It used to be that law firms would run billing software on a network computer or individual computer in their offices. To access their billing software, they would need to physically be in the office. If lawyers were at home or on the road, there was no way to input time or access their billing software.  Law firms also would have huge storage issues related to client files. With the advent of cloud-based practice management software, these days are fading away. Lawyers and law firms can now access their practice management software at home or on the road.  In addition to being able to enter time, cloud-based practice management software offers so much more.

Instead of having a network computer in the office or simply a paper file in the office, lawyers and law firms with cloud-based software can store client files electronically. This means that the client files can be accessed anywhere. For many law firms, they are now able to grant access to clients to their own files online. This provides such a tremendous benefit for clients because they can access their files at any time. This can reduce the need for a law firm to locate the physical file before calling the client back because the client can answer many of their own questions about the case status.

With cloud-based management software, the clients can then store and save their case files electronically. Clients can oftentimes upload important documents to their files for their attorney.

At the end of the case, the software can allow the law firm to give the client a copy of their file on a disk or thumb drive. Depending on the ethical rules in your state, this can help a law firm save on internal or external space where paper files had to be actually maintained.

Cloud-based practice management software can also help ensure that all your important data isn’t wiped through a virus or a problem with the network computer in your office. It can also help alleviate storage issues in terms of paper files and on-site electronic storage.

Additionally, most practice management software allows for conflict checking. Ensuring there are no conflicts of interest before taking on a new case is critical in most law firms.  Without conflicts software, most lawyers are playing with fire if they are trying to go off memory.

There are lots of cloud-based practice management software options out there. If you don’t have cloud-based practice management software, now is the time to get on-board and explore your options.

If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them below.