I'm trying to help bring my dad's law office into the 21st century. This month, we're finally ditching the copier, printer and fax machine from circa 1990 for a new digital document center (needed the scanner anyhow for the new federal court filing guidlines).
He currently uses Word Perfect 5.1 for his main word processor, which then, his legal assistant (me) gets to bring up in WP 10 and then re-edit because all of the margins and such get screwed up in the conversion process. We still do docketing in a 3 ring binder with paper in it (no calendar software) and his client database and contact information is all contained in a few Word Perfect text files. We got him on the internet and doing research on West Law's internet service around 1 1/2 years ago, so we're somewhat receptive to the information age at this point
While the system works, I'm sure there are much more efficient ways of handling things. I've been checking out 3 main software companies: Abacus, Amicus and Compulaw. I'm sort of leaning towards Abacus because they have a stripped down version that doesn't have all of the accounting/billing stuff -- we use Timeslips and Quickbooks for that.
Now, I know there are a few lawyers here on GC, any recommendations on word processors and docketing software? Anything else that might help us out? I'm in the process of taking over as his legal assistant -- a job that I should keep while (hopefully) attending night class law school here locally in the Fall. I want life to be easier for me and I want the office to be more efficient. Any recommendations?
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