I Simply Can’t Do Without Lawyer Billing Software

A lawyer's life is always busy. On the one hand, as a lawyer I have to handle cases in the courtroom, prepare the matter and have time for new clients. On the other hand, and this what irked me the most in the past was that I had to spend a lot of time in keeping track of billable hours, expenses and accounting in respect of each case for each client. I considered this activity unproductive but could not delegate the work to anyone else. Mix-ups in billing also led to some misunderstanding with a few clients. That's when I started looking around for the right lawyer billing software to take care of all these matters and save me time as well as hassles. Lawyers are cautious and I was no different. I asked my colleagues whether they were using any software and took time off to explore each one. I had to look around quite a bit. While most of the software in use could do a lot, there was something or the other missing that meant I would have to take care of it manually. Until I came upon this legal billing and accounting software that seemed to do everything that I was doing manually. I double checked it in detail before deciding to buy it and I was glad I came across this attorney billing software .

What does this legal billing software do for me? It does everything I used to do manually covering the following functions:

• It handles and maintains records of each client and each case separately. In cases taken on a retainer cum billable hour's basis, it keeps track of the advance amount and issues a billing notice when the amount falls below a preset limit. The attorney billing software also keeps track of expenses incurred in each case separate. I can see at a glance the billable hours, advances and the expenses.
• The lawyer billing software handles billable hours beautifully. It maintains separate records for each client and for each case of each client in case I handle more than one case for the same client. Billable hours are kept separate from expenses and invoices can be issued in time as the software automatically issues alerts for outstanding issues. This has helped in a healthy revenue flow.
• When I enter details of a case I can put it down as a contingency case and that means I raise a bill only when I win the case.
• What I liked about this legal billing and accounting software is the way it handles trust funds and advance/retainer amounts that have to be accounted in compliance with state and federal laws. Now I need not fear any audits; the records are maintained immaculately.
• Another factor that impressed me was the way it handled matter based record keeping—no mixups, no confusions even when there were multiple cases for each client.

These are the main points. What particularly impressed me was the way it compiled all documents relating to my cases in separate folders and archived them for printing, conversion to Word or PDF facility, emailing from within the software and porting to mobile phones for review while on the go. Now I know all my records are in perfect order and accessible anytime in the future.
Needless to say my life has become less stressful in a way and more productive as well as satisfying. I can now focus more on existing clients and take on new clients. With the additional revenue I expect, the cost of this lawyer billing software will soon be recouped.

Attorney Billing Software Reduce Stress and Increase Productivity

As the number of clients increase, the stress levels and time consumed in keeping track of billable hours and back office accounting increases in proportion and some lawyers might very well find themselves spending as much time on accounting and billing as they do on their cases. This situation causes stress; stress because they have to account rigorously in order to keep perfect accounts that stand up to any future audits and also stress because they worry that they are not being as productive as they would want. Attorney billing software helps lawyers drastically cut down on the time they spend on keeping track of billable hours and accounts, leaving more than enough time to either relax or take on more cases. Stress, as a result, vanishes.

The right legal billing and accounting software takes on complete responsibilities and carries out all functions in respect of billing and accounting, particularly from a lawyer's view point in conformity with federal and state laws. Comprehensively designed, structured and easy to use lawyer billing software covers all aspects of billing and keeping track of each client. This includes:

• Keeping track of billable hours for each client and maintaining a separate record for each case for each client and a separate record of the expenses incurred against each case.
• Where cases are handled on fixed fee basis the attorney billing software automatically issues a bill when notified of a completion, showing the fees amount and the expenses separately, posting these amounts to account heads by itself.
• In the same way, cases handled on contingency basis will be handled by the legal billing and accounting software accordingly, issuing a bill for the fees once the case is shown as complete and won.
• In cases of retainer plus hourly basis cases, lawyers can set the limit below which a billing alert will be issued by the lawyer billing software . Again, in this case, the advance, hours billed and expenses are accounted separately for each case, even though a lawyer may handle several cases on behalf of a single client.

A comprehensive and well designed legal billing and accounting software considers billing and matter based record keeping as integrated aspects of the software. With such software, it is easy for attorneys to maintain separate accounts for each case even though he may be handling several cases for one client on different billing basis. There is no confusion and distinct records are maintained according to each matter in hand.
Since a lawyer's accounts are subject to audit and query at any time, leading to severe penalties if there are discrepancies, the attorney billing software should as a matter of course include a provision for compiling complete records and accounts of a case under one single head that can be accessed at any later date. Useful features like outputting to Word, Excel or PDF files and portability to mobile phones improves functionality.
In the main, by reducing the work load on an attorney, the lawyer billing software frees attorneys of stress in this direction and helps them utilize the time freed up to concentrate on present cases or take on more cases and generate more revenue.