Law practice management software

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Law practice management software is software designed to manage a law office's case and client records, billing and bookkeeping, schedules and appointments, deadlines, computer files, compliance with document retention policies, and compliance with courts' electronic filing systems.

1 Purposes
2 Development of the Industry
3 Types of software
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Purposes

Because law schools do not generally teach new attorneys the business skills to run a law office, many offices have turned to technology to ease the learning curve and reduce clerical errors.^[1] The American Bar Association (ABA) has found that calendar and deadline related mistakes account for most legal malpractice claims.^[2] Therefore, an initial investment in software tools can yield long term savings in defending against such claims.^{[citation needed]} In fact, the ABA has an entire section devoted entirely to Law Office Management, of which software and related programs are an increasingly important part of its mission delivery. ^[3] Many state bar associations also provide assistance and discounts to their members for such software. ^[4] ^[5] ^[6] The main purpose is that these software programs allow a law firm to run more smoothly. ^[7]

[edit] Development of the Industry

Legal law office management is a growing business in North America and the British Isles. Outside of the industry, law office management software has not gotten much attention, but that is changing due to the highly competitive market to gain customers. ^[8] The suppliers in the United Kingdom have formed a trade association, the Legal Software Suppliers Association, which publishes a newsletter. ^[9]

[edit] Types of software

There are many kinds of law office management software. ^[10] Attorneys often buy their law offices' software based on their practice area. ^[11] The New Jersey State Bar Association web site lists a variety of applications by substantive law (Bankruptcy, Collections, Estate planning and administration, and Real estate) as well as by practice matter (Calendar/Schedule/Docket Control, Case & Practice Management, Document Assembly, and Document Management). ^[12]

The American Bar Association (ABA) recommends that litigation law firms adapt case management software.^{[citation needed]}