TechNotes -

Date: Aug. 14, 2011

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Why Would You Switch to Application X?

Most of the resources on the Internet to help you choose a legal practice management application fall into three categories:

1. Product Reviews - A deeper or shallower article about one application that discusses features, pros, cons and the reviewer's brief experience trying out the product.
2. Feature Comparison Charts - A table listing features on one axis and product names on the other with entries in the cells that are Yes/No, 1 to 5, or brief blurbs.
3. Company Websites - Feature lists, videos, screenshots, photos of happy professionals and some enthusiastic headings, taglines and endorsements.

Each of these sources has value, but none of them focuses specifically on the factors that are vital to you that may lead you to:

1. Abandon your current law practice management application.
2. Select Application X instead of Application A, B, or C.

So we posed the following question to people who have long experience working with small firm and solo lawyers.

QUESTION :
As a small firm or solo lawyer, what are the key factors you need to weigh in deciding to switch to "Application X," a law practice management software or Web application?

That crucial question requires some explanation. It assumes:

• You have one or more reasons to switch from what you are using now for calendars, contacts, cases, documents, e-mails and to-do's.
• "Application X" is at least in the ballpark in terms of initial cost, annual cost, feature set, performance, security and company reputation.
• Either you really, really need to stop using what you are using or else Application X offers compelling advantages or both.
• You believe the cost of making the change, in terms of dollars, time and headaches, should be worth the productivity increases and benefits of making the switch.

For Application X, what is your answer to that question?

http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/tech/ltrc/charts/pmtbchart.authcheckdam.pdf

1. Abacus Law
2. Amicus Attorney
3. Clio
4. Legal Files
5. MyCase
6. Needles
7. PracticeMaster
8. ProLaw
9. Rocket Matter
10. Time Matters