www.iltanet.org
84
Peer to Peer
inside iLTA
the cross-industry taskforce holds their first meeting in
early February.
It is imperative to fast-track this project, as we
are facing what appears to be the perfect storm. Law
departments are pushing for more control of resources
and costs. Law firms are trying desperately to keep costs
down. Time and billing vendors are being pressured to
update their systems to accept new file formats and codes.
E-discovery, e-billing and matter management vendors
are desperate to enhance their products to provide
comprehensive management reports which cannot be
facilitated with the current code set and old electronic file
formats. Intricate billing schemas are an added expense to
all parties.
Establishing a simple, usable set of standards is integral
to the successful adoption of those standards. The LEDES
Oversight Committee (LOC) is planning to get these codes
established in 2010, and many vendors are waiting to
update their products to incorporate the latest code set.
Changes like these are quite time-consuming and expensive
for vendors and the customers who use the products.
Without a LEDES standard, custom, non-standard
code sets are developed, which require the maintenance
of several validation tables. Law firms, legal departments,
and vendors turn to the LOC for established standards,
and this current initiative demonstrates the strength of the
group in quelling the perfect storm. ILTA
cathi collins is vice President of bridgeway
Research. she has been a legal industry
consultant for more than 25 years and has
a strong financial and legal background.
cathi serves on the board of the lEDEs
oversight committee. she holds a degree
from Millersville university in business
administration / Economics and sits
on the board of Directors of Metalloid
corporation. she can be reached at
cathi.collins@bridge-way.com.
to learn more about the lEDEs oversight
committee, go to http://www.ledes.org.
Platinum Sponsor
Greenfield/Belser Ltd
sponsored by:
Gold Sponsors
ABA Law Practice Management Section
Canadian Bar Association
International Legal Technology Association
Legal Marketing Association
Silver Sponsors
Altman Weil, Inc.
Association of Legal Administrators
Additional information and entry forms are available online at www.innovactionaward.com. All entries must be received by Tuesday, June 1, 2010.
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Awards 2010
celebrating innovation in the practice of law
CLPM095_InnovAction_Ad_8_5x5_5_kc.indd 1 1/28/10 12:10 PM
