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In 2001, Williams, Gautier, Gwynn and DeLoach,
P.A. decided to replace their DOS-based MANAC software. Acting on
recommendations from several members of the local ALA Chapter, the
firm retained Degnan & Shlafer, CPAs, Certified Resellers based
in Jacksonville, Florida, to purchase and implement Tabs3
and PracticeMaster software from Software Technology,
Inc.
After converting the MANAC data in a matter of
a few days, Degnan & Shlafer provided the installation, implementation
and training support to enable the firm to quickly begin using the
Tabs3 Billing Software. For the first time, firm
members were able to enter their own data and easily access client
and billing information from their desktops. This and numerous other
benefits of the new system were realized immediately. "The
conversion of MANAC to Tabs3 went off without a
hitch," says Cathi Barineau, Office Manager and Administrator.
"Using Tabs3 Billing Software has cut the
time for monthly billing by two-thirds. The reconciliation program
is outstanding and saves a lot of time."
Next, the firm set course on implementing their
new practice management software, PracticeMaster.
Working closely with Jim Sorenson, a Collections-Bankruptcy attorney,
Degnan & Shlafer developed detailed specifications and created
a customized database for the Collections-Bankruptcy area of practice.
PracticeMaster soon became an important asset to
the firm, providing on-line case information, case notes, document
management and case-specific calendaring. Hunting around for that
lost file is a thing of the past.
Nearly 400 legal form documents were reduced to
fewer than 100 user-friendly, automated templates that extract information
directly from PracticeMaster. The payoff has been
significant reductions in the time to create, proofread and finalize
documents. For example, a complex pleading that once took an average
of twenty-five minutes to produce can now be assembled in less than
three minutes. In addition, when a document is created, ticklers
automatically generate entries for future tasks and reminders, thereby
reducing the risk of "something falling through the cracks".
Fee ticklers automatically create time entries when documents are
assembled, resulting in better recovery of time charges and increased
revenues.
Mr. Sorenson began using the wide range of PracticeMaster
features from the beginning and quickly realized the benefits of
the single vendor software solution. PracticeMaster
is now Jim's core tool for case details, such as documents, e-mail
messages, appointments and tasks. Contact information is easy to
access and the group calendar allows Jim to monitor appointments
and tasks for himself and his entire staff. The PracticeMaster
Briefcase utility facilitates the management of his cases
with the same ease when he's out of the office.
Using PracticeMaster has helped
the Firm represent more clients without adding support staff. Mr.
Sorenson is proud to say that "the implementation of PracticeMaster
to our collections practice has meant three things: efficiency,
accuracy and simplicity. The program is efficient in that time billing,
document assembly, document management and calendaring are connected
and work together. The automatic assembly of documents has reduced
errors in the preparation of pleadings, calendaring and in the billing
of our work. Finally, the use of the database and document assembling
is simple, making training of employees less time-consuming."
The experience at Williams, Gautier, Gwynn &
DeLoach provides an impressive testimony to the ease, flexibility
and power of using Tabs3 and PracticeMaster
software.

Williams, Gautier,
Gwynn & DeLoach, P.A.
2010 Delta Blvd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4853
850-386-3300
jsorenson@wggdlaw.com
Tabs3 and PracticeMaster
Software Technology, Inc.
1-402-423-1440
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