Are there any web-based T&B applications for lawyers?
- Roger Glovsky
- 04-24-07
- Offline
Time & Billing is an essential tool for law firms, even solo practitioners. I have been using TimeSlips for over 15 years. TimeSlips is a great program: easy to use, designed for lawyers and a large number of customizable features. The problem is that it must be run on a desktop computer or server and the invoicing function is not available over the web. Are there any web-based programs that lawyers can use for T&B?
Possible Solutions
My partner, John Koenig, has been reseaching web-based time & billing solutions. According to John, eTimeslips allows you to enter time directly into the TS database. TS has another module that allows you to enter time on your own computer and then combine it with the main database.
For more information, go to:
https://www.timeslipsecenter.com/
time and billing
We work with Nancy Brush as our Timeslips consultant. Trained as a lawyer. Very knowledgable. Can be reached at nbrush@justsolutions.net.
We don't like Timeslips and are thinking of changing to Tabs3. Has anyone worked with that? Part of the Tabs is an add on program called Practice Master. We are geting a demo cd on that to evaluate. Nancy also introduced us to Worlddocs for document management. We are going to have a demo on that soon as well.
Has anyone heard about these programs?
I asked Nancy about web based T&B. She mentioned Timeslips having one, but because of my other frustrations with TS, we did not pursue further. She was not aware of other web based products/services that she would recommend.
We can live with a server based time and billing as long as we can remotely access our server. We have been doing that through gotomypc.com. It works for us right now. I can access my desktop from any location with web access and that allows me to enter time.
More to follow as we get info. Feed back from anyone is most welcome.
What's the issue with Timeslips?
I have an old version of Timeslips, which we plan on upgrading to 2008. What kind of problems have you had with Timeslips? Do you have the 2008 version?
timeslips
We met with Nancy today. She was going to talk with us about the upgrade, but we got sidetracked on replacing it. Our biggest problem is when we flat fee a matter. Our second problem is with the reports, which are hard to use and are inconsistent.
At this time, I don't have a good handle on the upgrade. Nancy is the one to talk to about it.
T&B software and practice management
We have decided to pull the trigger and purchase Tabs3 and Practice Master. The software appears to be user friendly and customizable. Our goal is to become as paperless as we can and to be able to access documents, contact data, emails, notes, and T&B in one place. This combination of software shuold allow us to do this. We are also going with Worldox for document management.
For those who are struggling with a decision on these purchases, I have this to offer.
1. Don't agonize over it. If your current software is inadequate and you need to upgrade, find a solution that works within your budget and go with it. We have been using Timeslips, Act, Word, Outlook and tons of paper to do our work. It is, quite frankly, a mess. Also, most software is customizable, and we intend to create data management procedures to make sure that it doesn't become a garbage in, garbage out situation. (For example, we handle many transactions. We will make sure that once the transaction is done, the electronic folder is archived. Out of site means less clutter, but also means it is available if you need it). Our paper use will be limited to short term paper (needed sometimes to review or edit a document). We will not keep paper copies of files after a transaction or matter is complete.
2. Don't try to move all your data by converting it to the new system. It is time consuming and usually causes errors. Plus, unless you have purged data, old junk will be moved over and remain junk. We will use the software only prospectively, moving in clients and referral sources, documents, emails, etc. from a point in time going forward. We'll still have access to the other prior data, it just won't be in the way.
3. Remember, any successful system requires 2 things. A. careful choices on how you will organize things and B. staying on top of the data. We intend to be very strict going forward about what goes in to the database, where it is stored, how it is handled and how we keep it current. It takes discipline and will require us to change behaviour. Doing so, however, will make us more efficient and will allow us to better serve our clients and will cut lost time. In the end, both our clients and our firm will be happier and better off for it.
Paperless Office
Sounds like a smart decision. A well-organized paperless office will make the practice easier. I've been doing that for the last two years. One suggestion is to put a scanner on everyone's desk to make sure that all paper gets digitized immediately.
Tabs3, Practice Master, and Worldox are all highly rated programs. Can they be accessed from a generic web browser or do you have a VPN that you used to connect to the office?
What is a reasonable budget to license and install all of those programs for a small office 2-5 lawyers?
Scanners
I'll get you the quote for the software and post it when I have it. Should be in the next few days.
I agree with you on a scannetr on eveyr desk. What scanners do you use or recommend? Any features that we should have or consider? I plan on doing some research to see what works best. I want a scanner with a document feeder and one that has easy to use software (and software that ties in easily with Worldox). Thanks.
Scanners
I read the review about 18 months ago and bought two of the Fujitsu ScanSnap EOX2. Small desktop unit very easy to use. It has a sheetfeed and scans both sides of the page at the same time. The sheet feeder sometimes jams because of stapled pages, but it is very easy to fix and continue scanning. The small size makes it easy to put on every desk.
When my partner joined in July, he bought the new model, Scansnap S510. The cost is about $425.
Web-based T&B solutions
I just read an article on Lexisone about a web-based t&b solution:
Open Air, a Boston web-based electronic invoicing firm that targets solo and small-firm lawyers, charges users about $75 a month. Lawyers log onto Open Air's website, type in their name and password and submit time sheets and expense reports. Open Air then creates invoices that can be submitted either electronically or by paper.
Although law firms account for only 5 percent of
Open Air's client base, Brett Huff, director of client services, expects to see more law firms moving to e-billing.
"I think lawyers are trained to be paper-based," he said. "The image of propriety and tradition is valuable to law firms."
He added, however, that small law firms are "more willing to experiment."
"Smaller firms act more like smaller businesses," Malinin agreed. "They're more entrepreneurial."
This was excerpted from http://www.lexisone.com/balancing/articles/lw040004d.html