The Legal Assistant Software can drastically improve your ability to manage your current caseload with the ability to handle more cases than you ever imagined. A paralegal already does the work of ten men, so with efficient legal software, you can double, or even triple those numbers making for an impressive resume and a productive firm. Trust me; it will not go unnoticed.

The Paralegal’s Daily Agenda

A paralegal is the mitochondria of a law firm, the literal powerhouse. A paralegal’s daily takes include drafting letters, motions, discovery, complaints, and much more. Since paralegals wear many hats, many paralegals wear the administrative hat. Some administrative tasks include tracking checks, invoicing, receiving client payments, maintaining the firm’s bills, marketing expenses, and managing the attorneys’ calendar.  This is far from an exhaustive list. For all the tasks listed above, this proves that legal software is essential to streamline administrative processes.

Paralegals and legal assistants are always multitasking. Since we are human, mistakes are bound to happen. Do not be too hard on yourself; it is just part of the profession. One of the most common errors among paralegals and legal assistants is forgetting to calendar a hearing date. That is the WORST! Paralegals hate making mistakes, but they shouldn’t be too hard on themselves. It is no surprise that with all the daily chaos that one may get missed. But what if I told you there is a way to eliminate human error? The Legal Assistant is equipped with features that will virtually eradicate human error.

The Legal Assistant Software

The Legal Assistant is an all-inclusive legal software program designed for paralegals, legal assistants, and other legal staff. The Legal Assistant is a versatile software that benefits and excels in many areas of law. Whether a firm specializes in criminal law, personal injury law, real estate, or family law, you will be equipped with a simple, reliable, and organized hub to store and maintain case files, information, and the firm’s administrative information in real-time.

Low Price, High Quality

The Legal Assistant respects a firm’s budget. The Legal Assistant is packed with essential features that allow you to manage your firm or business to pay only for what you need.  The Legal Assistant offers different versions of the software, whether Cloud or On-Site. You also can select the modules that best fit your firm’s area(s) of law and the number of staff who will need to access the software.

Customized to Perfection

Each law firm will have different needs. The variety of needs is typically based on the firm’s size, practice area, and long-term goals. All of which is configurable for your firm’s specific needs, moreover The Legal Assistant comes loaded with predefined events for each module. A paralegal will relish in the hundreds of Microsoft word templates available immediate use. All templates are customizable and easy to use. Any outgoing correspondence is automatically merged with the data previously entered so you won’t need to waste a minute re-inserting previously entered data.

Seize the Day – Tackle that Inbox

Two Words. Email Management. A paralegal’s inbox can become flooded within minutes. They are typically copied on their attorney’s emails as well to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. The types of emails range from potential client inquires, retained client correspondence, marketing, court filings, invoices/bills, in-house communications, emails from opposing counsel, and much more.

The Legal Assistant monitors emails while tackling incoming and outgoing mail. Incoming mail can be scanned and sent to the assigned case file within seconds. This allows the attorneys or other members of the firm to be informed in real-time.

Task Management and Workflows

The internal communication between your legal team is just as important as any other communication you send externally. The Legal Assistant provides comprehensive task management features providing the attorneys and paralegals with full inter-office messaging capabilities, audio dictation, and customized workflows based on the case type, practice area, and its specific cased details. Attorneys often need to dictate important information on-the-go, The Legal Assistant allows the attorney to quickly send a task to the paralegal along with a recorded audio dictation, and a direct reference to the assigned case.

The Legal Assistant is as the name says, your 24/7, on-demand, legal assistant. You can be notified via email of your daily to-do list and calendar with nightly notifications, so the paralegal can confirm the team is prepared for the next day.

The Legal Assistant also includes an event management feature. One example of this feature is a letter to remind a client of an upcoming hearing that is thirty days out. It also serves other vital functions. This feature sets The Legal Assistant apart from the rest.  It can generate and sign a preassembled letter. It sends the letter to the case file and notifies you so you can quickly review the letter, and any other event management has generated for you. Then it is only one click away before sending it via email or fax to the client and any other interested parties.

Legal Billing as Easy as 1,2,3

A law firm is always running on all cylinders. Leave it to The Legal Assistant to keep track of your billable time and automate routine processes. The Legal Assistant’s document assembly works to not only create a letter for a client but also automatically bills for that letter to the appropriate case. This process proves to be of both worlds and keeps track of billable hours that could inadvertently be skipped over during a busy workday.

A unique feature The Legal Assistant Provides is a lightning-fast process to make monthly invoicing a breeze. The software customizes an invoice template to your firm’s specifications. The template is easy to set up, and once the document is generated, it is ready to be sent to the client. This process can be automated to send on a specific date with a minimum trust balance.

Expanding Marketing Campaigns

The Legal Assistant boosts client communication and strengthens the attorney-client relationship. Want to wish them a happy birthday, automatically? No Problem.  Planning an open house or holiday party? No problem, email everyone within a city or zip area and let them know by email or printed letter.

Making the Switch – Data Conversion

A paralegal may already have his or her organizational system and thinking about converting all data to new software can be overwhelming. Relax, The Legal Assistant can discuss the firm’s requirements in detail, and the good news; the chances are that we already have a converter for your existing data.

Stress Less & Let The Legal Assistant Worry About the Rest

Even when you’re not working, The Legal Assistant is. Implementing new innovative software may be the edge you’ve been looking for. The software is easy to navigate and easy to use. The Legal Assistant software will provide more time to focus on other matters in the firm. Paralegals and their unmatched work ethic never cease to amaze their attorneys with new ideas, helpful research, and continuing success. Behind every great attorney is an exhausted paralegal, but a great paralegal. The Legal Assistant sets a paralegal up for professional advancement and puts a firm on track for overall success. Keep up the hard work; remember, work smarter, not harder!

For more information on our customized modules, check the best paralegal software on the market. Also, be sure to schedule a free, quick, eye-opening demo to show you all the features you need TODAY.

It’s simple to learn, it’s easy to use, and you will not be sorry you gave us a try.

The post Legal software for paralegals appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

As technology progresses, so does our fear of being replaced by artificial intelligence (A.I.).  A.I. has already made its presence known in the legal field igniting worry about our job security.  The topic of Attorneys and paralegals v. Artificial Intelligence is hitting the headlines with ever-increasing presence. 

Even with the new wave of A.I. pouring into the legal industry, it does not necessarily mean that paralegals will ever become obsolete. While A.I. is by some, portrayed as an enemy, it also brings something of value to the legal field.  

There may be some firms that eliminate receptionist roles to cut down on costs. A paralegal serves a more substantial purpose and is likely to maintain employment. New advances in technology such as automation and A.I., can turn a month-long task that would typically require multiple attorneys and paralegals to sort through into a more efficient mode of productivity. A.I. could be a friend rather than a foe of paralegals. 

Comparing Apples to Oranges 

There is a common misconception between A.I. and regular computer automation, and the two terms are commonly used interchangeably. While the two may share a few similarities, they are quite different. A.I. consists of advanced computing algorithms that aim to simulate thought patterns of humans, ultimately to make autonomous decisions. Conversely, automation is software designed to follow a set of pre-programmed rules or commands, which is really, all software ever has been since the first computer program was written.

The distinction between Artificial Intelligence and Automation 

Automation is already omnipresent and works to expedites several administrative tasks and automate filing systems. It is appealing to most firms because it is cost-effective and efficient. In a law firm, it is typically used to organizes emails, produce legal documents, regulate billing, and much more.

Automation allows more time for paralegals and attorneys to dedicate time to more advanced legal work. Automation provides a legal team the freedom to meet face-to-face with clients and ensure more client interaction that is sure to boost client satisfaction.

So, automation offers a single purpose: the software performs the mundane, repetitious tasks. 

While automation may seem like A.I., it is not. The critical difference is that automation is embedded with manual configuration. It establishes workflows and formulas. It is software that can follow orders. This may somewhat put some jobs in jeopardy because it can quickly perform tasks faster than a human, and it is at times more reliable. For example, if an employee calls in sick, the automation software can continue the processes it is programmed to do without missing a beat. 

Paralegals always desire to work smarter and not harder. Automation through the use of legal practice management software can turn the average paralegal into the new and improved “Paralegal v2.0.” It expedites several administrative tasks and automates filing systems. Many law firms have already implemented a web chat feature on their websites. That addresses the routine questions and offers a quick response instead of the calls that may flood in to ask repetitive questions and eliminates phone interruptions overall. 

Interruptions can be disastrous and end up costing a law firm several thousand dollars per year. A Professor from UC Irvine presented research findings that it takes an average of twenty-three minutes for an employee to refer back to a task after an interruption. There will always be interruptions in the workplace, especially for a paralegal who multi-task on a daily basis. 

Paralegals often are the main point of contact for clients; they draft and edit legal documents, complete administrative tasks, and run errands as needed. The shorter answer to what does a paralegal do is what doesn’t a paralegal do.  Studies show that with each interruption, it takes on average twenty-three minutes to get back on task. For example, if there are ten interruptions a day, that could result in almost four hours of lost time a day out of an average eight-hour workday.

After all the math, that equals one thousand forty wasted hours per year. Therefore, it is incredibly beneficial and cost-effective to eliminate as many interruptions as possible.

Automation paired with A.I. allows paralegals to reduce interruptions and delegate tasks to learned A.I. which can brush through “interruptions” like no other. 

iParalegal – Artificial Intelligence 

A.I. is the technology that is designed to mimic what a human may think, say, or do. Unlike automation, which follows a strict predefined set of rules and orders, A.I. is constructed to learn from experiences and seek patterns and form the ability to enact the proper response. Like humans, they learn by repetition what the appropriate response is and is not. 

A.I. is extremely intimidating because it is basically a replica of you or me. No need to fret, just like us humans, A.I. has its myriad of flaws. While it is not restricted by rules, it accelerates its ability to learn quickly, but it is doing so without context. It has been compared to teaching a baby to do a paralegals job, which is quite cute, but not practical. 

The ABA published an article in 2017, introducing a paralegal robot that reviews patent documents. The company which developed the robot implemented A.I. to generate patent claims. The report produces a marked-up word document to address potential errors or concerns.

However, this does not mean it is a “paralegal or attorney replacement.” James Billmaier, the chief executive officer of the software, states, “[w]hat artificial technology is doing to a lot of repeatable functions, we’re just applying to a very large vertical. The attorney is still fundamental at working with the inventor and grabbing the idea.

The machine is better at creating and protecting the application.” He believes that A.I. is an impending need for law firms within the next five years, or they will appear “way behind the curve.” 

Other adoptions of A.I. in legal technology include using A.I. to automate the process of document review, the analysis of legal contracts and to perform due diligence checks in contract review, for example, electronic discovery and other areas of legal research.

Human Paralegal vs. Paralegal Bot

The legal profession has and always will be client-driven and an immensely sensitive area. A.I. cannot replace compassion and genuine communication. Most people seek attorneys in times of stressful circumstances. In such personal matters, a paralegal or legal assistant, or attorney communication is necessary. If a client is calling about a murder charge or a divorced issue – human interaction is essential.

There are some non-threatening ways A.I. can effectively assist in client interaction. For example, if you have a Spanish speaking client and you speak English, right off the bat, there is a troublesome language barrier. However, with A.I. chat software, what the potential client types in Spanish can be translated and received by you in English and vice-versa.

This mode of A.I. produces real-time interaction and expands your clientele. This example illustrates that in some situations, it is a more practical conduit to have A.I. in, and it is a conversation that is not ruled out from a lack of fluency. 

Paralegal Advancement 

The use of new technology can place a paralegal in a better-suited position for career advancement. Paralegals become readily available to conduct more advanced research, meet with clients, and interact more closely with attorneys and assist with case strategy. It is not too uncommon for an attorney to bring a paralegal to court because the paralegal has spent hours on the case and is familiar with the specific facts. This provides an attorney with an additional resource to utilize in court. 

The more time a paralegal has to focus on law-related issues, the more likely they are to advance and refine their legal skillset. It opens the door to a higher salary and overall career advancement. It will also increase client satisfaction if the paralegal or any member of the legal staff is readily available to address their needs expeditiously. 

Match Made in Heaven?

Automation and A.I. seem to complement each other. While automation software collects data, A.I. is designed to understand it through machine learning. According to an article published by Interesting Engineering, ” A.I. applications which are developed by using data make similar inferences by looking at the millions of cases in the past while giving a higher performance compared to the success of a group of human lawyers.” A.I. enables paralegals and attorneys to regain lost time.

Some ethical dilemmas are surrounding the implementation of A.I. in the legal industry. The concerns are if A.I. would have the ability to ‘think’ subjectively like humans. If not, it could open the door to prejudices and lead to wrong suggestions and incorrect decisions. A.I. is not yet able to ascertain social conflicts. 

Collaboration 

Humans and A.I. can collaborate instead of competing against each other to have a more desirable outcome for all parties involved. As legal software for paralegals changes, we must learn to adapt. Paralegals are accustomed to adapting to constant changes within the industry. A.I. will allow paralegals to become more cultivated and grow their knowledge of the law and its many processes. 

A.I. cannot replace face-to-face contact, and a robot cannot argue a case in front of a robot judge. A.I. opens the door to career advancement and new possibilities to become experts in A.I. and managing the processes.  The key is to adapt and embrace the change A.I. brings into the legal industry.  Become an expert on both automation and A.I. and educate yourself on how the adoption of both automation, A.I. and certain A.I. technologies could not only benefit you but your firm as well. 

The post Paralegals v. Artificial Intelligence – Friend or Foe? appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

The “S” word in the Paralegal Profession

It’s not all about the money, right? But it helps. Paralegals assume a variety of roles in the workplace, and many do the jobs of three or more people. In this article, we take a look at paralegal salaries by state in 2019, and the influential factors behind the figures. It is interesting how your geographic location can make a substantial difference concerning your salary. The national average annual salary for a professional paralegal is $50,940.00

The good news is that the paralegal profession is projected to skyrocket 15% by 2026.  The statistics provided by the United States Bureau of Labor show the paralegal and legal assistant jobs are going to be in high demand simply because the legal field is highly dependent on paralegal and legal assistant support. The demand, however, can vary from state to state depending on the market and population growth. The below data has been calculated by salary expectations and the statistics from the most recent survey from the Bureau of Labor.

Top 5 States with the Highest Paralegal Salaries

Connecticut
“Still Revolutionary, Full of Surprises”

For such a small state, Connecticut has the highest average salary across the United States. The average salary for a paralegal in Connecticut is $62,760.00. The market is rich in this State because it is packed with large companies such as Charter Communications, Cigna, Hartford Insurance Company. Large companies need legal support for various tasks related to underwriting, compliance, and pending litigation. There are almost five thousand employed paralegals in the state.

California
“Dream Big, Eureka! The Golden State”

California is the land of opportunity, and you just may find a gold nugget if you are looking for a job as a paralegal or legal assistant in this state. The average salary is $61,240 statewide. The legal field has grown substantially over the last few years and looks as though it has no intention of stopping.

Los Angeles is forever in demand for attorneys to assist future starlets and provide for the sophisticated real estate market. Disney Land, where dreams come true, is also in California and employs many paralegals. Currently, there are over thirty thousand legal professionals employed statewide. So put on your shades, California’s future seems bright!

Washington
“The State, Say WA! Experience Washington, The Evergreen State”

Washington is the state to keep an eye on if you’re looking to secure a healthy salary. The average salary for a paralegal in this state is $60,940.00. This appears to just be the beginning for Washington as large companies like Starbucks, Amazon, Boeing are constantly in need of legal professionals. Washington has massive potential for growth and looks to provide a sense of real job security. Another bonus is that Washington does not deduct personal income tax. That leaves room for a caramel macchiato from Starbucks!

Massachusetts
“It’s All Here, Make It Yours; The Spirit of America”

Massachusetts holds some of the most prestigious and affluent firms in the nation. The average salary for paralegals in this state is $60,320.00. This state currently employees nearly eight thousand paralegals. Large corporations are also affiliated with Boston putting in-house counsel in demand. Massachusetts also has a rich history and many people who visit end up falling in love with its beautiful beaches and cozy charm. This state is ideal for a paralegal looking to grow his or her career while enjoying the Bay State.

Alaska
“Find Your Alaska, Beyond Your Dreams, Within Your Reach, The Last Frontier”

Alaska is known as the last frontier, but it can easily become the new frontier for aspiring paralegals to venture to and become part of this state’s booming market. The average salary for a paralegal in this state is $59,140.00. Alaska has plenty of remote areas, and there are only a little over five hundred paralegals currently employed in the state. The state has large law firms that are always in need of legal support, and Alaska is a prime location that can offer you peace of mind, beauty, and independence. It may seem scary because of the cold and unknown, but you may be surprised, there is plenty of room for growth in Alaska to boost your education and explore the land unknown. (link in here or in Mass. http://www.opportunitydiary.com/ )?

Factors that Determine Salary in any Location

Education & Specialization

Paralegals usually hold an associate degree or certificate, while others hold a baccalaureate or master’s degree. However, attorneys like to hire paralegals that specialize in a particular area of the law such as criminal law, bankruptcy, personal injury, and immigration law. Over the past decade, the demand for a bilingual paralegal or legal assistant has been on the rise and will almost always guarantee a boost in salary.

IT and software skills are also valuable. A paralegal or legal assistant that is familiar with the latest software can help implement electronic discovery. E-Discovery is the process of procuring information from electronic sources such as emails, databases, and websites.

Experience

As with any profession, the more experience you have under your belt, the more earning potential you have. For example, an entry-level paralegal can expect to start on an hourly basis. Many paralegals get their foot in the door at law firms by first working as a receptionist or assistant.

Once a paralegal moves out of that entry-level role, he or she is likely to be placed on salary. Paralegals with roughly four to six years of experience earn an average of $46,750.00-78,750.00. This again varies on if you are employed in a smaller law firm with only two attorneys or a large corporate setting with hundreds of attorneys.

Typically, smaller firms are not able to pay as much as the larger firms, typically smaller firms are only able to pay below the average. Paralegals in a senior role where he or she supervises other paralegals earn an average salary of about $53,000 to $101,500 annually.

In closing, several factors can influence a paralegal’s salary. While the geographic location is one, education, specialties, and other economic factors should be considered. The state with the highest average certainly predisposes you to success in that state, but it is not automatic. Other expectations must be met to earn a high salary. Paralegals work hard across the nation to earn their salaries and are very deserving.

Now let’s take a look at all the paralegal salaries by state, for 2019.

The post Paralegal Salaries by State in 2019 appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

Paralegals play a critical role in the legal field as they ensure not only that the firm runs smoothly, but that the attorneys are well prepared and up to speed on their cases. Paralegals are an attorney’s right-hand person. They work as a team to build a case to best benefit the client. Believe it or not, the more work an attorney assigns to you, the more he or she trusts in your abilities and skill set to perform the work and do an outstanding job. 

Also, when a paralegal takes on part of the attorney’s workload, the attorney can focus on other important aspects of the case. This also saves the clients’ money because a paralegal’s hourly rate is not as costly as the attorneys.

Great paralegals stay on top of new legislation

Since paralegals play such a key role in the legal field, it is important they acquire a progressive understanding of the legal system. A good paralegal knows the general laws and does the work assigned. However, great paralegals stay on top of new legislation and perform research that could be a gamechanger in a case. 

There are numerous paralegal programs from certificates to ABA (American Bar Association) approved Associate Degrees where you can obtain your Associates in Paralegal Studies[1].

What a paralegal is NOT

Simply put, a paralegal is not an attorney, however, we will touch on that more below. A paralegal is not a legal assistant or legal secretary. The difference between the two is that a paralegal has either a certificate or associate degree providing them with the title of a paralegal whereas legal secretaries or assistants do not. Nor is a paralegal a court reporter. A paralegal does not go to court with the sole purpose of transcribing the hearings or trials.

What skills make for a successful paralegal?

A successful paralegal is a driven paralegal. To excel in the paralegal profession, one must remain hungry to learn and evolve. The legal field is forever changing, and a great paralegal is always one step ahead. A successful paralegal also learns to cope with stress and keep pushing forward. A successful paralegal possesses a wealth of knowledge as it relates to the legal field and is an effective researcher. While most may believe that anyone can “research” by typing it into Google, that is not the case with legal research. Platforms like LexisNexis and Westlaw require specific keywords, connectors, and search terms to ensure the most accurate and on-point results.

What is it like to be a paralegal?

Being a paralegal is a very rewarding profession. However, like with any career, there are some drawbacks. For example, the job is demanding, long hours, stressful, and high pressure. The good does outweigh the “bad” of the profession. As a paralegal, you are the go-to person in the firm for anything and everything. Not only do the clients trust and respect you, but the attorneys do too.  See our guide to the best and worst aspects of being a paralegal for further information on the highs and the lows.

What is the difference between a lawyer and a paralegal?

One of the major differences between lawyers and paralegals is their education and licensing. To be an attorney you must attend law school and obtain a Juris Doctorate Degree (JD). Many states, however, require a potential attorney to have a bachelor’s degree before they can enroll in a JD program. Furthermore, if one chooses to attend an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school, they will also need to take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), which will determine one’s eligibility to enroll in certain of their preferred law schools.

Future lawyers also undergo a rigorous background back by whichever state he or she plans to practice in to ensure his or her competence, fitness, and character.

So, first a potential lawyer must go through law school and earn their JD, but before they officially become a lawyer, they must pass the dreaded BAR EXAM. It is said to be one of the most grueling and difficult professional examinations. If one passes the bar, they are sworn in and licensed to practice in that State. They also endure annual occupational license fees, malpractice insurance coverage, and other state-specific fee requirements.  Lawyers can give legal advice, represent clients in legal proceedings, and perform activities associated with the practice of law.

Conversely, a paralegal’s education is obtained by a certificate or an associate degree specializing in paralegal studies. While formally the education is required to earn the title of paralegal, some attorneys hire and give the title paralegal without the education. However, a formal education holding a certificate or specialized degree is the candidate that is more usually more likely to get hired.

A paralegal cannot give legal advice

A paralegal can draft correspondence, motions, complaints, discovery, and much more, but under the supervision of an attorney. Paralegals wear many hats. For example, in addition to their legal duties, they also manage the daily operations of a firm like organizing files, scheduling meetings, and interacting with clients. Paralegals sometimes have the opportunity to attend a mediation, deposition, hearing, or trial with an attorney.

One major distinction between a lawyer and a paralegal is that a paralegal cannot give legal advice and cannot prepare legal documents of which have not been approved or signed off on by an attorney.  Furthermore, paralegals are not able to provide potential clients or clients advice on the law or any legal procedures. They can in no way, shape, or form represent the client in any way.

What’s the career route from paralegal to a lawyer?

After working in a firm for several years, many paralegals choose to go to law school and become a lawyer themselves. Again, most U.S. states require that before one can enroll in a JD program, a bachelor’s degree must be obtained. Also, every ABA-approved school requires potential students to take the LSAT although some law schools are not ABA-approved and may not require the LSAT. A non-ABA approved school still allows one to practice in the State where they take the bar, but there are some restrictions as to reciprocity and potentially practicing in other States.

Most paralegals have a leg up in law school simply because they have the practical experience that many law students do not have. With that said, law school is still a BEAST and is a challenge for every single law student.

What’s the difference between paralegals and legal assistants?

Many people believe that paralegals and legal assistants have similar jobs, but there are some noteworthy differences. Education for a paralegal varies from a certificate to a college degree. Legal assistants do not need any further education past high school. Another distinction is that legal assistants perform more administrative tasks such as handling intake calls and directing them to the proper paralegal or attorney, taking messages, and performing general intake.

The salary of a paralegal and legal assistant is also different. Paralegals tend to earn more than a legal assistant and have a better opportunity for career advancement. However, legal assistants do take on the roles of a paralegal, as they absorb more knowledge, can begin to conduct research and draft correspondence. Sometimes the only difference is the title.

Can a paralegal give legal advice?

NO! One of the most IMPORTANT differences between a lawyer and a paralegal is that A PARALEGAL CANNOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE! This rule is established by the ABA and other state and federal laws. This rule has proven to be challenging as the very definition of “legal advice” is gray and somewhat ambiguous because every essential part of a paralegal’s job deals with interpreting and communicating legal strategy.

What is considered legal advice? It can be as innocent as saying, “This case looks like a home run!” So, paralegals must be cautious when communicating with not only clients but potential clients as well. When in doubt, it is best to say, “I am sorry, but as a paralegal, I am not authorized to give legal advice.” Simply put, legal advice can be considered as to whatever the client perceives as legal advice. It may be awkward, and the client may be upset, but it is better for all parties to protect each other’s best interest.

A paralegal may be in the clear if they provide basic factual information about the case or the state/federal court. This can include filing deadlines or the process when filing a case, so the client is aware of the various procedures. Remember, this does not extend to relaying outcomes or expressing your opinion as to the merits of the case.

The lawyer is responsible

Punishment for this ethical rule is not just a slap on the wrist. While warnings may be provided, it could result in stiff fines or disbarment for the responsible attorney. This is because paralegals are not admitted to the bar and the reprimand(s) transfers the responsible attorney or the firm the paralegal worked under when the violation occurred.

The post What IS a paralegal, exactly? appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

Anyone reading this probably doesn’t need to be convinced about the potential of legal practice management software to increase productivity, improve the customer experience, and grow law firms.

But no solution will work unless you have the right strategy in place.

To grow your firm, your practice management software should have a solid digital marketing strategy behind it.  This will help you reach out to more of your target audience; attract new leads, and convert more prospects into paying customers.

Referrals are all well and good but relying on them as the foundation of any law firm marketing strategy is asking for trouble.

If you want to create a solid base for growth, it pays to be proactive in four areas in particular:

1. Growing traffic to your website
2. Nurturing leads
3. Improving conversion rates
4. Managing and marketing to clients more effectively

Below I highlight what to focus on in each category, with a few tips sprinkled in so that you can achieve some quick “wins”.

1. Growing traffic to your website 

To grow your firm through digital marketing, you first need to increase the amount of qualified traffic to your website. 

First, get very clear on what “qualified” means. Who are your target customers? This will vary for each law firm.

Then work on the following:

• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Building your social media online presence (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• Investing in paid advertising (Google Ads, Facebook ads, etc.)

There are no shortcuts with any of the above. They all take a little time. 

The logical starting point is SEO but it’s usually most effective when all three work in tandem.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Don’t underestimate the power of getting your website to rank on the first page of Google for your main keywords.

To improve your chances, focus on the following areas:

• Build a website for great user experience – Google will reward you for it.
• Hire an SEO specialist to optimize your website structure and ensure pages are loading quickly.
• Remove dead pages or old URLs that no longer work.
• Create a clear value proposition and call to action from the homepage onwards.
• Make your website mobile-friendly or Google will penalise you.
• Target specific keywords and specific segments of your audience with your practice area pages.
• Use multimedia (video, podcasts, infographics) to engage users and keep them on your site for as long as possible.
• Gather 5-star reviews from past clients – especially Google reviews.

Check out our law firm SEO article for more SEO tips.

Social media

If you’re pushed for time, social media might take a backseat in your digital marketing strategy.

But neglecting it completely will cut you off from potentially huge numbers of your target audience. 

It’s especially important for customer-facing law firms, such as those practicing family law; commercial or corporate law firms may find it less so.

To drive traffic to your site, work on:

• A Facebook fan page
• A Twitter account
• YouTube videos
• An Instagram account (if you want strong visual branding for your law firm) 
• LinkedIn marketing (for B2B law firms, this is a must)

Paid advertising

Facebook ads are one form of paid advertising for customer-facing law firms to consider.

Virtually any law firm can benefit from Google Ads too if you run optimized campaigns. It’s the most popular pay-per-click platform for good reason: the prominent ads that feature at the top of Google search pages can drive large amounts of traffic to your website.

But you need to get your Google Ads strategy right:

• Look for specific ‘long tail’ keywords related to terms that suggest intent to hire a lawyer: ‘DUI lawyer Toronto free consultation’ is usually better than simply ‘DUI lawyer’.
• Employ the use of ‘dynamic keyword insertion’ in ad copy: this allows your keywords to exactly match what users are searching for.
• Define any search terms that you don’t want your ad to appear for: these ‘negative keywords’ can save you lots of unnecessary clicks – which cost you money. 
• Are you targeting a specific geographical area? Use zip codes as well as city names in the ad copy.

If your Google Ad strategy fails, you’ll find it a very expensive way to generate leads. Learn how you can develop an effective Google Adwords Strategy and floods of new targeted traffic can hit your website.

2. Nurturing leads

Is all that traffic hitting your website? Some – but not all – of your leads will be interested in hiring a law firm immediately.

What do you do with those that are just gathering information? Those with questions and seeking out what their options are?

Your customers will generally be at one of the following stages of the buying cycle:

1. Research stage
2. Evaluation stage
3. Buying stage

Your digital marketing strategy should look to cover each stage of this cycle: 

1. Research: Include FAQs and other content designed to educate people and provide tips about their legal matter.
2. Evaluation: Develop customer reviews, testimonials, case studies, awards, etc., which highlight your credibility, authority, and success in your practice area.
3. Buying: Ads, emails or other content that encourage hiring your firm.

Consider these stages for your website content as you develop your “lead nurturing” strategies.

How you play this will determine how well you turn traffic and initial interest into a decision to choose your firm over the competition.

So how do you best nurture leads? 

One of the best ways is via email ‘drip’ campaigns. This is a series of emails that educate your target audience and encourage them to take the next step when they’re ready.

To do this most effectively, your practice management software should integrate with your email software, helping you automate and manage the process effectively.

3. Converting leads into paying clients

Traffic arriving at your website from SEO, paid advertising, social media, or through lead nurturing campaigns is no use to your law firm unless you can convert a proportion into paying customers.

What’s the first step you want leads to take?

They aren’t going to arrive with a credit card in hand so it’s usually a case of convincing visitors to call, email or fill out a form. 

Here are a few ways to ensure that your hot leads convert rather than going cold…

Build landing pages for conversion

Understand where your traffic is coming from and build unique landing pages that speak to the needs of these leads (hire a professional designer and a copywriter).

Optimized landing pages are typically:

• Closely related to the language of the target audience: a Google Ads visitor clicks through from an ad using a search term like divorce lawyer free consultation. They expect to see a landing page relating to a divorce lawyer offering a free consultation. Sound obvious? It’s amazing how often firms get it wrong.
• Related to a specific service, such as a free consultation for a DUI charge or a free webinar on divorce law in Chicago.
• Clutter-free: high-quality landing pages only include relevant information and avoid distracting or confusing visitors.
• Focused around the visitor taking a specific action – via a clear call to action button.

Optimize your contact forms

Your contact forms should be easy to fill out and encourage your target audience to get in touch with you from desktop or mobile.

This usually means:

• Using easily readable text
• Keeping forms clutter-free
• Making them mobile-friendly
• Populating fields automatically, if some information is known
• Including a clear call to action button

Offer click-to-call 

Offering click-to-call on your law firm website makes it easy for those who are ready to hire a lawyer (or who have a question they’d rather ask in person) to request a call from you from mobile or desktop.

Don’t make potential customers wait or scribble down a phone number. They may forget to call you later or misplace the number.

Most leads go cold within 24 hours and it can be a challenge for busy lawyers to follow up. Click-to-call will automatically dial leads as a member of your team becomes available to talk.

This prevents leads from ‘perishing’ and is a simple conversion tool that could help most law firms.

4. Managing and marketing to clients more effectively

The law practice management software you choose is key to determining the level of service you can provide for new and existing clients.

It’s much easier to retain existing clients than find new ones so you need a system that caters to the needs of both.

Managing your client base becomes easier with a cloud-based practice management solution, which can help you:

• Automate day-to-day tasks, improving turnaround times for clients
• Manage contacts and communication more easily, improving the customer experience
• Manage case records anywhere at any time on any device
• Create and organize the documents you need and provide timely access to what you need when you need it
• Boost productivity by freeing up time
• Get more organized by setting appointments and deadline alerts 
• Manage clients from intake to settlement – even remembering their birthdays!
• Better track the ROI of marketing campaigns

When your cloud-based practice management software works alongside a well-considered and executed digital marketing strategy, it’s an unbeatable combination.

Together, they can help you increase traffic, leads, and conversions for your law firm; while also ensuring that servicing new clients doesn’t come at the expense of providing an excellent service to existing ones.

By: Calin Yablonski

Calin is the founder and lead strategist at Inbound Law Marketing.

Since 2009, he has been working with law firms to design websites and develop comprehensive Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Google Adwords Marketing campaigns.

The post How to Attract & Manage Legal Clients with Digital Marketing & a Practice Management Solution appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

Let’s start with the Top 5 Best things about being a paralegal:

1. High Demand

The paralegal profession is more in demand now than ever. It is projected to grow an additional 15 percent from 2016 to 2026. ¹  This is substantial because this increase exceeds the average for all other occupations. It’s worth mentioning that paralegals with formal training, including an Associates in Paralegal Studies or Paralegal Certificate are in higher demand. There are a wide variety of options for schooling that fit around a busy lifestyle, including programs with night classes, and programs that are completely online.

The paralegals and legal assistants that exhibit strong computer and database skills, along with a strong work ethic will typically be the best candidates. So, with the increase in demand, there is no better time than now to enroll in a paralegal program to obtain an associate’s degree or a paralegal certificate.  It is also not uncommon that while one is enrolled in a paralegal program to hold a job as a legal assistant to gain practical real-world experience.

2. Making a Difference

Being a paralegal has proven to be a rewarding career. It provides an opportunity to help a person in their time of need. Depending on the area of law your firm specializes in, you could be helping a client who just lost their job, assisting a client through a trying divorce, or consoling a client who lost a loved one while working to recover their losses.

The feeling of helping someone in their darkest times is one that cannot be replaced. A career as a paralegal allows you to make a difference in someone’s life, and that is irreplaceable.

3. A Diverse Work Environment

One of the most unique aspects of being a paralegal or legal secretary is that no day will be the same. There is always a new task, a new client, or new research to be conducted.  As a paralegal your duties will vary from contacting witnesses, preparing for trials or depositions, even gearing up to go to trial yourself to assist the attorneys.

One of the most exciting things about being a paralegal is your limitless ability to learn. Being a paralegal means that you are a jack of all trades.  Attorneys will call on you for ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING (trust me). So, go to work each day with an open mind, and a willingness to learn, and you will be a top-notch, in-demand, paralegal in no time.

4. Room for Growth

As a paralegal, the opportunities are endless. You can excel at a private law firm, work within the U. S. Department of Justice, or for variety of well-known companies (even Disney World). There are numerous opportunities for paralegals at any experience level. The average salary across the country is about $50,000.00, in addition to some pretty bonus opportunities. Additionally, you could take your legal expertise to law school (move over Elle Woods!). You will find that you have a leg up on the other students simply because you have been a practicing paralegal.

5. Paralegal Prestige

You read that right, own it, you’ve earned it. All the hardworking paralegals out there would agree that you earn respect in the legal community. Paralegals are often referred to as a “wizard” or “magician.” Honestly, many paralegals live up to those nicknames, because they work tirelessly to make a difference in the legal field.  There is an unspoken code amongst all paralegals, we respect each other, and we support each other.

Uh oh, here at the top 5 WORST things about being a Paralegal:

1. STRESS

I know what you may be thinking, what job does not have stress? Well, let me and the army of paralegals tell you that the stress in this industry is extreme, and you are slapped in the face with a tremendous amount of pressure. You are constantly testing the limits of your sanity. You have strict deadlines to meet, angry clients, and oftentimes the first one to the office and the last one to leave. It can seem overwhelming at first, but you eventually find ways to cope with the stress.

2. Unappreciated

Do not expect frequent praise and recognition in this field. While that may sound harsh, it is the bitter reality that comes with the territory. I am not saying it is like that everywhere, but I’d be willing to bet over 80 percent would agree that they feel unappreciated. You will have clients, attorneys, and judges yell at you at some point in time, but you develop a thick skin, and quick! One of my favorite sayings among my fellow paralegals is “behind every successful attorney is an exhausted paralegal.”

I will tell you this, there are times when the attorney truly recognizes your hard work, and they realize that they absolutely COULD NOT do the job without you. Just remember that the job is so fast-paced that things are easily lost in translation.

3. The Bearer of Bad News

Yep, this also comes with the territory. Many times, you will be the one calling a client to break the bad news. Whether it be telling them the firm cannot take on their case, calling to collect on past overdue invoices, or informing them of an unfavorable ruling on their case. That’s right, you are the punching bag. However, you realize after a while, that they are not upset with you personally, just the situation. It is your job to remind them that you are on their side and will continue to work diligently on their behalf.  Like my old boss used to tell me, “take it with a grain of salt and move on!”

4. The Never-ending Learning Curve

Usually, you will be thrown into a case knowing nothing about it. You must become a speed reader and learn to find the core issues in any given case. You will often oversee numerous cases where you are expected to know the details of the case inside and out. The legal field is ALWAYS changing, and you must evolve with it. You will be forced outside your comfort zone with new motions and letters to draft, new case law to research, and having to manage the office all in one day. As a paralegal, the learning curve will always be steep.

5. DEMANDING

Notice here I said demanding, not in “high demand” as one of the best things about being a paralegal. If you are still reading, you will understand how unforgiving this industry can be. You will work more than forty hours a week, so kiss the idea of a nine to five job goodbye. However, to be a great paralegal and to rise above the rest, that is what it takes. You will be overwhelmed 99.9 percent of the time.

In closing, just like with any career, there are pros and cons. While there are great things about being a paralegal, there are also some not so great things involved. It does, however, transform you into a respectable professional that will demand attention. Becoming a paralegal is worthwhile because the good outweighs the bad. You also become selfless because, at the end of the day, it is about the client and making a positive impact on their case.

Stay tuned for more articles on the life of paralegal! Comment your craziest paralegal story! Also, feel free to comment on what topic you’d like to see next!

The post Top 5 best and worst things about being a paralegal appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

The Law Entrepreneur

Behind The Law Entrepreneur is Neil Tyra is an attorney based in Montgomery County, Maryland. His podcasts consist of law mixed with entrepreneurship where he gives insights on how to create and manage a successful law firm in this modern-day and age.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

Un-Billable Hour

The Un-Billable Hour is a law practice advisory podcast authored by Christopher T. Anderson. Not only that he talks about managing your law practice, but he also touches upon marketing, attracting clients, time management and all things outside of your clients’ responsibilities that you need to do.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

Evolve The Law Podcast

Evolve the Law (ETL) is a community dedicated to shaping the future of law practice. ETL connects lawyers, entrepreneurs, academics, technologists, and key industry stakeholders to accelerate growth, adoption, and implementation of technology and innovation.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

The Real Estate Law Podcast

Join hosts Jason Muth and Attorney / Broker Rory Gill for an entertaining and informative conversation about how and where the worlds of real estate and law intersect.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

The Gen Y Podcast

Nicole Abboud is the Founder of Abboud Media, a social media and content marketing consulting agency. She is a former practicing attorney and host of The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast, a show dedicated to showcasing the Gen Y lawyers who are taking a chance on themselves and practicing law on their terms.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

The Personal Injury Law Podcast

The goal of the personal injury law podcast is to provide people who are learning about personal injury law, information about the legal process in general, and specifically, personal injury claims, defenses and tactics. My goal with this podcast is to give the listener a view from the inside.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

The Legal Toolkit

Hosted by Jared Correia, The Legal Toolkit is a comprehensive resource for professionals in law practice management. Each month, he invites forward-thinking lawyers to discuss the services, ideas, and programs that have improved their practices.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

New Solo by Legal Talk Network

New Solo podcast covers a wide range of topics including transitioning from a law firm to a solo practice, law practice management, networking, job searching, technology, and much more. The host Adriana Linares’ goal is to answer the questions that arise throughout all phases of a solo career, providing an opportunity to continue learning and improving best practices. Guests include lawyers and relevant professionals within the industry.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

Thinking Like A Lawyer

Thinking Like A Lawyer is a podcast featuring Above the Law’s Elie Mystal and Joe Patrice. Each episode, the hosts will take a topic experienced and enjoyed by regular people, and shine it through the prism of a legal framework. This will either reveal an awesome rainbow of thought, or a disorienting kaleidoscope of issues.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

Lunch Hour Legal

Hosted by digital marketers Gyi Tsakalakis and Kelly Street, Lunch Hour Legal Marketing is jam-packed with tips and tricks for attracting more clients and business to your legal practice. Tune in monthly for expert advice to turbocharge your firm’s efficiency.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

Good 2 Be Social<

Legal industry leaders and hosts Guy Alvarez and Tim Baran share deep insights and fresh perspectives on the latest legal marketing trends and strategies, with actionable takeaways for lawyers and marketing professionals at law firms and legal technology companies.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

Law Next by Bob Ambrogi

LawNext is a weekly podcast hosted by Bob Ambrogi, who is internationally known for his writing and speaking on legal technology and innovation. Each week, Bob interviews the innovators and entrepreneurs who are driving what’s next in the legal industry. From legal technology startups to new law firm business models to enhancing access to justice, Bob and his guests explore the future of law and legal practice.

listen on Apple podcasts
listen on Spotify

The post Top law podcasts by lawyers for lawyers in 2019 appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

Modern technology continues to improve the life of attorneys, paralegals and legal secretaries throughout the United States.  The Legal Assistant is one of the companies participating in this technological change.  The Legal Assistant has added recently their newest product, The Family Law Assistant (TFLA).  TFLA provides to family attorneys a simple and yet profound case management system to improve law office management, efficiency, quality of work, and help provide peace of mind to the family law practitioner.

Practicing in the family law area has its own distinct problems and sophistications.  This new family law software provides the case management, contact management, and document management services needed in order for family law practitioners to practice more efficiently and lower the cost of doing business.

The software, TFLA, was developed over the years primarily from two sources.  First, the software was designed by and in consultation with attorneys thoroughly experienced in the particular problems in the practice of family law.  As in all areas of law today in the United States, the attorney, paralegal, and legal secretary need to practice only in areas that they are able to provide appropriate and competent services.

Developed with these family law experts, TFLA allows experienced attorneys and newer attorneys, to both practice safely and productively.  Second, there are the years of experience that The Legal Assistant has had in the use by attorneys throughout the United States of our previous products, The Personal Injury Assistant, The Real Estate Assistant and The Criminal Law Assistant.

A partial list of the specific areas that are covered in this software, TFLA, includes:

• Time management and billing system
• Document assembly
• Legal calendaring
• Contact management
• Case management
• Clients, Dependents and Spouse Database
• County Court & Judge Database (New Jersey by default)
• Attorney Database (New Jersey by default)
• Expert Database

While this program comes with a default set of data for New Jersey, including judges, court data and other information, the complete package dovetails perfectly with the use of court forms in other jurisdictions.  For example, in California, fillable all court forms are provided by the governing State Judicial Council.  Those forms are available at http://www.courts.ca.gov/, are able to be uniquely filled out on your computer, and relate to the case management aspect of your case provided by The Legal Assistant.

Of course, there is constant updating of the system because of not only the change in technology, but also the constant change in court personnel, information concerning the court system, and general databases.

The TFLA, The Family Law Assistant, contains pre-designed family law templates for divorce, domestic violence, pre-nuptial agreements, visitation, child support, child abuse, child custody, military divorce and spousal support, but also allows you to use a customizable database which allows you to add in other areas of family law practice.  In all circumstances, the forms can be modified to fit your case.  In addition, the workflow management of the TFLA software allows you to modify it easily in order to optimize the custom workflow system already in place in your office.

The Legal Assistant allows you to manage all aspects of the case, and use the court forms independently. All systems work within one software application which allows you to smoothly transition from one type of work on an individual case, and also transition smoothly with no change of software to another client.  Importantly, TFLA is also extremely easy to use, and The Legal Assistant provides free chat and webinars.  You can sign up at any time for the seminars, and of course, the legal chat results in either immediate results during business hours, or a response the next day.

All of the programs of The Legal Assistant work from the same database so that other work such as real estate or criminal law is easily accessed.  TFLA is also fully compatible with Microsoft Office and allows you to use Outlook, Word and Excel seamlessly.

Finally, The Legal Assistant includes financing functionality, which allows you to get the complete package including the time management and billing system for just $75.00 per month with only a six-month commitment.  This pricing system allows all legal practitioners to easily afford the upgrade in their practice of law, which in a short period of time saves them money, increases their efficiency and provides them with peace of mind, which sometimes can be difficult in the field of family law.

The post Family Law Attorneys Reap Benefits With The Family Law Assistant appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

General updates affecting all modules

Unprotected Attachment Distribution

A popular request was to allow the distribution of system generated Microsoft Word documents from the attachments screen in unprotected form primarily so that users could continue to edit letters after they had been created. This is particular useful for legal contracts where you would want to ‘track changes’ in the document.

Integration with EFax

We have now added the popular internet faxing service ‘EFAX’ to our list of supported fax distribution methods. Now you no longer need a physical fax machine in your office, if you are signed up with eFax, all you need to do is update your company parameters and select EFAX as your fax service and thats it. The next time you distribute a letter via fax, it will use your eFax provider.

Ability to Complete/ReOpen event log entries

It is now possible to mark event log entries as either complete or re-open completed entries directly from the event log form.

Printed Case Statistics

We have now added a ‘Print’ button to the case statistics dialog, so you can easily obtain an overview of your system in hard copy, including statistics such as open/closed cases.

Outlook Calendar Synch (OLSYNCH)

OLSynch is an additional feature that can update your personal calendar in your own installation of MS Outlook with calender entries held in The Legal Assistants system calendar assigned to you automatically with no intervention. This is a fantastic feature for those who require their personal calendars are kept up to date with their office activities, even for mobile users as long as they already have synchronization in place between their mobile device and their office calendar.

TO DO List overview default search dates.

The search date range now defaults from today’s date to 30 days ahead.

Defendant search include Opposite Parties

Both the Defendant and Opposite Party databases will be searched when you carry out a search from either case form as they both typical represent a conflict.

Emails can now be sent BCC

The attachment/email distribution facility now additionally supports Blind Carbon Copy(BCC).

Importing an Email from Sent Items

An issue has been resolved when importing emails from the ‘Sent Items’ email resulting in the incorrect date being carried over to the case attachments form.

Referral field issue resolved

An issue was identified and has been resolved involving the Referral field on the case details form.

The Personal Injury Assistant Enhancements

Inclusion of Police Departments database (State specific)

You can now select, and maintain the related police departments through the additional accident details interface.

Other events are now printable.

A facility has been introduced allowing a report to be generated of all ‘Other Events’ across all cases, filterable by date.

Doctors list now printable

The list of Doctors linked to a case can be quickly printed providing a hard copy of all the doctors details.

Introduction of Interpreter Required flag against the case.

It is now possible to indicate on your case file whether an interpreter will be required at court events. This field can then be used within your letters to the courts to indicate the interpreter requirement along with the language required.

No restriction on Deposition entries.

We have now made the number of depositions you are allowed to enter unlimited. In addition you can also click to see instant reports on depositions by attorney for that case, or globally across all cases and even limited by date range if required.

Defendants Attorney Personal Fax/Phone

An issue has been resolved while retrieving and presenting the personal fax and phone of a defendants attorney.

The Real Estate Assistant Enhancements

Surveyor Reference Number

You can now specify a reference number for the surveyor.

We’d like to hear from you if you have any suggestions for future updates or comments re’ this update so do not hesitate to contact us
On FaceBook : http://www.facebook.com/LegalSoftware
On Twitter : http://twitter.com/lawyersoftware

Or via our website.

The post Software Update 03112012 appeared first on The Legal Assistant.

Lawyers have gotten a bad rap due to stereotyping in pop culture, and other people’s bitterness about how their legal situation turned out. Sometimes, that just cannot be helped. In every contest of wills, which is essentially what two or more non-attorneys arguing over a legal matter is- a contest of wills in the courtroom- there is a winner and a loser. Whose will was stronger? Whose lawyer did more work on the case and therefore, had the best arguments which won the case? Which party was in the right, legally, if not necessarily morally? These things help to determine who wins or who loses a case.

An attorney can bill for hours and hours of tedious work on a case, only to lose the case because a form was not properly prepared by a Paralegal, or part of the client’s file was mislaid, misfiled, or completely lost. How does that look to the client? How does it look to a judge or a jury? It looks shabby, fly-by-night, and only adds to the negative perception that so many have of attorneys.

Part of the problem is that paralegals can quickly become overburdened in a fast-paced office. Answering phones, filing cases in their proper place in the office, taking dictation and writing out the forms the attorney needs to file, while setting appointments, both for court dates and client interviews both in person and by telephone or even Skype, and handling clients’ payments to the attorney, disbursing payments to the client after taking payment for the attorney’s fees, as well as helping research case law is a pretty tall order! One Paralegal working for one or more attorneys has a very important and large job in the firm. The support a paralegal gives in that firm is absolutely invaluable, but the human factor can never be ruled out. Much of the actual work done that attorneys bill clients for is done by that paralegal.

Paralegals put as many hours into a case for the attorney as the attorney puts into the case. Most attorneys have more than one case they handle simultaneously. What if you could eliminate many of the errors the humans in the office make, get more work done in less time, and bill for the same number of hours? With the right legal practice management software, you can. Your paralegal would be able to call up any client’s file with a few clicks. Creating documents could be done from a template provided in the software, or using a macro and include your firm’s logo and/or letterhead where appropriate, keep lists of court contacts, attorney contacts, client information, and other important matters all in one place, without the need for so much paper and ink. You could print the completed paperwork you needed right from your office chair, collect it, and file any motions or proceedings you needed at the courthouse. The right software would also eliminate that clunky, easy-to-misunderstand or erase whiteboard. Appointments would appear on your screen as reminders. A calendar, lists of which attorney (s) in the office had which cases (s), and which paralegal had typed the needed letters, forms, and other paperwork would be listed for your convenience.

You may say, “We already have software to help us in our office systems.” Ask yourself this: “Is my current software helping me and my colleagues as much as this software claims to do?” “How much time is my current software actually saving me?” “Was the software we already have worth the money spent purchasing, installing, and learning to use, compared to the help it gives now?” If the answer to any of these questions is not satisfactory, then consider using The Legal Assistant. The Legal Assistant was developed by attorneys and paralegals for attorneys and paralegals. It will help any size firm work more efficiently, saving man-hours, without sacrificing billable hours, and it is as easy as 1-2-3 to operate once installed in the firm’s private servers.

Once you use The Legal Assistant Software, you’ll wonder why you ever tried anything else. You’ll take some of the stress out of your day, take some of the stress out of your paralegal’s day, and the entire office will run so much more quickly and efficiently. That is going to do you nothing but good.

A very efficient law office is paramount to succeeding in todays legal industry.  An efficient law practice  impresses potential clients, keeps current clients happy, and can only help you win that contest of wills in the courtroom. How will that look to a jury? How will it look to a judge? Time is certainly money. Save time by using The Legal Assistant Software and make more money for less work. If you save time without cutting corners, you can also take on more clients, which brings more money. You can’t go wrong with The Legal Assistant software, and your Assistant and your Paralegal will certainly thank you for it.

The post Time is Money: Save Time And Make More Money with Legal Practice Software appeared first on The Legal Assistant.