ProLaw Software

Pros

This program is so much better than our prior software. We are capturing more hours and collecting more money.

Cons

Sometimes the help menus and customer support are not as good as they should be. The program can be hard to learn.

Pros

very user friendly, makes it easy to learn and integrates well with all other programs that we currently use

Cons

tech support can be tricky to get ahold of, they like to go around the problem instead of getting right to the point of helping

Very poor system for tracking address/contact changes over time. The ease of data entry sometimes makes it too easy to inadvertently overtype. Bizarre Contacts display system of First Middle Last, without an option for Last, First Middle, even as Matters display only by Last, First Middle. Building search queries requires significant technical knowledge and cannot be done by even seasoned users. Interface is not intuitive. Some symbols are used for multiple functions.

Pros

Documents can be displayed in a number of organizational ways as fits the user's preference/needs.

Cons

Getting those documents tagged and into Prolaw is a nightmare. Previous "Profiling" function allowed for filing an email attachment only. That's gone. Now you either have to separate the attachment from the email or click through the email to get to the attachment once it is in Prolaw. Previous "Profiling" function allowed user to easily switch and mix between keyboard and mouse driven-commands. (Such as clicking on a data field and then easily typing "pl + tab" for a Pleading rather than using the drop-down menu with the mouse.) Now the user is forced to use the drop down menu. The size of the "Profiling" work box cannot be adjusted or customized as it previously could be. So when Prolaw displays a useless column between to helpful columns, the user must scroll to get to the helpful information. They also added a pagination system which makes scrolling very tedious.

In prior version, when saving an email, for example, if the client/matter number was referenced in the subject, saving the email automatically populated the client/matter number and the email was recognized as such. After the most current update, ALL fields on EVERY document must be entered in order to save or create a new document. This means users are required to enter several times MORE keystrokes than in prior version to accomplish the same tasks. HUGE step backward. VERY time-consuming and frustratingly inefficient. Lord, strike me with a nasty case of pimples if I EVER complain about I-Manage again!

Pros

Drag and drop email saving - except the latest update defaults to attached doc/attached doc class/event.

Cons

Last update completely reversed the ease and efficiency of prior version. ALL document saving requires that ALL information be entered on EVERY document saved. Client/matter numbers are required, as are ALL info fields for each doc saved. Some of this was auto-populated in prior version. Current version takes users TWICE as long to save docs.

This is the best law firm accounting package available on the market, in my opinion

Pros

This program combines all features needed for timekeeping and billing and report management and it integrates with its other programs such as accounting

Cons

Because it is such a sophisticated program it can be difficult to learn but the installation support/training team is excellent, responsive and supportive

Earlier versions of Prolaw were great - - before their latest updates. Now it it really a pain there are functions that require you to basically -- go around the block to cross the street!

Pros

online file management program is awesome. just like having a paper file with everything in its place.

Cons

Following their latest updates, it is slow to start and causes other programs to freeze up or not work at all. By other programs, I mean things you need, like Word and Outlook

The timekeeping system should be more structured to ensure consistency among attorneys entering time.

Pros

The case management system does uploads into our Outlook calendars. I have never used any other case management system.

Cons

The timekeeping should be integrated with our Outlook calendars to automatically incorporate meetings, deadlines and court appearances. There should be a timekeeping tracking in real time as the attorney is working on a motion. Figuring out how to generate reports is very complicated and I still don't know how to print reports with a narrative. The help index is not helpful.

ProLaw is an excellent tool to bring all facets of a law firm under one system. Coming from large corporations it was amazing to me to find that there are companies utilizing multiple non-integrated platforms to run their business. Switching to ProLaw has now given us the ability to use a single platform to run every segment of our business. It provides management reporting that allows us to make sound business decisions and provide exemplary customer service to our clients.

Pros

It contains every user function you can thing of. ProLaw provides initial setup and training so that your business and you SOP's are incorporated into the set up. It can save you magnitudes of time. ProLaw offers classes, and can do custom work to your system. ProLaw has partnered with many certified third party vendors to provide additional functions to ProLaw or services to make ProLaw cloud based. ProLaw has fully automated credit card processing through a third party vendor, Clientpay.

Cons

It contains every user function you can thing of. Creating SQL advanced reports is difficult.

Likes Best

The product is an all in one solution which makes my job easier

Likes Least

Training - The online courses have terrible moderators

Recommendations

There are other software companies that offer similar products, but if they give Prolaw a chance it will be well worth it.

Likes Best

In comparison to programs like World Docs & Perfect Practice, ProLaw offered many additional workflow and tracking features that allowed me to adapt a high volume law firm's ever-changing practices and procedures. This is a full case management system where case notes, tracking, tasking, document storage, billing and timekeeping is all-in-one. My regional client representative at ProLaw treated me like a VIP and was always on call to help get me answers to any new challenges in customizing the system.

Likes Least

The reporting mechanisms were not the best, and it always took some work to convert data into an Excel format that worked for our staff. Sometimes IT tech support at ProLaw delayed their responses to helpdesk tickets.

Recommendations

Make a wish list of automated solutions that would help your firm track cases and documents, then meet with a ProLaw rep to get customized examples of how this case management program can meet your specific needs. You'll want a tech savvy operations staff member to come up with questions that your IT staff may not consider.