During 2012 all legal practices will have to have a designated officer for legal practice (COLP) as well as a compliance officer for finance & administration (COFA). As the burden of monitoring and enforcing compliance increases firms need to devise systems and processes to support their Compliance Officer to effectively and efficiently monitor their practices.
In order to do this Linetime have released their Outcome Focused Regulations & Lexcel v5 module. This module is available as part of the Liberate practice management and case management systems and supports:
• Managing policy and office procedure documentation
• Case overview, featuring the file review checklists & monitoring areas of compliance ie money laundering, conflict check, risk status, key dates
• Client care documentation (Charging structures, Client Objectives, Agreed next stages, Terms & Conditions, Equality & diversity monitors)
• Monitor progress (Quick access to view all files and their current compliance status, File review checklist and risk monitor, High risk - automatic notification to risk officer, Risk register, Complaints register and manager, Personnel Management)
If you would like to see a demonstration of the new Linetime software they are holding a CPD accredited breakfast seminar in conjunction with LBSLEGAL on Thursday 19th January 2012 at the Carrwood Business Park, Selby Road, Leeds LS15 4LG. 3 hours CPD accredited - £45 + vat per delegate. For more information and to reserve your place call Kathryn Holmes at Linetime Limited now on 0113 250 0020 or email kathrynh@linetime.co.uk
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Friday, January 13
Interesting compliance seminar in Leeds next week
by
Charles Christian
on Fri 13 Jan 2012 11:01 GMT
Thursday, January 12
Guest article: Another article about comparison !
by
Charles Christian
on Thu 12 Jan 2012 12:58 GMT
by Kim Walton*
Just when you thought the Word comparison debate was finally over, here is something else to consider; this time from a law firm looking at how law firms do comparison now and whether Word 2010 is a game-changer? For law firms, there is one fundamental question: What do you want to do with your comparison document? Do you want it: • as a track changes document to improve efficiency when collaborating on documents with other parties; or • in a traditional redline format that presents some changes in an easier to understand way (eg table structure changes), but that you shouldn’t use as an editable document? The answer depends on the contents of the document and the purpose of the comparison but, usually, track changes comparisons should meet your needs. If you aren’t yet convinced of the efficiency benefits when using track changes, check out Sherry Kappel's excellent presentation** for the New York Word Legal Users Group (in particular slide 18 and 19). If I send my first draft to another firm for their comments, would I prefer the amended document to be: 1 a track changes document where I can efficiently accept, reject and change the other firm's amendments; or 2 a traditional redline mark up document showing the changes made to the document, with a clean revised document that I can amend further? Surprisingly, my preference would be 2. Why? Not because I don't like the efficiency of track changes, or because of concerns over native Word comparison accuracy. It's because I want to recreate the track changes compare document using my original document and the clean revised version. So if I wanted a track changes document, why wouldn't I just use the one supplied by the other firm? The problem is that most third party comparison products now have an option to save their mark-up document in a Word track changes format. The quality of these documents is variable and one vendor has stated, with good reason, that its track changes documents are not suitable for further amendment. This is because its track changes document often contains serious numbering corruption issues and because the compare process replaces automated features with manual text. When I receive a track changes document, I have no idea how the sender created it, and therefore whether it is safe to use or not. Even if it is "safe" there is still a risk the sender has selected choices in a third party product that have stripped out some of my document formatting (eg automatic cross-references or table of contents). We have warned our lawyers and secretaries to watch out for track changes documents where the numbering is broken. In these cases, or where there is doubt, we are asking the sender to provide a clean copy of the amended document. To avoid the problems described above, I create my own comparisons using my preferred choice of comparison software. And if I want to produce a track changes document most suitable for further editing, the best choice is to use the native Word comparison engine. Instead of third party vendors explaining the limitations in using native Word comparison, perhaps they could tell us about the deficiencies or dangers of their comparison products when producing track changes documents? * Kim Walton is the Professional Services Development Manager at SNR Denton UK LLP. She is also on the organising committee of the UK Document Excellence Group. ** http://nywlug.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/ny-wlug_collaboration-collision-10272011.ppsx Wednesday, January 11
Update... 64 days to go & LawTech Futures crosses the chasm
by
Charles Christian
on Wed 11 Jan 2012 14:33 GMT
Still 64 days to go until the LawTech Futures event opens its doors on 15th March in London and the show has already crossed the chasm to becoming the event for the UK large law firms. With it's latest exhibitor signing – IRIS Legal – LawTech Futures becomes the first UK legal event to feature exhibition stands and sponsorship by all the market's top tier practice management systems suppliers (Aderant, Elite, IRIS, LexisNexis and Tata/SAP) since 2006.
Comment: Looks like this could be one of those turning points when we see a clear successor event move into the market, just as happened to the old Solex exhibitions at the Barbican.
Social media interfaces - a first look at Peppermint's platform
by
Charles Christian
on Wed 11 Jan 2012 11:34 GMT
Here on the Orange Rag, we're firm believers that social media-type interfaces are the future for a lot of legal technology applications – both inward facing and client-facing. Peppermint Technology say they will be the first* practice and case management supplier to deliver social connectivity as standard, from its upcoming Legal Service Platform (LSP). Here's the first picture of the interface (and there is a larger version of this image attached)...
 Peppermint say "The Legal Service Platform, built on Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, will see the first wave of social innovation in the Q1 2012 release. The functionality will be available within the LSP as standard. The release will enable Activity Feeds in the LSP via a Facebook type user interface. Activity Feeds simplify business insight and collaboration across internal communities and can be posted manually by users or triggered by pre-defined events, in the matter or client records." Peppermint CEO, Arlene Adams adds "This is a breakthrough in the way businesses communicate and collaborate. The technology is now commonplace for social interactions and we are we are proud to be leading the way in bringing this innovation to the legal services community. It will enable firms to manage their client relationships in a way that is simply not possible with traditional practice and case management systems. It will give them the insight and reach to communicate effectively with prospective clients and help win new business." * After yesterday's posting on Eclipse's claim to be the first vendor with an ABS system, we thought readers would like this claim of another 'first'.  1 AttachmentsTuesday, January 10
New case study: Withy King on Egress Switch secure data exchange
by
Charles Christian
on Tue 10 Jan 2012 14:09 GMT
Interesting case study here from Egress Software – this one features Withy King – on the use of the company's Switch secure data exchange system. We understand a number of other firms have now also ordered this system but we can't name any names yet.
1 Attachments
Eclipse launch first ABS-specific case management systems
by
Charles Christian
on Tue 10 Jan 2012 12:42 GMT
Eclipse Legal Systems has launched the UK market's first ABS-specific case management systems. The announcement comes as the SRA is processing applications from organisations all vying to be among the first to announce official ABS (alternative business structure) status – it is widely expected we will see the first tranche of live ABSs in the first quarter of this year. Eclipse Legal Systems has made available two new Proclaim Case Management Software systems, taking into account the unique requirements of ABS organisations.
1) Proclaim ABS Suitable for ABS organisations providing a wide range of consumer-based legal services, Proclaim ABS combines core Proclaim Case Management functionality with a choice of pre-prepared (and user-configurable) workflows. Initial workflows available include conveyancing, personal injury claims, employment claims, matrimonial (family) disputes, probate and financial misselling. Firms have the option to include any combination of these matter types within one fully integrated Case Management solution, providing centralised and instant access to client data across all service areas. 2) Proclaim ABS PI Designed specifically for organisations operating within the personal injury (PI) sector, Proclaim ABS PI integrates initial claim handling, personal injury litigation and links to medical reporting agencies in one centralised solution. The personal injury sector is expected to see heavy ABS involvement, as existing claims management, personal injury and medical reporting firms join forces and consolidate as single entities to avoid falling foul of proposed referral fee bans. Russell Thomson, Chief Business Executive at Eclipse, comments on the new products "The introduction of Alternative Business Structures brings a huge level of opportunity for both existing law firms and new market entrants. Our experience with a wide range of organisations in law, insurance and consumer services (including many forthcoming ABS entrants) has shown that these organisations demand software solutions specific to their needs. They will not make do with legacy legal management systems, nor will they wish to waste time with long and fruitless implementations of vanilla and toolkit systems. Our new Proclaim ABS and Proclaim ABS PI systems break the mould as far as legal services software is concerned, providing the perfect fit for firms that need fast implementation of a 100% integrated, firm-wide case management solution." Monday, January 9
Attwaters dropping IRIS AIM in favour of Peppermint
by
Charles Christian
on Mon 09 Jan 2012 16:00 GMT
Attwaters Solicitors is swapping out its IRIS AIM practice management system for Peppermint Technology's Legal Service Platform. Following several months’ involvement with the Peppermint Partner Programme, Attwaters has made the decision to implement the Platform during Q2 2012. The firm says that with an impending merger that will double its offices and increase the staff count by 50%, it needed cutting edge technology to take the business forward... having considered the alternatives, Peppermint came out the winner.
Attwaters practice director Ian Rintoul commented “It’s clear to most that the legal services market is changing and we need to be ready for it. We want to ensure that we improve our position to meet this situation head on, and we need the best available tools to do this. Peppermint offered these tools.No one knows what legal services will look like in the next few years so it’s important that we have a flexible business platform that can easily accommodate other related business units if we so require.”
LawTech Futures - 66 days to go and almost sold out
by
Charles Christian
on Mon 09 Jan 2012 11:05 GMT
Just 66 days to go until the LawTech Futures event takes place in London (15th March) and we are pleased to report that stand space and sponsorship options are now almost completely sold out – just one 3 metre stand and two sponsorship opportunities remaining and these are expected to close later this week. And 'yes' in case you were thinking this, we are picking up vendors who are dropping out the Legal IT Show at Islington in favour of the LawTech Futures event. Full details at www.lawtechfutures.com
Thursday, January 5
Social media and the law - again - latest case comment
by
Charles Christian
on Thu 05 Jan 2012 17:04 GMT
We know, we're going legal again but here are some thoughts from Kate Hodgkiss, a partner at DLA Piper, on employment issues relating to social media:
Yesterday's reports that an ex-employee from a US company is being sued ownership of his Twitter account and today's story following the dismissal of a UK employee in relation to usage of LinkedIn highlights again the grey area in which social media operates. Employers have every right to seek to protect confidential company information by restricting LinkedIn and other profiles. Employers may regard information such as pay rates, details of customers, and business plans as confidential and may not want these to be posted on a public forum where competitors could see them. Employers commonly place restrictions on what employees can disclose outside the company and restrictions on a LinkedIn profile are a logical extension of this. The Twitter case in the US also focuses on the protection of information with the employer claiming that the followers of its ex-employee's Twitter account constitute a customer list, property which it claims to own. Aside from the protection of confidential information, another issue which the LinkedIn case raises is whether employers can legitimately prevent an employee from indicating on a LinkedIn profile that they are open to career opportunities, and whether it is legitimate to sack or discipline someone for doing so. Employees cannot be prevented from looking for a new job, provided they are not using confidential company information and placing a CV on LinkedIn is no different from, for example, an employee exploring job opportunities via a recruitment agency. Cases like these demonstrate the complex issues which arise from employee use of social media and are important as their outcome may help to demonstrate how established legal rules may be applied to new technology. Although employers are becoming increasingly aware of the need to manage the impact of social media at work, what is already clear from existing litigation in this field is that those that take a reactive, rather than a proactive, approach face higher risk of damage to their business resulting when social media and the workplace collide. Wednesday, January 4
Insider Deadlines Ahoy !
by
Charles Christian
on Wed 04 Jan 2012 16:49 GMT
So, grumbling into 2012, here are the Legal Technology Insider's editorial deadlines for the coming 12 months. There are two Excel spreadsheets attached to this message: one providing a consolidated listing of all our deadlines (for the three newsletters and the special reports we plan to publish this year) and the second is just for our UK/EMEA edition.
2 Attachments |
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