also make life easier. For example, when you change a contact from "prospect" to "client," Lexis Front Office powered by Time Matters 9.0 can send an alert to your assistant to begin the client intake process.

Also new in Lexis Front Office powered by Time Matters 9.0 is the ability to create five user-defined record types. Thus, in addition to creating contacts, appointments, tasks, matters, etc., you can create anything else your firm needs to track such as assets, damages collected, etc. LexisNexis has also beefed up the number of colleagues you can associate with a matter, event, etc. — it's now 100, up from 6.

Other new features include a more powerful search tool for conflict checking and other searches, a customizable personal journal for reviewing your matters, events, tasks, etc., auto-completion when searching for contacts and matters, an improved and updated CaseMap link, and smart archiving that warns you about incomplete items.

Lexis Front Office powered by Time Matters 9.0 is easier to set up than ever before, thanks to seven new wizards and five default security profiles (you can create more if needed). It integrates tightly with new Lexis Back Office powered by Billing Matters 9.0 or Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9. Learn more about Lexis Front Office powered by Time Matters 9.0.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, technology journalist and freelance writer Taeho Lim covers a comprehensive online service for litigators, and a "back office" accounting and time-billing program and "front office" case management program that integrate with each other. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

The Bigger the Better When It Comes to Integration
By Taeho Lim

When you're big, it's easier to find partners that want to team up with you. No, this statement does not mean that heavy or tall people have an easier time starting law firms. We're talking strategic alliances between large companies.

Take LexisNexis, for example. Its Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9 has a bevy of new features, many of them linked to key alliances with other industry leaders. For example, want to process credit card payments within Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9? No problem, thanks to integrated credit card processing powered by PPI.

Want integrated payroll as well? LexisNexis has partnered with ADP for that service. When you run payroll, ADP automatically generates all the appropriate entries in Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9. You can either print payroll checks or take advantage of direct deposit. This integration also enables you to print W-2s and 1099s, and file federal and state tax returns electronically or via mail (your choice).

LexisNexis also seems to have emphasized ease of use in the latest version. The new "BillFlow Manager" provides a centralized tool for all client billing activities, enabling you to more accurately and quickly generate and send out bills.

Of course, to generate bills, you must track your progress on work. Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9 can track any portion of an hour and provides automatic timers. You can synchronize a timer to track the time you spend in applications such as Microsoft(R) Word, Outlook(R), LexisNexis Total Practice Advantage, and more. Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9 also provides tools for task-based billing. No matter how you bill, entering a matter number automatically retrieves lawyer and billing rate information.

For those of you in the corner office, Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9 features beefed up reporting, including new sorting and filtering options that can identify your most profitable clients, staff and practice areas.

Also, if trust accounting requirements keep you up at night, Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9 should provide some relief with its built-in safeguards to prevent overdrafts, as well as reports that provide an audit trail for all transactions.

Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9 tightly integrates with Lexis Front Office powered by Time Matters 9.0 and LexisNexis Total Practice Advantage. Prices start at $400 per user. Learn more about Lexis Back Office powered by PCLaw 9.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, technology journalist and freelance writer Taeho Lim covers a comprehensive online service for litigators, and a "back office" accounting and time-billing program and "front office" case management program that integrate with each other. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Soup-to-Nuts Litigation Software and Services
By Taeho Lim

What's worse than multiple logins? Not much, that's for sure. LexisNexis Total Litigator provides an "end to end" litigation solution that directs you to the appropriate legal resources and tools for each step in your case. By tying together virtually all of LexisNexis' research and litigation services, you'll only have to login once no matter what you need to do.

When you log into your account using any Web browser, LexisNexis Total Litigator organizes the home page based on the typical steps in litigation: Early Case Assessment, Draft/File/Serve, Discovery, Research, Gather Intelligence, and Trial Preparation.

Below each step, you can access corresponding tools and resources. In "Early Case Assessment," you can research companies, witnesses, judges, arbitrators, lawyers, jury instructions, demographics, jury verdicts, and dockets. Total Litigator also points to software tools like LexisNexis CaseMap, TimeMap, and NoteMap that may come in handy at this stage.

"Draft/File/Serve" enables you to download forms, search for briefs, pleadings, and motions, retrieve court documents via CourtLink, serve process, file documents electronically via LexisNexis File & Serve, and verify citations and automate brief drafting with Shepard's Link, StyleCheck, BriefCheck, and Full Authority.

"Discovery" provides similar forms and research services focused on discovery issues. You can also sign up to receive free case summary alerts so that you can stay on top of this rapidly changing field. If you use Applied Discovery, you can access your account through Total Litigator by linking the two services. This step also points to software programs like Concordance.

"Research" provides access to LexisNexis' bread and butter — its vast legal research services, including cases, statutes, agencies, court rules, news sources, and of course Shepard's. You can also enter a citation to quickly find a court opinion, statute, etc. "Gather Intelligence" enables you to find experts, public records, copyrights, trademarks, patents, and much more. Trial Preparation provides access to LexisNexis resources such as Matthew Bender's collection of opening and closing statements.

LexisNexis Total Litigator also provides email alerts to keep you updated on docket activity, relevant changes in the law, and important facts pertaining to your case. In addition, you can conduct freeform searches in which you can combine sources. Learn more about LexisNexis Total Litigator.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming September 7, 2007 to Fat Friday: David Herdman comments on Yellow Pages advertising, John Heckman provides a timely Time Matters tip, William Kellermann explains what you can expect from PDF files during discovery, Courtney Fay delves into FRCP 26(a)(1)(B), and Gregory Harper reviews his Dell D800 and accompanying tech support. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming September 6, 2007 to Answers to Questions: Charles T. Lester, Jr. reviews three document comparison programs, Michael Kenwood explains how to set up dual monitors on a computer with a KVM switch and how to best manage a server, Paul Mathias discusses his conversion from Windows to Mac, Steven J. Best compares Amicus Accounting to Timeslips,  and Richard Stevens shares some tips on finding "out of title" cases. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Read our latest coverage of CaseMap here.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, lawyer and legal technology legend Dennis Kennedy covers the latest version of a popular case analysis program, a financial forecasting and modeling program for law firms, and a freeware and shareware emporium that uses a problem/solution format to help you find products. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Case Analysis Never Looked So Good
By Dennis Kennedy

LexisNexis CaseMap, a litigation case analysis program, is a rare breed in that its user base consists of virtually everyone from solos to large firms to government agencies. What these litigation teams have in common is a need for a central location to enter facts, issues, and evidence, and then generate reports.

In the latest version, LexisNexis CaseMap 7.5, LexisNexis has lavished lots of attention on the reports — the program's public face. Reports and ReportBooks look a lot snappier now that you can add graphics to the title page, including your logo.

Also, a new Reports menu enables you to access all reports with one click. From this new menu, you can also configure Page Setup and Print options, insert a TimeMap timeline, insert a NoteMap outline, send a spreadsheet report to Word, WordPerfect, or a Web browser, export to Excel, and launch the Summary Judgment Report Wizard.

As for the all-important content within your reports, you can now include "By-Issue" reports in ReportBooks. These reports display records linked to an issue (e.g., all facts and documents associated with the breach of contract issue). You can use the default By-Issue reports that ship with CaseMap and also build your own custom reports.

LexisNexis has also beefed up CaseMap's "Link Summary" technology. As a result, you can now generate reports that show the number of documents a party, witness, or other key participant has authored (LS: Docs Authored) as well as the number of email messages sent (LS: Emails Authored) and received (LS: Emails Received). These reports should make deposition preparation much simpler. Just click the count to access all the documents or email messages. As for getting these records into CaseMap in the first place, it's easier than ever thanks to an an overhauled "Send-To-CaseMap" tool.

Other enhancements include live spell checking, the ability to add Facts (people, places, documents, etc.) on the fly, tighter integration with NoteMap, and case auto-logon, which enables you to side-step the login dialog when you're the only person working on a CaseMap case. Learn more about LexisNexis CaseMap 7.5.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming August 23, 2007 to Answers to Questions: Andrea Cannavina reviews Onebox unified messaging service, Edward Zohn shares his thoughts on Linux in the law office and Outlook versus case management, Toon Goedhart explains how to set up dual monitors with and without MaxiVista, Roy Johnston reviews Amicus Accounting, and Carroll Straus writes in with her two cents on the real reason so many lawyers prefer WordPerfect. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.