Case management software is expensive!!!
Yet, you pretty much have to have something. It does not take long at all before you will have to invest in software to help you:
- keep up with deadlines and appointments
- organize client information and case notes
- generate billing statements and reports
- task support staff and create reminders for yourself
You can keep it going for awhile with generic software, like Outlook, Quickbooks, etc. But, you will quickly discover the limitations of generic business solutions. You need something specific to the practice of law.
Here is one easy example. Attorneys usually have trust accounts. Try to make Quickbooks understand a trust account. Is it debit? A credit? No. It’s something different — it’s escrow. That isn’t an option with standard accounting software.
And, how about billing entries? Unless your practice is strictly on a flat-rate basis, you are going to need billing software that will allow you to make/edit entries and produce statements quickly and conveniently. Otherwise, you are going to under-bill and/or end up with disgruntled clients.
“Practicing law without reliable practice management software is an excellent way to lose money and neglect cases.”
There are many options available, and each has pros/cons. You can buy outright a robust platform with multiple modules that interface. Those are fantastic, but the upfront cost is . . . prohibitive. And, once you make that kind of investment, you’re married to that software for life!
Alternatively, you can go with a monthly subscription to an online version. That will avoid the huge investment, but the online options tend not to be as all-inclusive — i.e. fewer features and compatibility issues — and those monthly fees will add up over time.
Now, you have a new option.
“TLD has already made the upfront investment for you. We will allow you to plug in to a highly robust management platform without the huge buy-in. You pay only the features you want, and you can discontinue at any time.”
Sharing case management software is just a logical extension of TLD’s concept. As a member, you can leverage our numbers without having to join a large firm. It’s economy of scale . . . but on your own terms.