The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/96072
partner; today's lawyers cannot exist without IT. Aside from technical expertise, lawyers look to an IT person to be responsive, to solve the problem as soon as possible, to have a sense of urgency and to convey that sincere urgency to them immediately and throughout the solution process. If the IT person is passive-aggressive or hostile to the attorney and shows disdain or complacency, this can lead to a nasty conflict. Prompt and professional attention results in a much better outcome. Valuable Resources IT professionals are usually at the helm when it comes to making technology recommendations or decisions for the firm. They add Prompt and professional attention results in a much better outcome. value by recommending and implementing software tools to streamline the firm's workflow. Time-entry software is an example of an application that pays for itself. When time is entered sooner, the entries are more accurate, more time is typically captured and the bills can be sent out faster, resulting in money coming in to the firm faster. Studies have shown that lawyers using time-entry software can increase billable time by as much as 12 percent annually when compared to those who record time on a timesheet for someone else to enter. The increase in billable time is amplified further when compared to the timekeeper who waits until the end of the month, trying to recreate time based on email messages sent and received, meetings attended, phone calls scheduled and documents produced. Time-entry tools — especially those enabled on mobile devices — are a great help. Today's lawyers can bill from anywhere: the office, home, a courthouse hallway, a kid's soccer game or while traveling. Since they can bill from anywhere, they should be able to enter their time from anywhere, too. When lawyers enter time immediately, they capture time more accurately because it's still fresh in their minds. Time and billing software systems fall under the umbrella of financial management. This technology can tabulate and separate invoices and run reports for the accounting department to access. Timeliness is key for invoicing as well; if a firm can produce invoices at the beginning of each month, they can regulate cash flow better. Practice management software can also be leveraged to help the billing process. Many of these programs integrate with financial management and time/billing apps to provide triggers that prompt the timekeeper to enter time and attach a client or matter designation to it. It's important to make sure the vendors you work with are also on board with the level of service required to support the legal business model. Good Business In both proactive and reactive ways, IT professionals play a central role in billing at a law firm, and their contributions are instrumental to the success of the firm. They are in a position to streamline and increase billings by providing excellent support and software. Their ability to solve technology problems as they arise ensures lawyers and paralegals have a clear path to meeting their hourly targets each day. The more IT cooperates and collaborates with lawyers and staff to create a functional workflow, the more profitable the firm will be and the better morale will be. And that's good business for everyone. Kevin Harris is a Project Manager at Orion Law Walter A. Romney, Jr. is a shareholder and the Management Systems, a software company Managing Director at Clyde Snow & Sessions. His that provides a complete financial and practice practice focuses on complex litigation matters, management system of front-office and back- including employment disputes litigation, office solutions, including time, billing and intellectual property and trade secrets litigation, collections management. Contact Kevin at and white collar criminal defense. He also serves kharris@orionlaw.com. as the firm's treasurer and is on the technology and recruiting committees. Contact Walt at war@clydesnow.com. 68 Peer to Peer