^ less The advances made in modern PM (practice management) applications provides an additional advantage. Even more importantly, firms that have a genuine relationship with clients will avoid malpractice, get referrals and grow their practice. Properly configured PM software facilitates communication. For example, you can classify clients according to practice area, type of client, various dates etc. so that you can quickly bring up clients based on predetermined criteria to make phone calls, send newsletters, special occasion cards, and other communications that will help you to maintain a quality, professional relationship with your clients. Stay in touch and stand out with you clients.

Based on our experience, professionals procrastinate in returning calls and otherwise being responsive primarily because they do not have the information they anticipate the clients wish to review at their fingertips. PM software eliminates this hesitation as all case related information is as close as your computer. Be responsive and provide value. ^ less

^ less Due to the nature of law, more experienced attorneys must leverage the value of their experience and knowledge. They must share their knowledge in ways that enable associates to be most productive and effective. Document management, on-line research and tools to organize and catalog research for reuse are all features of modem PM software. Law firms are not unlike other businesses in that they make more profit once they can reuse and bill multiple times for their work product, processes and know how.

Law firms must maximize the billing ratio between partners or shareholders, associates and attorneys to yield the highest effective rate possible. Integral to this equation are billing and accounting. The ability to capture time and bill for it is imperative. There are dedicated time and billing packages as well as billing modules within PM applications.

Powerful billing modules allow for you to bill based on hourly, flat fee, minimum flat fee, progressive and other interim bases. This empowers firms to bill in such a manner as to reflect that actual way attorneys work yet all the while tracking actual hourly costs. The firm is then able to manage their productivity and profitability in a way that offers that highest value to its clients. ^ less