Law Technology Today From the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center
In every industry, word of mouth is the most powerful advertisement and the biggest compliment. In the midst of working on and managing cases, going to court, managing staff, and the many other hats that law firm owners and managers wear, where is there time to focus on client relationships to encourage referrals through word of mouth?
This is where case management systems come in. While law firms can function without a case management system, they function much more efficiently with one. Automating the process of calendaring, case management, time tracking, billing and document assembly all saves time. With the time that is saved, attorneys and their staff can focus more on client relationships and the growth of their firms.
Case management systems have also managed to automate workflows. Where a case plan for a specific type of matter is created, tasks and events are created and scheduled based on the creator’s preference. These case plans are then used in individual cases so that nothing is forgotten, from a task telling your staff to send a thank you letter to finalizing settlement paperwork, everything is scheduled. The best part is that your staff does not have to waste time manually imputing hundreds of tasks and events and then remembering to do them.
Recently, case management systems have begun to implement Client Relationship Management tools within their software, bringing the process of case management full circle. Now, law firms will be able to schedule the client contact within the automatic workflows. Picture this: you receive a date for an Independent Medical Exam, you input the date the Independent Medical Exam is scheduled and automatically your software will send an email or SMS/Text message to your client as a reminder. Another example: your client’s bill is due, so you can set up the system to remind your client via email or SMS/Text message to submit their payment. There are so many different ways to use CRM tools, those are just a few simple examples. You will also have the ability to automatically send out feedback checklists, which will help your firm uncover any problems and prevent bad word of mouth.
Case management systems are not created equal, but rest assured there is a system for every firm. When you are looking to get started with a software to help you manage your cases and client relationships, make sure that they include: automatic workflows, CRM tools, contact management, document assembly, customization tools, access via iPad and iPhone, HIPAA compliance, time and billing, and anything else that you believe will take your law firm to the next level.
Join LawAlign at the ABA TECHSHOW 2016 at booth 215, where they will be launching a powerful Client Relationship Management module in addition to an already comprehensive case management software and see all the ways that LawAlign can help your firm maximize your profits while reducing costs and improving overall efficiency.
If you keep your clients happy and satisfied, they will most likely refer your services to their friends, family and colleagues. Beginning to think about a Client Relationship Management strategy that is going to help you build loyalty and improve your firm’s reputation is the first and very important step for firm growth.
