Vol. 14, No. 5a, Pg. 20. Oh the software you'll find! Finding the right time and billing software for your firm.

AuthorBy Courtney Kennaday

South Carolina Lawyer

2003.

Vol. 14, No. 5a, Pg. 20.

Oh the software you'll find! Finding the right time and billing software for your firm

20Oh the software you'll find! Finding the right time and billing software for your firmBy Courtney KennadayChoosing a time and billing software program can be one of the most difficult decisions a law firm makes. Unlike word processing software, there are literally hundreds of time and billing software products on the market. To further complicate matters, time and billing software on the market falls into three categories: those prod ucts that offer timekeeping and billing only, those that offer a combination of time, billing and accounting and a few products that offer everything from billing to case management.

22Finding the product that is right for your firm can become a time-consuming and frustrating chore. One approach that lawyers commonly take is to follow the recommendation of a colleague at another firm. Unfortunately, no two lawyers, or law firms, are alike. There are critical differences in computers, staff ability, work flow, clients, type of work, lawyer skill and more. Instead of buying what a friend uses, try a systematic approach.

Step 1 Assess the situation.

Before you start looking at products, take a look around your office. Make a list of all the computer users and rate their computer skills from one to five, with one being the lowest skill level. A level five would be someone who is highly experienced with software, including time and billing programs. You may decide to implement the new software in stages, with the more experienced users first.

Next, take an inventory of all the computers. If this is over your head, enlist the help of someone who has some tech experience. On the inventory, note the hardware specifications, what software is installed and which versions of the software are used. Most software companies release service patches or fixes. Make sure you are current with all the patches for all software programs.

Be sure the inventory includes which operating system is in use - Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows 2000 or something else. If there is a network, note what kind it is. If you have a central file server, note the software and hardware specifications.

When purchasing new software, a hardware inventory is necessary to determine if your computers...

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