TechnoLawyer: Accounting/Billing/Time Capture

Coming June 2, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Manuel Quilichini reviews the Treo 650, Edward Poll weighs in with a review of the Fujitsu ScanSnap now that he has had it on his desk for a month, Britt Knuttgen compares the Amicus Attorney/PCLaw combination to the PracticeMaster/Tabs3 combination, Harold Noack discusses his use of Amicus Attorney and PCLaw, Edwin Bideau provides tips for transferring files between two locations (e.g., home and office). Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a thrice 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.

Coming May 26, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Miriam Jacobson reviews two popular backup solutions from the perspective of a small law firm, and Michael Kenwood discusses two different backup strategies depending on the level of risk you're willing to accept. Also in this issue, Wendy Parker provides a WordPerfect printing tip, Robert Ray discusses a hidden feature in Acrobat 7 that will appeal to litigators, and Robert Livingston explains why his firm switched to PracticeMaster and Tabs3. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a thrice 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.

Coming May 25, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Richard Siferd contributes one of the most comprehensive Posts we've ever received on how to implement a cost effective and reliable backup and disaster recovery system at your law firm. In addition, Gil Marquez shares two important WiFi security tips, Barry Wheeler and Miriam Jacobson provide scanning tips for oversized and stapled documents, and James Degnan reviews his accounting firm's use of PracticeMaster and Tabs3 (we don't usually hear from CPAs in TechnoLawyer newsletters). Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a thrice 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.

Coming May 23, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Kirby Knight reviews the backup utility built into Windows XP, John Gallo reviews another backup solution, Acronis True Image, Carrie King reviews the envelope handling of her firm's Brother laser printer, Lawrence King explains how to set up Timeslips on a Windows XP peer-to-peer network, and Lester Proctor reviews his large format Microtek scanner. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a thrice 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.

Coming May 20, 2005 to Fat Friday: Seth Rowland explains where to get free help with Billing Matters, and also addresses two bugs that LexisNexis has since fixed. Patricia Brumbaugh, Lawrence Husick, and Rick Crowsey respond to Jeff Lisson's TechnoFeature article (The Upgrade from Hell) with their own laptop hard drive replacement experiences and tips. Finally, Bill Onwusah provides several tips for those who use USB-powered devices (and who doesn't). 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.

In Answers to Questions, several TechnoLawyer members have tried to guide Robert Rowlett on his quest for time-billing software that will work with whatever case management solution he buys down the road. TechnoLawyer member and Timeslips consultant Caren Schwartz adds this Quip: "If you want a time billing solution that will give you flexibility in choosing a practice/case management solution, I would recommend Timeslips. Most other solutions that I would recommend are tied into the case management package. You might want to think about both parts at once, even if you implement the billing first, it will be easier if you know your ultimate goal."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

This past week in TechnoRelease:

• Anthony Vlahos of LexisNexis used lyrics from Radiohead's critically-acclaimed album OK Computer to discuss the increasingly time-constrained and gadget-dependent legal profession. He then explained how lawyers can use Lexis Nexis Time Matters 6 as part of a "personal action plan" to regain control over their life and practice.

• Fios announced a free April 19th Webcast entitled Understanding the Proposed FRCP Amendments — with Adam Cohen of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Listen in as Adam discusses everything from planning for and dealing with damaging e-mail to the ease of manipulating and altering electronic information.

• Insys Development introduced Escrow Organizer, which enables you to manage the receipts and disbursements of client funds. Insys is offering a $35 discount to TechnoLawyer members until April 30, 2005.

• CleanerInbox.com invited TechnoLawyer members to try its Postini e-mail filtering, which "provides comprehensive protection effectively eliminating threats before they impact your network." CleanerInbox.com is offering TechnoLawyer members a discount plus free setup.

How to Receive this Newsletter
TechnoRelease is a weekly newsletter in which legal vendors tell an ongoing story about their products and services, often providing freebies, discounts, and other special offers to TechnoLawyer members in the process. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming April 14, 2005 to Answers to Questions: Sean Tierney reviews an alternative to extranets for collaborating with clients, John Heckman discusses the pros and cons of using CompuLaw, David Silverman explains how to get more out of your digital copier with software add-ons, Susan Rosenberg provides an easy way to track trust accounts with QuickBooks, and Nick Kaczun discusses products that can automatically route your scanned documents to your document management system and to clients, colleagues, and others. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Mondays and Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a twice 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.

Below you'll find one of the five articles from today's edition of TechnoLawyer NewsWire:

Help Is on the Way
By Brett Burney
There are moments when each of us feels invincible ... and then we wake up, go to work, and realize we need help — lots of help. Software Technology has heard this cry for help since 1979 when it first introduced Tabs3, its accounting/billing software for law offices. This month, the company released Version 12 of Tabs3 as well as Version 12 of PracticeMaster, its practice management software. As always, these new versions integrate with each other, but can also be used alone. Both versions feature a new XP-like look and feel and sortable column headings, and can output any report or statement to PDF. Among the highlights of Tabs3 is a new Collections Report designed to help you stay on top of accounts receivable. This report can include amount billed, amount paid, percentage paid, remaining balance, contact information, work in progress, billing history, and more. Also noteworthy is an improved system for recording and tracking write-ups, write-downs, and courtesy discounts. For example, time billed is now tracked separately from time worked. PracticeMaster also has its share of new features, including a redesigned e-mail system with improved Outlook integration, multiple signatures, HTML message formatting, the ability to append messages and attachments to client/matter files, and more. PracticeMaster also features a new field for a client photo, a "DropBox" for storing files in use, customizable fee ticklers for routine document assembly tasks, improved Palm OS synchronization, improved searching, a "SnapShot" view for virtually all types of data, and much more. Pricing starts at $295 for Tabs3 and $150 for PracticeMaster with volume licensing available. The company offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Learn more about Tabs3 and PracticeMaster.

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 a recent issue of Answers to Questions, Dave Markowitz discussed the NetBEUI networking protocol and when it might require implementation.  TechnoLawyer member Ivan Frockt writes in with this warning for PCLaw users: "Don't forget that NetBEUI is a no-no because of its tendency to cause problems with PCLaw."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.