Whether your goal is to run an entirely remote law firm in 2023 or you simply want to see more efficiency around the office, secure file-sharing can help your legal practice run better.    

But let’s start with the basics: what is secure file-sharing? Secure file-sharing is an ethical method of sending sensitive documents digitally, using encryption and other technology to protect them from unauthorized viewers. To prevent hackers or identity thieves from accessing client data, the documents may be encrypted at rest, in transit, or both. Password protection and other measures add additional layers of privacy, as well.   

This expedient, secure way to share legal files creates numerous opportunities for tech-savvy law firms to benefit from enhanced client relations and fewer operational silos. Below, we outline eight benefits of secure file sharing for a more profitable firm and more effective practice management. 

8 Advantages of Secure File Sharing for Law Firms 

1. The ability to incorporate eSignatures 

An eSignature is a digital signature, which is typed or “written” on a touch screen using a finger, stylus, or mouse. eSignatures are legally binding, secure, and speedy. They’re also considerably more cost-efficient, compared to printing paper documents to collect wet-ink signatures.   

Using secure file-sharing and eSignatures in tandem simply makes sense. The duo eliminates the frustrating bottlenecks and data-entry errors that plague the legal process when paper documents must be mailed, scanned, and stored. 

2. Greater client convenience  

Using technology to offer more client-centered service demonstrates that your firm values clients’ time and energy. Ultimately, this makes them more likely to work with your firm again in the future.   

Sharing legal files securely and digitally creates significant advantages for your clients. It’s also an increasingly standard expectation for doing business due to the on-demand world we live in. Instead of waiting on the mail or driving to your office in person, file-sharing enables clients to review and sign important documents whenever, wherever it’s best for them.   

In total, secure file-sharing and its counterpart, eSignatures, cut the amount of time clients spend reviewing and signing documents by 80%.  

3. The potential of a paperless law firm 

Evolving to become a paperless law firm creates boundless opportunities to improve your law firm’s business practices. Cutting paper doesn’t cut cash, though, at least not metaphorically. Switching to paperless systems saves most companies money. Plus, paperless firms may be able to reap state and federal tax benefits.   

Environment-conscious clients and employees will also appreciate the impact made by firms that share files online: lower water usage, decreased CO2 emissions, less waste sent to landfills, and fewer fossil fuels burned by driving to review and sign documents.  

4. Remote work becomes more realistic  

Many lawyers, from junior associates to managing partners, appreciate the flexibility that remote work allows, whether due to an unexpected illness, family needs, or travel. While many law firms have returned to in-office work, others have adopted the remote work model permanently. No matter which camp your firm falls in, it’s crucial to stay agile.   

As an added bonus, features that make remote work possible, such as secure file-sharing, make it possible to accept clients from a wider geographical area. Your firm’s horizons are expanded when time and distance are no longer barriers to share documents or collect signatures.  

5. Improved client intake  

The benefits of secure file-sharing extend far beyond completing legal work on client matters.   

Secure file-sharing transforms the client intake process. When clients fill out paper-and-ink forms about their legal matters, legal staff must manually enter that information into your practice management software, often more than once. The repetition creates a large margin for data entry errors and pulls legal staff’s focus away from billable tasks.   

By contrast, secure file-sharing empowers clients to complete the intake process faster. The need to complete onboarding paperwork in person is eliminated, and updating new clients’ personal information is instantaneous, no digging through file folders required. This reduces manual data entry errors dramatically.  

6. Time-saving workflows  

Your firm’s most important, and limited, resource is time. Secure file-sharing streamlines workflows and preserves limited resources by eliminating the need to compare calendars. What could your team achieve without wasting time waiting for schedules to align, or hounding clients to return yet another email and schedule an appointment?   

Getting documents in front of the right eyes is as simple as sending an email. However, email places a size limit on the files you can attach, while secure file-sharing makes it easy to send files that are particularly large (as files tend to be in legal work). To make things even more expedient, many file-sharing platforms have built-in, customizable templates and document management software, too.   

These features keep everything searchable and easily accessible for efficient workflows.  

7. Improved data security 

When it comes to legal work, compliance is key.   

Few professionals handle such a large volume of sensitive data as attorneys. Depending on your practice area, clients entrust your firm with intellectual property, protected health information, potentially incriminating evidence, personal identifiable information, tax records, and more. Not only does the American Bar Association heavily regulate the way this information should be managed, but state and federal governments do so as well.   

Secure file-sharing software makes following the industry’s strict ethics and client confidentiality requirements a breeze. Robust data encryption and password protected links offer a higher level of security than sharing files via email or the postal service and lessen the likelihood of a breach of confidentiality.  

8. Faster, more fruitful collaboration 

When your clients and colleagues can access important files at any time, from anywhere, there’s no need to meet in an office. Work is completed faster. Instead of stretching the feedback process out over a period of days (or even weeks) attorneys are able to make edits to legal documents in real time, rather than sending them back and forth, and waiting on them to be reviewed, several times. 

Legal software solutions that work as hard as you do 

Tabs3 Software now integrates with LexShare. LexShare offers maximum confidentiality in an attractive and intuitive interface, so sending and receiving files internally and externally is simple for every user, client, and colleague.  

However, secure file-sharing is just one of the many user-friendly, flexible features that Tabs3’s industry leading legal software solutions have to offer your firm. Our software works reliably and effortlessly, so attorneys can spend more time focusing on securing and serving clients and less time troubleshooting or training on new software.  

A more organized, profitable legal practice awaits, and it’s easy to get started. Schedule a walkthrough demo or sign up for a free trial of Tabs3 now.   

A review of your law firm’s finances and general performance is non-negotiable before the end of the year. Let’s walk through some key considerations to keep in mind as you wrap up Q4 so you can finish 2022 on a high note and set yourself up for success in 2023. 

Client service 

The end of the year is the perfect time to reach out to existing clients and touch base. Go the extra mile to let them know you value them as clients and make it clear that you continually strive to find new ways to serve them in the best way possible. Simple outreach expressing your gratitude for their business goes a long way. Your clients like to know they’re valued.  

This time of year is also an opportunity to review how you’re welcoming new clients to your practice. Review your intake process thoroughly. Are there ways it could be improved? Is there something you could do to make the process simpler? Make a thorough assessment to determine where you could save time, and what would make the process a smoother experience for your clients.  

If you have any outstanding client issues, now is the time to resolve them. Don’t bring lingering problem areas with you into the new year. 

Operational review 

Hopefully, you’ve been keeping meticulous time records. If you haven’t, now is the time to start. Tracking time as you go plays an important role in billing accurately, setting appropriate rates, sustaining trust with clients, and maintaining compliance. It also provides important operational data for your practice by helping you assess whether your team members are working efficiently.

 Take a look at your existing time records and other reports. Where can processes and workflows be streamlined to increase efficiency and profitability? Are workloads appropriately assigned? Are you making the best possible use of your practice management software and its features?    

One way to do this is by updating your tech stack so you can reduce the time spent on tasks that could be automated. With legal practice software like Tabs3, you can access detailed reports to inform decision-making and automation tools to streamline your processes.     

Financial 

Don’t wait until the last minute to tackle your year-end accounting. Give your EOY accounting the extra attention it deserves to guarantee that you maximize your profits for the year. Make sure you prioritize the tasks listed below. 

Look at cash flow 

Make a detailed estimate of what kind of cash you’ll have on hand come the end of the year. Make sure you take into account quarterly tax payments, staff bonuses, old payables, reserves for capital improvements, and any other unusual end-of-year cash disbursements.   

Be sure there is sufficient cash flow to cover operating costs for the first quarter of 2023. 

Review your timekeeping 

We know we mentioned this already, but diligent timekeeping is critical to both profitability and compliance. As we turn the page on 2022, check that all staff members are up to date with their time entries. As you move into the new year, set a goal for all team members to track their time on a daily basis.   

Studies show that the sooner you capture your time, the more you realize. In fact, law firms that track time as they go generate 25-40% more revenue than firms that do not. That’s a pretty compelling reason to make a point of going into the new year with better timekeeping habits.  

If timekeeping habits have been slipping lately, consider updating (or establishing) your timekeeping policies so everyone is on the same page about the hows and whys of timekeeping at your law firm.  

Check in with accounts receivable 

Don’t bring outstanding balances with you into the new year. The longer you wait, the less likely you’ll be able to actually collect. Once an invoice passes the 180-day mark, there’s a 56% chance it will never be paid. Create a list of outstanding balances and try to recover them before year-end. Anything deemed uncollectible should be written off before the start of 2023.  

Be sure to account for unreimbursed client expenses, as well as attorney expense reports. Write them off by the end of the quarter. 

Review your current retainers 

Check in with your current retainer balances. There should be enough there to cover your remaining anticipated work and expenses. If not, request replenishment in line with your firm’s retainer policy.  

EOY accounting deserves your extra care and attention. Do a thorough review of your budget. Do your EOY reports align? Where are the gaps, and what can you do to stay on budget for 2023?  

Lastly, do an audit of which areas of your business were most profitable, and which were less so. Your law firm is a business, after all. Examine where your revenue is coming from.  

If the vast majority of your revenue stream is driven by two main practice areas and a third area generates only a trickle, perhaps your resources would be best spent focused on your money-makers. Consider scaling back on the areas that show little return. And if you don’t know which areas your revenue is coming from, adjust your financial reporting so that next year you will. Don’t continue feeding resources into an area of your business that doesn’t show sufficient returns. 

Marketing 

As you wrap up Q4, have a look at your marketing spend for the year. Where are you seeing returns? Double down on what’s working and cut whatever is not.  

If you’re using legal customer relationship management (CRM) software, check whether you’re getting everything you can out of it. When used efficiently, a CRM with law firm-specific functionality will help you win more business, impress your clients, and maximize your billable hours.  

Just as you should reach out to your current clients at the end of the year to express your gratitude for your business, you should also make the same gesture to your referral network so you can ensure you’re top-of-mind as you enter the new year. 

HR 

You’ve already gone out of your way to make your clients feel appreciated. Now is the time to make the same gesture with regard to your staff. Thank them for their hard work! Start thinking about what opportunities you can provide for your team to grow and progress in their careers as you head into the new year. 

Looking forward to 2023 

Now that you’ve done a thorough analysis of the year to date, it’s time to set goals for moving forward. Outline these goals in clear, actionable ways, and get your entire team on board.  

If there are improvements you can make in your client services by updating your tech, streamlining your intake processes, or automating day-to-day tasks, start implementing these changes now so that you can kick off a profitable and productive 2023.  

If you’re ready to learn how Tabs3 can help set you up to see your most profitable year yet, request a free trial or walkthrough demo today. 

Remote working. It’s not the same buzzword it was back in 2020 or 2021. In 2022, remote working has become an accepted part of today’s professional landscape. 

16% of companies are fully remote and 40% have adopted hybrid work for their employees. There are now three times more remote jobs than there were in 2020. 97% of remote employees want to continue working indefinitely. 

But how is remote work playing out for law firms? The legal industry has long been slower to adopt trends and tends to take more conservative perspectives on workplace culture. Still, where does that leave us in 2022? How has the landscape changed and what can your law firm do to make the right choices for how your practice operates? 

Here’s what you need to know at the end of 2022. 

Lawyers want to work remotely (at least some of the time)

Lawyers, like the majority of the working population, have embraced remote work. In an ABA report, the vast majority of attorneys (87%) stated their workplaces permitted remote work. A third of respondents stated that they primarily worked from home, but, intriguingly, another third of respondents stated they worked primarily in their office. 

Attorneys that work remotely or on a hybrid basis reported that neither the quality of their work nor productivity nor billable hours have been negatively affected by their working arrangements. Women in particular stated they benefited from remote and hybrid work, as it helped them balance work and family responsibilities. 

Technology that’s effective and efficient

Legal tech has helped bridge the gap between office work and work out of the office. In 2021, legal tech generated $27.6 billion in revenue worldwide and the market is forecasted to expand by over 4% annually through 2027. 

While the drivers of the legal tech industry are complex and can’t be solely attributed to remote work, it has doubtlessly benefited from the development and expansion of tools used to power remote legal work. Tools that law firms rely on to work remotely include:

• Video conferencing software
• Communication tools such as messaging apps
• File-sharing and eSignature tools
• Cloud-based storage

Even tools that aren’t tied directly to remote work have thrived in the remote work environment. 

Document automation, project and case management software, and online payment options have become more powerful, allowing lawyers to streamline their workflows and maximize productivity. What’s more, more and more of these tools are being built into legal practice management software, creating a more seamless experience for lawyers as they conduct their work. 

Collaboration can happen easily (without compliance risks)

Tools like those detailed above have made working on legal matters between coworkers easy. Colleagues can use project management software to ensure everyone is on the same page with progress on legal matters. File-sharing makes it simple to exchange documents. Video conferencing allows attorneys, legal staff, and clients to meet regardless of location. 

But can they do so and stay in line with legal compliance requirements?

Compliance questions need to be considered in all aspects of legal practice, but they have borne particular concern as law firms shifted into remote work. That’s because the protocol for maintaining security for client information required calibration. 

Thankfully, with the right tools and policies, attorneys can strictly adhere to legal compliance standards. 

Take, for example, implementing eSignature software to finalize critical legal documents. eSignature is not only recognized as legally valid but when practice management software, such as Tabs3, integrates with a legal-specific eSignature like LexSign, client data is protected by bank-level end-to-end encryption. 

Client preference plays a big role in how remote work plays out

The client experience factors into how law firms consider remote work options for their practice. But which way is the wind blowing? 

The answer is nuanced. While there is variation based on practice area, client demographics, and stage of a legal matter, many clients indicate that they prefer in-person meetings with attorneys during the initial stages of legal matters. However, they often prefer to receive updates through other forms of communication (phone, email, client portal, etc.) rather than coming into the office for a meeting.

Importantly, a 2021 survey by Thomson Reuters indicates that clients have not perceived a negative impact in their experience with their attorneys working remotely.  

Tips for remote working in 2022

Regardless of how your law firm proceeds with its own approach to remote work, there are steps you can take to make it more successful for your attorneys. Follow the tips below to make working from home (or wherever your attorneys choose to open up their laptops) as successful as possible. 

Establish a clear remote work policy—or ask for one

Inconsistent policies about how often your attorneys can work remotely and how they are expected to conduct their work cause stress, confusion, and decrease productivity. Clear, consistently implemented policies, on the other hand, give your team confidence and empower them to do their best work. 

A robust remote work policy should cover the following concerns:

• Which team members can work remotely and how often
• Working hours 
• Expectations for timekeeping 
• Communication guidelines 
• Technology usage 
• Security and compliance protocols

Keep your tech stack up to date

The early days of remote working are gone. It’s not reasonable to expect attorneys to cobble together software and tools so they can do their jobs remotely. 

Instead, attorneys expect that their employers have considered all the resources and guidance they need to successfully do their job out-of-the-office. That means your legal tech stack needs to be configured for attorneys and staff who are not in the office. 

One of the most significant pieces of this consideration is legal practice management software. While the early days of the pandemic saw a boom in cloud-based software, desktop software has caught up by establishing efficient, effective processes to allow remote workers to access their software from anywhere. 

With secure access to fully integrated law firm practice management software, attorneys can complete their most common tasks from home, including:

• Billing and invoicing
• Time tracking
• Planning and setting appointments
• Sending and receiving secure emails, legal documents, eSignatures, and more
• Managing progress of legal matters
• Compliant legal accounting
• And more

While it is possible to build out a solid tech stack for your law firm by combining different tools, your team may benefit from a comprehensive practice management system that combines all the tools they need.

Tabs3 has been an industry leader in on-premise practice management software for decades. But for Tabs3 users, desktop software doesn’t mean being confined to your desk. With Tabs3 Platinum Edition, you can access all the features of Tabs3 from wherever you work with Tabs3 Connect. You also get access to features like HotBackUp, Autorecovery, and more. 

Security needs to be a priority

Security threats have been on the rise since before the pandemic, but the remote work boom kicked them into high gear. As a legal professional, you need to ensure the highest degree of security possible for your team and your clients. Steps you should take include:

• Provide privacy and security training for all attorneys and legal staff
• Limit access to sensitive data in your practice management system
• Assess your cybersecurity protocols
• Work with your IT professionals to ensure they have the appropriate certifications to protect your server 

Remote work + Tabs3 is a winning combination for law firms

Remote work with Tabs3 Software is secure, compliant, convenient, and accessible. With more than 40 years of experience offering cutting-edge legal technology to law firms, we’re dedicated to following even the industry’s strictest compliance and data security regulations while offering attorneys a flexible working experience.

Check out the Platinum Edition product page to learn more about what Tabs3 Connect has to offer.

Request your free trial or schedule a walkthrough demo to see how Tabs3 Software’s fully integrated suite of software products can revolutionize the way your law firm functions on a day-to-day basis, whether remotely or in the office.

The end of the year is always an important period for goal-setting and preparation in a legal practice. From business planning to year-over-year analysis, Q4 is the time to set your practice up for success in the year to come, especially when it comes to finance.  

While the end of the year is critical for any business, it is also a time to celebrate, travel, and spend time with loved ones. These things are important, and it’s equally important to account for these disruptions in your end-of-year goals. After all, the holidays can take weeks of productivity away from teams as they split hours between work and home.  

At this time of the year, efficiency is the name of the game. With the right tools to help you accomplish your goals faster, it is in fact possible to achieve a balance between these competing priorities. From billing and trusts to accounts payable and long-term analyses, there are a number of systems that can help your team complete robust financial business planning, whether they’re in the office or working from home. 

Stay on top of your goals and check off items on your to-do list faster by using the right software for your team. Tabs3 Platinum enables attorneys to work smarter, so they can spend more time doing what matters. 

Deal with Overdue Accounts 

Many business owners have experienced the frustration of trying to collect on past-due accounts. Before you begin, you need to know which accounts are past due and how late they are before you can take action. With Tabs3 Platinum, users can run advanced reporting on accounts receivable. 

The Accounts Receivable by Timekeeper Report breaks down clients with receivables by working timekeeper. This helps your billing department understand which attorneys may need collections assistance, opening up opportunities to better support your team. The report also makes it easier to see how much each timekeeper is currently owed, which presents a clear view of priorities for collections. 

If the customer is having cash flow problems, consider using Tabs3Pay to schedule payments ahead of time or offer payment plans for your clients. 

Best of all, Tabs3 Platinum compiles all of your data for you faster than ever before. With its accelerator feature, users can get reports, filtering, and column sorting 10-30 times faster. For legal practices with large data sets, lots of users, or a congested network, this can save your team significant time. 

Stay on top of appointments during the holiday season 

It is all too easy to let meetings and appointments slip through the cracks with everything that goes on during the holidays. Emails can get lost in your inbox amongst the plethora of “season’s greetings” messages.   

Rather than frantically tracking down colleagues or rummaging through your own inbox to find a meeting invite, use Tabs3 Platinum’s eNote and Exchange Connector features to stay on top of your team’s schedule even when you are away from the office.  

eNote is an in-office messaging tool built into PracticeMaster. It allows users to send quick messages that won’t get lost in an email inbox, such as links to appointments or any other record for quick reference. When you receive an eNote, it pops up on your screen, and you can easily reply, forward, or dismiss it. With the Platinum Edition, you can send or receive eNotes on any internet enabled device. 

On the other hand, Platinum’s Exchange Connector synchronizes PracticeMaster calendars and contacts with Microsoft 365. Through the Exchange Connector, appointments and contacts on your smart device are synchronized with PracticeMaster, even if your computer is off. By keeping information synced between devices, communication and keeping track of appointments is easier to manage.  

As an added bonus, people at the office will be able to see appointments that you add on any device, so you don’t have to constantly go back and forth on scheduling.  

Remote working for the holidays 

The holidays are a time to gather with loved ones, relax, and look forward to the year to come. They are also a time when colleagues may rely on remote working to tie up any loose ends in the current calendar year. And with travel, remote working, and a hectic atmosphere, cyber threats are amplified during holidays. It’s important to ensure that your team is taking the proper precautions with sensitive financial and client data. 

While remote working can be difficult without the proper software in place, Tabs3 makes it easy! Tabs3 Connect provides access to Tabs3 Billing and PracticeMaster when you are away from the office. Users can access the Matter Manager, clients, contacts, calendar, fees, and costs from a phone, tablet, laptop, or computer at home. So even if you end up on your in-laws’ desktop PC, we’ve still got you covered.  

Furthermore, Tabs3 Connect allows attorneys to enter fees and costs, check their calendar, view documents, and more with ease from anywhere in the world. To protect data security, sensitive client information is stored on the law firm server, rather than on attorneys’ mobile devices.  

To achieve secure remote access, pair a VPN with your remote access software of choice. Remote access software provides secure access to your legal practice management software through an internet connection between your office server and home computer. When configured properly, remote access software gives your legal staff secure access to all Tabs3 Software features from almost anywhere. With this method, only a minimal amount of data travels between attorneys’ home devices and office computers. 

By working with a secure remote access software, you can spend less time worrying about security or data breaches, and more time achieving your end-of-year goals. With over 40 years of experience providing cutting-edge legal technology to law firms just like yours, Tabs3 software is built to uphold the industry’s strictest compliance and data security regulations. 

Peace of mind features 

To protect your data, Tabs3 Platinum enables HotBackUps, which allows users to back up data at any time, even when others are working. Users can start a backup whenever they want, or schedule them in advance to occur throughout the day. What’s more, they can control how many backups are stored on their server, and where the backups are stored.  

Users can work without fear of data loss from poor network connections or power outages through the Auto-Recovery function. If something goes wrong, Auto-Recovery restores your data to a reliable, usable state, reducing the risk of data corruption. 

See the results for yourself 

You can achieve your end-of-year goals without working into the midnight hours or staying at your desk during the holidays.  

Check out the Platinum Edition product page to learn more about what Tabs3 Connect has to offer. Request your free trial or schedule a walkthrough demo to see how Tabs3 Software’s fully integrated suite of software products can revolutionize the day-to-day functioning of your law firm. 

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Secure technology is important to all industries, but it is especially important for law firms to ensure high levels of cybersecurity.

As a lawyer, you are certainly aware that you have an ethical and legal obligation to protect your clients’ information. As stated in the American Bar Association (ABA) Rule 1.6: Confidentiality of Information, “a lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information relating to the representation of a client.”

This means that, in the event of a cyberattack, even if you are not at fault, you and your law firm will be held responsible for any data breaches that affect clients. And data breaches are not uncommon. According to ABA’s 2021 Legal Technology Survey Report, 25% of respondents reported a data breach (such as a lost or stolen device, hacker, break-in, or website exploit) at some point.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your firm and clients’ sensitive data against cyber threats: using secure tools, implementing effective backup and recovery, training employees to use best cybersecurity practices, and more.

Not sure where to start? Keep reading to learn about how Tabs3 can enhance your law firm’s cybersecurity.

Five ways that Tabs3 supports a secure legal practice

1.   Secure file sharing

When you share sensitive documents via email, flash drive, or even paper files, you run the risk of having lost, misplaced, or stolen data. Even if your clients give you the green light to send unsecured information, it’s your responsibility to follow the law by protecting their confidentiality.

With software integrations like LexShare, a file-sharing software that provides bank-level security measures, you and your clients can collaborate from anywhere, sharing confidential information without compromising data security or compliance. Not only does this offer an extra layer of protection against hackers, but it also allows you to share files of any size, a feature often limited by email capabilities.

2.   eSignature

In a world that is becoming increasingly virtual, the thought of scheduling a time to meet with your clients to obtain a signature in person can be daunting. As noted above, though, companies and consumers alike are aware that choosing to share files and obtain signatures via email can increase your risk of data breaches.

This is where eSignature comes into the picture. With LexSign, you can share files and obtain signatures in just a few clicks. This feature significantly increases client convenience and improves your law firm’s workflows, and it also deploys secure cloud technology to prevent files from being tampered with, stolen, or lost.

3.   Tabs3 Connect

While Tabs3 software secures the technology at your firm, you may be wary of accessing your information from another location or device and putting yourself at risk of a cybersecurity breach. It’s understandable that you would have this concern. But with the right software, there is no reason to worry.

Tabs3 Connect allows for secure, efficient remote work by providing mobile access to your Tabs3 software. Use your smartphone to enter fees and costs, access documents, schedule appointments, and more, without worrying about data security. Our state-of-the-art technology ensures that encrypted data stays where it belongs and will never be stored on someone else’s server or even on your device (should it be lost or stolen).

4.   Data Encryption

While it’s important to protect your data when working remotely or when sharing documents, it is equally important to protect your internal files. Encrypting your files helps your firm protect data that contains sensitive information by preventing files from being read by software other than Tabs3 Billing or PracticeMaster.

This Platinum feature adds a layer of security to your data without compromising functionality. As an additional layer of protection, you can restrict access even further by determining which software users can interact with encrypted files. 

5.   Security benefits of on-premise software

While much has been said about the security benefits of cloud-based software, it’s important to distinguish the advantages of on-premises software. On-premise software allows law firms significantly more control over how software and servers are configured, as well as where and how data is stored. The ability to customize means that compliance requirements for personally identifiable information, data retention, and data storage may be easier to meet. You can work closely with your IT staff and any technology consultants to come up with a plan that meets your law firm’s unique needs.

On-premises software also is more convenient to access if your practice needs to conduct security audits. Security audits are a smart way to ensure that your practice is taking all the necessary steps to protect client information.

Secure your law firm with Tabs3

With Tabs3 Software, you can improve workflows while also gaining the peace of mind that your firm and clients’ sensitive information is safe from cyber-attacks.

Ready to enhance your law firm’s cybersecurity? Request a free trial or schedule a walkthrough demo today.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a collaborative effort between The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) to raise global awareness about cybersecurity.

Why is this important to law firms, though?

According to the American Bar Association (ABA)’s 2021 Legal Technology Survey Report, 25% of respondents reported a law firm breach at some point. With the vast amount of sensitive, valuable information involved in the day-to-day tasks of legal work, it’s no surprise that law firms, and their legal technology, are a common target for hackers.

To keep your firm and clients protected from cyberattacks, it’s important that you implement strong company-wide cybersecurity practices. Read on to learn more about the importance of secure technology for law firms.

Unsecure technology risks for law firms

Cybersecurity attacks can result in compromised communications, loss of access to essential information, data leaks, loss of trust in your law firm, and even malpractice claims.

These attacks don’t just impact your law firm, though. They also put your clients at risk. As a lawyer, you have ethical and legal obligations to protect your clients’ information. As stated in ABA Rule 1.6: Confidentiality of Information, “a lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information relating to the representation of a client.”

Additionally, three ABA formal opinions you should be familiar with include:

• ABA Formal Opinion 477R: Securing Communication of Protected Client Information
• ABA Formal Opinion 483: Lawyers’ Obligations After an Electronic Data Breach or Cyberattack
• ABA Formal Opinion 498: Virtual Practice

Even in the event of a cyberattack, you as a lawyer can be held responsible for any privacy breach that affects your clients.

Five ways to secure your law firm’s technology

To protect your law firm from cyber-attacks, it’s important to stay up-to-date with technology best practices and implement company-wide cybersecurity policies. The five tips below are a great place to start.

1.   Be cautious with emails

Emails are common targets for phishing scams. Some common traits of phishing include:

• Offers or statements that are too good to be true
• Odd requests with a sense of urgency
• Hyperlinks
• Attachments that are unexpected or don’t seem to make sense

If you receive an out-of-character email from a colleague or client, check the email address to see if it’s legitimate. If you’re unsure about a link, hover over the link to see where it goes, and if it’s a popular site, be sure to check that everything is spelled correctly. If you find an email to be suspicious, it never hurts to get a second opinion or confirm with the sender through another form of communication.

2.   Browse safely

Whether it’s a pop-up, fake site, or questionable link, one wrong click can harm your device in a matter of seconds. When you’re working online, there are a few steps you can take to avoid compromising your data or device.

For example, make sure you’re using Google Chrome as your default browser to access your preferred legal journal. This will allow you to add privacy extensions to block activity such as spying ads and hidden trackers.

It’s especially important to browse safely when you’re working remotely. If you’re away from your secure workplace network, use a virtual private network (VPN) to hide your IP address and keep your browsing activity from being tracked. This is crucial when accessing legal documents or transmitting client information.

3.   Use secure passwords

How many online accounts do you log in to on a regular basis? Ideally, each of these accounts should have its own unique password. If your accounts share the same password, keep in mind that one compromised account likely means multiple compromised accounts.

In addition to having strong, unique passwords, you should also change them on a regular basis to keep them hack-proof. It’s also a good idea to enable two-factor authentication, which adds an additional layer of security to your accounts.

If you’re concerned about being locked out of your own accounts, consider implementing a password management tool such as 1Password or LastPass to keep your passwords safe, secure, and all in one place.

You’ll also want to train everyone at your law firm, from paralegals to partners, on how to create secure passwords and remind them of the dangers of sharing or reusing passwords.

4.   Prepare an incident response plan

According to the ABA’s 2021 Legal Technology Survey, only 36% of respondents said their firm has an incident response plan (IRP). While implementing an IRP can be an expensive and time-consuming process, the aftermath of a cyberattack or data breach can be far more costly.

Your IRP should include provisions for cybersecurity issues and natural disasters alike.

5.   Use secure practice management technology

With remote work on the rise, now is a good time to invest in practice management software that keeps your law firm up-to-date, efficient, and secure.

Secure file-sharing software eliminates the need for sharing sensitive information through emails, flash drives, and paper documents. Not only does this allow you to access your files from anywhere, but it also helps to protect your clients’ confidentiality and keep your firm compliant.

Keep your law firm secure with Tabs3

Our reliable, easy-to-use practice management software is designed to help law firms boost productivity, stay organized, and maintain client confidentiality. With secure file-sharing and e-signature features, clients can rest assured that their data is protected.

For added security, try the Platinum edition, which includes:

• Tabs3 Connect, which allows for more efficient remote work
• HotBackup, which backs up your data on an ongoing basis
• Auto-Recovery, which protects your data from power outages, lost network connections, and data corruption

Interested in learning more? Request a free trial or schedule a walkthrough demo today.

The end of the year can often be a hectic time for any business. From strategic planning to client appreciation and wrapping up long-term projects, it can be overwhelming to enter this quarter without a structured plan in place.

Instead of diving in headfirst, eliminate unnecessary stress and administrative tasks by sitting down and planning out your priorities for the end of the year. By cutting out the “should do’s” in favor of the “must do’s,” you can establish clarity about shared goals amongst attorneys and legal staff, and give your entire legal practice the gift of an easier end of the year.

Here are the steps you can take in Q4 for a strong wrap-up in 2022, and an even stronger start to 2023.

1.  Check in with your business goals

Ideally, law firms should evaluate business goals every quarter, not just to see if you’re on track, but also to make sure that your current business goals still make sense for your firm. But time is a precious resource, and it’s normal for larger business goals to get lost in the day-to-day of running a profitable operation.

If that happens, then Q4 is the time to check in on the goals you set at the start of the year. Take a look and assess them to decide if they’re still applicable. Then, pick your path:

• If they aren’t, set them aside and craft appropriate new short-term goals for the end of the year
• If your original business goals are still relevant, identify what steps you can take in the next few months to achieve them

This process is a good opportunity to reflect on why achieving certain business goals ended up taking a back seat. What could you do next year to ensure that they remain an ongoing priority?

2.  Review your KPIs

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are the metrics we use to evaluate success. Q4 is the perfect time to review how you’ve performed against the KPIs you set for yourself. Where is there room for improvement? Where did you go above and beyond, and what made that possible? What KPIs are unrealistic, or impractical?

Focus on the KPIs that matter, and make sure that you’re reviewing your firm’s performance against only the most relevant metrics, so you can gain a more accurate picture of overall successes or opportunities for improvement.

3.  Identify areas to improve operational and administrative processes

Operational and administrative processes can be some of the most time-consuming (and least billable) tasks in a business. In Q4, take the time to review them and evaluate how you can increase efficiency while eliminating pain points or redundant manual work.

For example, tasks related to billing and calendar tracking are all too often pushed to the last minute, or late in the evening when everyone else has gone home. Consider billing management software that can automate these tedious tasks and sync data to cut down on administrative work.

For example, Tabs3 Financials are specifically designed to increase efficiency and improve accounting processes for law firms. With minimal setup and no workarounds needed to satisfy bar association compliance requirements, you can print financial statements, write checks, reconcile bank statements, and manage client trust accounts in one easy-to-use and fully integrated system.

4.  Analyze growth goals for next year

Review your strategic priorities for 2023 and consider where you can cut down on costs or increase growth. Whether it’s ramping up marketing efforts, improving billing efficiency, or growing your client base, there are always opportunities to enhance existing processes.

For example, perhaps you want to focus on attracting clients that are a better fit for your particular legal practice. Teams can use the billing and collections process to improve your client base. Take a look at your best clients and consider how you can optimize a retainer to incentivize them to continue with your practice.

Alternatively, look at clients that regularly pose slow-payment issues, demand excessive discounting, or are otherwise disproportionately problematic. Are these clients the right fit for your firm? Or would letting them go free up time needed to focus on clients who are a better fit for your team?

5.  Connect with your clients

Many people use the end of the year to review what’s working and what isn’t, and that includes your clients. Build a strong fourth quarter by revisiting your client relationships and seeing how they can improve. Now is a great time to follow up on past clients, check in with your current ones, and listen to their priorities for the coming months.

If you understand your clients’ needs, you’ll be better positioned to advocate for your firm and discuss how you can help with their upcoming issues. This time is also ideal for sharing new services or end-of-year promotions with clients.

Furthermore, connecting with your clients and listening to their feedback with an open mind is an important opportunity to learn what your firm could be doing better. Rather than just shaking hands and thanking them for their business, capitalize on this interaction to ask for their thoughts about your services. When done right, this will make your client feel valued and heard, and provide you with important considerations to take back to your practice’s stakeholders.

6.  Plan for the holidays in advance

Q4 is full of holidays and celebrations, and it can also be the month of endless client gifts: cards, gift baskets, and other tokens of appreciation pile up on countless desks. It can be hard to stand out from every other business.

To ensure your firm isn’t lost in the crowd, don’t treat the holiday season as a rote chore. Start planning early to brainstorm, plan, and execute a holiday marketing plan that fits your goals and priorities. Rather than just mailing out a standard gift, be intentional with your holiday plans. Tailor your gifts and marketing to your clients’ needs and be sure to leave time for connecting with clients and other practices on a social level.

7.  Start your 2023 marketing plan

Marketing is an important part of any business, and that includes legal practices. Use this time to realistically evaluate your existing marketing plan and how you can improve it in 2023.

You can examine your marketing through a number of different lenses:

• Are you exceeding or underutilizing your marketing budget? If so, why?
• Are you intentionally focusing your marketing efforts with a clear plan for strategic growth priorities, or are you just going through the motions?
• Are your marketing efforts focusing on the areas of your practice with the most growth or profit potential?
• How are you evaluating your marketing? What data metrics are you using, and are those the right marketing KPIs?
• Are your marketing efforts reaching your desired audience?
• How can your marketing efforts be more efficient and deliver better results?

These are all important questions to ask when designing an effective 2023 marketing plan and can help build a better strategic agenda in the coming year.

Kick off a successful Q4 with Tabs3

With a robust suite of practice management, time tracking, billing, and accounting tools designed specifically to meet the needs of busy law firms, Tabs3 Software has all the necessities to help you achieve your law office’s goals, both in Q4 and 2023.

Experience the difference that Tabs3 software can make! Schedule your free walkthrough demo today.

Many people choose trusts to manage their money because trust accounts offer privacy, control, and tax benefits beyond those provided by a traditional bank account. Trusts are more than just bank accounts, though.

A trust is a type of legal arrangement in which one person grants another the right to hold and manage property or funds in accordance with specific instructions. The person managing the property, called the fiduciary, has a legal obligation to manage the money and property in the best interest of the owner.

Various industries use trust accounts. In real estate, property managers keep trust accounts to have money on hand for any repairs and updates that property owners need them to carry out. In the legal profession, attorneys use trust accounts to hold and manage funds that clients intend to use to pay for legal services.

For example, a client may deposit $5,000 into a trust account as a retainer. The attorney then transfers money from the trust account into the law firm’s operating account as work is completed on the client’s case.

What Is Trust Accounting?

At its most basic, trust accounting is the bookkeeping of trust fund accounts. To protect legal clients’ best interests, the American Bar Association (ABA) and state bar associations maintain detailed guidelines and regulations about trust accounting. In addition, attorneys must follow state-mandated tax rules for managing trust accounts.

Among these rules is the ABA’s expectation that client funds and law firm operating funds should always be kept separate. Also worth considering? Law firm earnings and trust accounts are subject to different tax rules.

This is one reason why it’s so vital to monitor the fiscal movements of a trust account closely and track transactions across various categories. Proactive organization also helps attorneys apply the proper tax application to every expense and receipt.

To provide accurate reports about the status of trust accounts to clients and the ABA, attorneys should also keep detailed records and notes about all transactions.

The Basics: Trust Accounting Best Practices

Even with trust accounting software on our side, attorneys should remain in the habit of regularly reviewing their state’s trust accounting regulations to stay in compliance.

Records

When it comes to trust fund management, complete records and a reliable accounting process are crucial. The right trust accounting software will include built-in safeguards that prevent situations where necessary data isn’t readily accessible.

Keep trust accounting records separate from personal and business records, especially when you’re managing multiple trust funds at once. Listing trust funds on your law firm’s balance sheets is both confusing and unethical.

Security

Trusts are often the target of fraud and other forms of theft because they usually hold large sums of money. It is your law firm’s responsibility to protect clients’ funds from hackers and identity thieves.

Purpose

Every trust fund has a specific use in its rules. Trustees cannot withdraw money from it to cover other things. Typically, the purpose of legal clients’ trust funds is to cover the cost of legal services. Until those services are provided and the money is transferred to the law firm’s operating account, attorneys shouldn’t spend the money for any purpose.

Accessibility

Transparency is vital to successful trust accounting. Rigorous record keeping doesn’t mean that information should be buried away, hidden from view. Your trust accounting software should keep data readily accessible. Your firm should always be ready to provide each client access to their trust information.

Transactions

Trust accounting can be an area of potential malpractice issues if you aren’t careful with your process. Many attorneys choose to structure payment plans to make as few transactions as possible to minimize the risk of mistakes and getting into hot water with the bar.

Finding time to meticulously track trust accounts can be a challenge for busy attorneys. Fortunately, trust accounting software designed specifically for law firms offers a powerful solution. As part of our comprehensive range of legal software solutions, Tabs3 provides trust accounting software to help with the management and maintenance of client funds.

Tabs3: Your Versatile Trust Accounting Software Solution

Tabs3 Trust Accounting helps you organize and streamline your work, increasing productivity, billable hours, and profits.

With accounting and management features consolidated on one screen, you won’t have to worry about juggling multiple software at once. Instead, your team will enjoy a versatile platform that streamlines processes throughout your whole firm.

With legal software products designed for the way you work, Tabs3 Trust Accounting will be one less distraction from doing what you do best: serving your clients! Tabs3 Software supports thousands of legal professionals in their efforts to improve their trust accounting process and shield their work against common compliance pitfalls.

Tabs3 Software Integration

Our trust accounting software works seamlessly with other Tabs3 applications to reduce the time attorneys spend on administrative tasks. When used alongside our billing, accounts payable, and general ledger software for maximum benefit, Tabs3 offers you the most informative overview possible of your law firm’s financials.

Tabs3 Trust Accounting is simple to use because it features an easy-to-navigate user interface. Integrated with Tabs3 Billing, you can view Trust balances at a glance from various reports and the Matter Manager. For example, your trust balances can be included in the work-in-process reporting and on statements. You can review trust balances and transactions as needed from either application. With Tabs3Pay, you can also process client deposits via credit card.

Automation makes Tabs3 Software even more useful for trust accounting. Any payments made to or from a client trust account will automatically be recorded, improving the accuracy of your firm’s trust accounting records with minimal effort required.

Why Software Is Important for Trust Management

With the complex tax factors and transactions that happen within a trust, keeping track of everything can get complicated. Even an experienced attorney can easily feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work involved.

While a legal professional may have the training and knowledge for the job, mistakes can happen easily when managing trust accounts for multiple clients. Even minor mistakes can have major ramifications when tax laws and industry regulations are violated, even unintentionally.

Dedicated software designed to assist with all trust-related tasks can increase your firm’s accuracy. Tabs3 Software can help you avoid inconsistencies that may impact your trust accounting. Compared to manually managing the trust accounting process, Tabs3 Trust Accounting software streamlines workflows and minimizes errors, saving your firm time and money.

Your firm can become fully liable for any issues with trust accounting, and accounting software reduces errors and protects you in the event that there’s a problem. Tabs3 records all transactions and keeps them organized, so you’ll always have easy access to them and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. The software warns you when an account goes below a minimum balance, and helps you easily reconcile your bank statements. In some states, multiple forms of proof that trust bank accounts are in balance may be required. TAS

provides this proof via the Three-Way Reconciliation Report.

Easily Manage Multiple Client Trust Accounts

With Tabs3 Trust Accounting, you’ll be able to process and track every transaction across multiple trusts with ease. With seamless integration between all Tabs3 Software applications, you can check ledgers while managing trust without the need to switch tabs. In addition, Tabs3 Trust Accounting complies with all major trust accounting regulations. Because our trust accounting is built specifically for law firms’ trust accounting needs, you’ll have no trouble keeping complete and accessible records with Tabs3.

You can also customize your software to adhere to additional in-house security protocols. Tabs3 offers an extra layer of security, which protects funds from anyone intent on stealing from your clients. The software tracks all transactions within the trusts connected to it to keep you informed.

Additional features

Dashboard

Being able to find your way around your trust accounting software is critical. With Tabs3 Trust Accounting, you can access a comprehensive overview of your firm’s trust accounts and their standing at a glance. Navigating the home page to complete a transaction or start a reconciliation is intuitive and fast. With just a few clicks, review additional account summaries and other detailed transaction information.

You’ll also be able to view recent transactions within any individual client trust, as well as a combined list of transaction information. Pin your most used actions in the dashboard to customize your process, so you can print, check, and record data all in one place.

Positive Pay

Tabs3 Trust Accounting includes a Positive Pay Export program, which offers greater security in a more streamlined workflow. Directly export approved checks and upload them to your financial institution to support the Positive Pay fraud prevention program.

Experience the difference that Tabs3 Trust Accounting software can make for your firm! 

Schedule your free walkthrough demo today.

Like it or not, the modern legal industry operates at a break-neck pace. To have any hope of keeping up with clients’ increasing expectations, every member of your legal team should have remote access to your firm’s legal practice management software. By embracing cloud hosting, your entire legal staff can provide an outstanding client experience even when traveling or working from home.

Whether your legal staff works from home year-round or simply needs to track time and expenses when out of the office, Tabs3 Connect has the flexibility required to keep your law firm nimble, agile, and secure.

Remote work is here to stay

Let’s embrace it.

Law firms around the world were forced to adopt remote work out of necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while some firms have chosen to return to strictly in-person operations in the office, many have decided to continue exploring the frontiers of legal technology and allow attorneys to continue working remotely.

Attorneys are generally thrilled to gain back the time and money spent on their former commute. Meanwhile, law firms benefit from a simultaneous decrease in overhead costs and an increase in staff productivity and loyalty.

In light of these conveniences and many others, managing partners now recognize that there’s no real reason to chain attorneys to their desks at the office. Remote access to law firm practice management software, makes it possible to coordinate and supervise legal staff with ease, all while protecting clients’ confidentiality.

Most trials and court hearings are still held in person, of course. However, with secure access to fully integrated law firm practice management software, attorneys can complete their most common tasks from home, including:

• Billing
• Conducting negotiations
• Reviewing legal documents
• Keeping clients up to date on their legal matters
• Planning and setting appointments
• Sending and receiving secure emails
• Time tracking

Aside from a bit of trust in your legal staff, all you need to get started is remote access to a reliable, seamlessly integrated law firm practice management software.

3 pathways for remote access to Tabs3 Software

As a leading provider of law firm practice management software, Tabs3 is trusted by tens of thousands of legal professionals every day. Though Tabs3 Software is an on-premise practice management solution, advancements in cloud technology have enabled them to offer multiple convenient, reliable solutions for remote access.

1.   Tabs3 Platinum + Tabs3 Connect

This winning combination provides remote access to all of your law firm practice management software’s most essential features on a phone, tablet, laptop, or home desktop, including the Tabs3 Matter Manager. Tabs3 Connect allows attorneys to enter fees and costs, check their calendar, view documents, and more with ease.

To protect data security, sensitive client information is stored on the law firm server, rather than on attorneys’ mobile devices.

2.   Remote access software

Remote access software provides secure access to your legal practice management software via an internet connection between your office server and home computer. When configured properly, remote access software offers your legal staff secure access to all Tabs3 Software features from almost anywhere. With this method, only a minimal amount of data travels between attorneys’ home devices and office computers.

For the best results, pair your remote desktop client with a VPN, and consult with your IT team about configuration.

3.   Cloud hosting service provider

Most cloud hosting service providers specialize in supporting law firms with compliance, data security, and performance you can count on. Cloud hosting allows your legal staff to enjoy complete access to the desktop version of Tabs3 while managing partners can breathe easier about IT concerns.

For long-term remote access to Tabs3, cloud hosting can be a good option for a high level of data security and convenience.

More tips for secure remote work

Though the benefits of remote work are easy to see, legal staff must proactively embrace enhanced cybersecurity measures to preserve data security. In recognition of the myriad challenges that accompany remote work in the legal industry, the American Bar Association has directed lawyers to “make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information relating to the representation of a client.”

Fortunately, law firm practice management software makes remote work practical, secure, and efficient. Still, training all legal staff on the importance of confidentiality, data privacy, and security protocols is a must. Managing partners should also prioritize developing a written work-from-home protocol that dictates the exact steps attorneys and other legal staff should take to safeguard data security when using legal practice management software outside of the office.

Your work-from-home protocol may direct attorneys to:

• Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi connections when accessing law firm practice management software
• Avoid transmitting client information over unsecured Wi-Fi connections
• Utilize virtual private networks (VPNs) when accessing legal practice management software or transmitting client information
• Set up multi-factor authentication for all work-related applications
• Choose strong passwords for all work-related hardware and applications
• Avoid accessing legal documents or video conferencing with clients without a private environment
• Turn off listening-enabled devices (Amazon Alexa, Google Home, etc.) in their workspaces during phone calls and videoconferences, because these devices listen to and record conversations automatically

Your IT support team should also review the terms of service of all law firm software and ensure:

• All computer systems are equipped with up-to-date firewalls and anti-malware software
• All data that’s stored remotely is backed up securely
• Portable devices can be scrubbed of client data remotely

Embrace mobility and data security with Tabs3 Software

There’s a reason that over 98% of our customers are satisfied with their software solutions. (In fact, 9 out of 10 of them recommend Tabs3 Software to other law firms.)

Stop compromising on cybersecurity by using vulnerable, unsecured platforms for remote work. From document and project management to time and expense tracking and more, Tabs3 Software offers the reliability and trusted service you expect from an industry-leading legal practice management software.

Remote access with Tabs3 Software is secure, compliant, convenient, and accessible. With over 40 years of experience providing cutting-edge legal technology to law firms just like yours, we’re committed to upholding even the industry’s strictest compliance and data security regulations.

Check out the Platinum Edition product page to learn more about what Tabs3 Connect has to offer.

Request your free trial or schedule a walkthrough demo to see how Tabs3 Software’s fully integrated suite of software products can revolutionize the way your law firm functions on a day-to-day basis.

73% of businesses believe that ease of use, simple integrations, and reliability are the three most important factors to consider when selecting practice management software.

73% of businesses also believe that the practice management software solutions currently available on the market lack at least one of these factors.

What do you think?

Are the legal workflows at your law firm thriving or weighed down by inefficient practice management tools and techniques? If your productivity feels stifled, it could be because law firm efficiency drops when legal workflows become congested by overly complex or unspecialized practice management software.

Legal practice management software that includes firm-friendly project management features can help, but how do you know you’re choosing the right one?

The purpose of legal practice management software

When you decided to invest in legal practice management software to streamline processes at your law firm, did you do any pre-planning? Many partners skip this essential step, never taking the time to consider which tasks attorneys need support with to improve workflow efficiency.

“Practice management” is a phrase that can encompass a wide range of day-to-day operational tasks at your law firm. Without carefully auditing attorneys’ existing legal workflows, you risk inadvertently investing in a “solution” that lacks some document management, matter management, or project management tools you need.

Investing in additional software to fill the gap might seem like a suitable compromise, but before you know it, your new “productivity-boosting” tech stack could decrease your law firm’s efficiency.

If you’re staring at a laundry list of suites designed to “simplify” legal workflows but experiencing lower law firm efficiency than before you started, consider this:

The purpose of legal practice management software is to manage your entire practice from one convenient, time-saving software interface.

Your legal practice management software should empower you to complete all of your daily tasks without jumping between software, including:

• Assigning due dates
• Onboarding new clients and matters
• Tracking matter progress
• Coordinating clearly with legal staff
• Organizing and searching matter files and tasks by status, attorney, due date, and more
• Clearly visualizing the week and month ahead in an attorney-friendly calendar

If your legal practice management software lacks these capabilities, it doesn’t streamline processes.

Achieve these game-changing efficiencies with the legal project management tools that are already built into your practice management software

1.   Matter management tools make finding critical information easy

Matter management tools create a control center for your law firm, where you can streamline processes by organizing and managing multiple legal matters on a single screen. Accessing this type of “control center” from anywhere empowers your team to collaborate and manage deadlines more effectively.

When emails, fees, documents, appointments, phone records, and notes are just one click away, law firm efficiency skyrockets.

2.   Document management is more dependable

Even the best project management software in the world can’t make up for poor document management. Look for legal practice management software that streamlines legal workflows with built-in document management.

Being able to track when changes were made to a document, as well as which staff member made them, is a game-changer when attorneys collaborate on a single client matter. Likewise, linking to documents or client matters makes communication between attorneys clearer and more informative.

3.   Attorney-friendly calendars streamline legal workflows

Save the paper planner for personal events. Any legal practice management software worth investing in should include an attorney-friendly calendar that syncs with Outlook, so you never miss an event.

Whether you want to view everyone’s appointments on a single screen or just the events related to a specific matter or client, utilizing color coding and other organizational features make it possible.

Legal project management features do more than make your calendar easier to read, though. Scheduling should also be a snap, so you can spend less time planning your work and more time completing it. Look for project management features that enable you to schedule single or recurring tasks and appointments for individuals, groups, or the entire firm.

The best software for law firms should also include calendar plan templates, which allow you to schedule a series of events from one kick-off date. For example, the tasks you complete for every new matter (collection, follow-up, etc.) should automatically be added to your calendar when you onboard a new client.

Double-booking alerts and optional task reminders can also improve workflow efficiency by keeping legal staff on task.

4.   Simple searches speed up checking for conflicts of interest

Rather than digging through piles of paper or sifting through spreadsheets for hours, instantly see conflicts of interest between potential clients and anyone in your firm. A reputable legal practice management software with robust document management and matter management tools should simplify checking for conflicts of interest to improve law firm efficiency.

Search through legal documents, emails, attachments, and other files quickly and accurately with phrase matching, phonetic checks, and other flexible features.

5.   Email management supports document management

In the era of digital communication, email management is just as essential as document management. With legal practice management software that integrates with your email, it’s easy to track and bill time spent reading and drafting client emails.

The most robust legal practice management software can also automatically upload attachments from clients’ emails, filing them conveniently within your document management system for later review.

6.   Track time for multiple client matters with ease

If your law firm bills by the hour, time tracking is one of the most essential project management investments you can make. Billable hours are lost when attorneys fail to track the time spent on calls, emails, research, document assembly, and more—yet entering time while on the go is inconvenient without the right mobile-friendly software to support legal workflows.

The right legal practice management software will allow you to track time for various client matters with the click of a button, whether you’re using your phone, tablet, or laptop.

7.   Billing is better with legal practice management software

Accurate, streamlined billing is more than a law firm efficiency issue. It’s critical to your bottom line. Because there’s no need to click through multiple websites and apps to get the job done, project management tools streamline the process of tracking time, invoicing, sending invoices, and managing trust accounting.

In addition, industry-specific software keeps clients’ sensitive information more secure with features that restrict users’ abilities to edit, view, or delete client and matter billing information.

Boost law firm efficiency with PracticeMaster

You could spend hours searching for comprehensive legal practice management software, but you shouldn’t have to. PracticeMaster encompasses all of these efficiency-boosting software functionalities and more.

Tabs3 Software has created industry-leading legal software products for over 40 years, so you can trust that every PracticeMaster feature has been expertly developed to directly support legal workflows and boost law firm efficiency.

Ready to see the difference that a more organized, more productive approach to project management can make for your law firm’s bottom line and overall client satisfaction?

Schedule a walkthrough demo today.