As the cloud overtakes the server as the leading hub of practice management software and information storage, firms are presented with multiple options. Each practice management solution promises, with seemingly compelling evidence, to be the best. By outlining the features that set them apart and downplaying the ones that fall below standard, the various software used by law firms create a competitive market. This is why attorneys must be particularly diligent when shopping for a new or replacement solution for their firm. Whether this is your firm’s first venture into the cloud or you’ve tried (and been disappointed by) several options, read on to learn the biggest red flags found in most practice management software.
Sub-Par Security in Software Used by Law Firms
There’s no question that the information your firm handles is both valuable and of the utmost sensitivity. It is your responsibility, both to your clients and to the integrity of your business, to keep it safe. It is the duty of software used by the law firm to make the security of their users’ data of the utmost importance. As you shop for a solution, be sure to ask your Account Manager whether the program offers 256-bit security encryption, the same level used by banks and online credit card processors. If you are given any answer other than an unequivocal “yes,” look to another practice management solution.
User Unfriendly Interface
A common trap that several cloud-based software fall into is providing quantity over quality, which is primarily signaled by clunkiness over the organization. Many practice management software used by law firms want to stay competitive, and they believe that displaying as many features as possible to their users as soon as they log in is the way to do it. What these crowded interfaces do, however, is disorient the user and make navigation altogether difficult. As you demo different practice management software, be sure to look for solutions that offer a clean, easy-to-use interface. Of course, this ease of navigation shouldn’t come at the expense of the features available; they should just be well-organized in an intuitive manner.
Lack of Personalization in Several Softwares Used by Law Firms
Given the variety of specializations and practice areas alive in the legal field, there is no question that, when it comes to software used by law firms, one size does not fit all. As you shop around for different solutions, determine the extent to which you are able to customize information fields, intake forms, invoices, time tracking and billing options, and client communication channels. Your firm has a “personality” of its own, and it is the job of your practice management software not only to accommodate it but to optimize its functionality.
The modern attorney is inundated with countless options as they consider different software used by law firms. Each of these options places its best face forward, listing the various ways in which it is allegedly superior to the competition. Ultimately, no array of interesting yet inessential features can make up for an absence of certain key elements that truly make a practice management solution great. By remaining aware of what to avoid, attorneys will be set up for a successful practice management experience from the very beginning.
