Matter management is practices which manage legal work. It encompasses document management and contract management as well as several other sub-practices. Matter Management software works by gathering, tracking, assigning and reporting on legal matters. As well as producing budgets and invoices. Matters can be incredibly complex, or they can be simple tasks. Either way, matter management software can bring great efficiencies to any law firm. But making the wrong choice can be costly. Here are some top tips to help you make the perfect choice for your firm.
1. In the Cloud
In the past most law firms have utilised on-premise, server-based software solutions for their matter management needs. But today the best solutions are undoubtedly cloud-based. Cloud-based matter management software is secure and can be accessed from anywhere in the world, at any time. The cost and time-consuming nature of manual upgrades is removed, and legal firms can streamline workflows and gain efficiencies.
2. Security
Keeping your legal firm’s data secure is of paramount importance. Do your research to ascertain which matter management software providers provide the most stringent security measures for their clients. And don’t fear that cloud-based matter management software compromises on security. Far from it. In fact Gartner predicts that in 2020, public cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS) workloads will suffer at least 60% fewer security incidents than those in traditional data centres.
3. Keeping Things Mobile
Ease of use is another important consideration when it comes to selecting the perfect matter management software. You may wish to invest in a product that can be accessed on mobile devices. In 2018 the daily usage of mobile devices among adults was about 3 hours 35 minutes, which equates to approximately 52 days per year. It’s unlikely that lawyers are any different. And it makes sense that you should be able to oversee and manage your legal practice from your phone.
4. Think About Integration
Your matter management software will serve as a centralised source to manage your firm’s workflows, and it can track and measure key performance indicators. But it should also be able to perfectly integrate with, and support, your own internal processes and applications. The software should be flexible and adaptable. For example, it should provide full integration with Outlook or Google Calendar, should you require it.
5. Transition and Support
Without a smooth transition and effective support from your software provider, the onboarding of new matter management software can be challenging. Ask your prospective provider important questions: How many support hours can be provided? Will this be an additional cost? How can I ask for technical support? The truth is, when investing in new matter management software, you need to know you can get the very best from it before parting with money.
LATERAL’S online matter management system runs in one advanced desktop (and mobile app) application, which has been designed to be accessed at the click of a button, providing you and your staff with a seamlessly efficient software solution. Get in touch today to learn more.