Assessment Tool

Use this tool to determine your need for Legal Practice Management Software.

Use a scale of 0 (low) to 5 (high) in scoring the following: 

Score

1.   Calendar error now accounts for more malpractice claims than any substantive error. Most law firms have pocket calendars, desk calendars, and a master calendar which all need to be updated and synchronized regularly.  Score 0 points if your firm has three or more calendars, up to 5 points if everyone shares a central computer-based calendar.

2.     Properly calculating deadlines is important, but it doesn't have to be tedious. Score 0 points if you count days on your fingers, up to 5 points if you use Abacus to flawlessly calculate deadlines adjusting for court holidays.
3.     Court rules dictate deadlines.  Score 0 points if you need to look up the rules when calendaring, up to 5 points if you use Abacus with built-in court rules that automatically calendar all deadlines related to a trigger event (i.e., trial date or filing complaint).
4.     Court rules dictate deadlines.  Score 0 points if you need to look up the rules when calendaring, up to 5 points if you use Abacus with built-in court rules that automatically calendar all deadlines related to a trigger event (i.e., trial date or filing complaint).
5.     Doing the work then having to refund the fee because of a conflict of interest really sucks. Score 0 points either if you don't bother or you rely on memory for checking conflicts of interest, up to 5 points if you use Abacus to check every name, note, matter, and calendar event you've ever had in seconds before agreeing to represent a client.

6.     Conflicts can arise from both current and past firm relationships. Score 0 points if you never or rarely check a new client and matter type against former firm clients, up to 5 points if you routinely use Abacus to check both current clients and past clients when you check for conflicts.    
7.     Failing to return phone calls is the biggest client complaint that leads to malpractice claims.  Score 0 points if you're so busy you sometimes don't get around to returning calls, up to 5 points if you use Abacus to allow staff to easily update clients, calendar scheduled proactive calls and provide access to information so that a client can nearly always get what they want.             
8.   Arguments over bills and what was billed for can arise any time and can always arise in an associated malpractice claim or even be the source of the claim. Score 0 points if you don't keep a detailed and consistent track of what you bill for, how much you bill, when you bill and any questions about your bills as they arise, up to 5 points if you use Abacus to record time, apply simple codes that expand to full explanations on your statements and bill at different rates per attorney (based on the case or client).
9.     Malpractice cases often involve things that happened (or didn't happen) years into the past. Score 0 points if you don't have a systematic, clear and easy to mine system for keeping and organizing all client information relating to every representation, from billing to communications to work product, up to 5 points if you use Abacus to store (and retrieve if necessary) all of this data.

10. Ever wake up in the middle of the night wondering what you forgot?  Score 0 points if this occurs regularly, up to 5 points if you're handling twice as much as you ever thought possible and still enjoying practicing law.

Click to score your malpractice risk  

Scoring:

0 - 10: You're okay with your current procedures. With this score, your decision to upgrade your law office software should be predicated on considering the following: Fully integrated law office software ensures that all functions will work together, you'll only have to train staff on one program, upgrading one package will keep you current and operating well in all functional areas, plus you'll have a single vendor you can go to for information or help, when needed.

10 - 20: Your current systems meet many, but not all, of your law practice management needs. If you're going to grow, getting law practice software now would be a smart move. Our software tour will help you become familiar with the features and benefits available in law practice management software. Take the tour >>

20 - 30:  Your plate is full, and mistakes are inevitable. You can grow without increasing your risk of mistakes if you first implement law practice software. You need to be familiar with how a specific software solution can benefit you. Our products page will give you an overview of solutions and access to further information on each. Products and Info >>

30 - 40:  You're frequently putting out fires and operating outside of your comfort zone. Get off the treadmill. You should have implemented law practice software before now.  Do it now, before it's too late. Call us (800) 726-3339 or contact us via email and we will help you assess your situation.

40 - 50: You've got a number of things to do to get your practice under control and return to enjoying life. An integrated software program (like AbacusLaw Gold) will make your life simpler, reduce your risks of malpractice, raise the professional level of your office and let you concentrate on practicing law. Call us (800) 726-3339 or contact us via email and you'll be well on your way to an enhanced law practice.

 

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