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| Brief Accounting Standard Edition | |
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Brief Accounting is a complete accounting/time and billing software product by Brief Legal Software. Brief Accounting is unique in the fact that it runs on either Windows or Macintosh operating systems. There are two editions of Brief Accounting available; the Standard version, for small- to mid-sized firms, and the Pro edition for large companies. While the Standard edition is completely networkable, multiple users can’t simultaneously access it. Brief Accounting comes with a “Time and Billing” module, along with “Accounts Receivable,” “Accounts Payable,” “Trust and Office,” and “General Ledger” modules. Additional functions include “Clients and Matters” and a thorough reporting function. System modules can be accessed from either the menu bar or from the program grid that dominates Brief Accounting’s main screen. Fourteen separate buttons allow direct access to the various modules. Navigation through the screens is relatively pain free. New company setup is simple, with easy data entry screens and the option to enter information such as next receipt number, next invoice number and more. Setting up the program authorization data is easy. By clicking on “Staff,” you can add a new employee, enter default billing information, staff position and the default billing attorney. Program privileges are assigned here as well, with three levels to choose from: “View,” “Edit” and “Post.” Staff can be assigned one, two or all of these levels. Searches must be conducted using either a file number or client name. If you want to search a list, you can choose to search all active files, which produces a client list. You also can search for clients by year. All client transactions are stored in the Brief Legal database on client ledger cards. To view a particular transaction in detail, double-click on it, and it will drill down to all levels of the transaction. You also can enter multiple matters per client for easier tracking. Because Brief Accounting uses a relational database, client information only needs to be entered once. Brief Accounting’s information links perform various useful functions, including tracking of client wills and litigation information. It also can search the entire system for possible conflicts. Brief Accounting splits its accounting functions into two distinct areas — Trust Accounting and Office Accounting. The Trust Accounting system maintains a detailed history for every client, thus decreasing the occurrence of errors, while maintaining a detailed history for each transaction. The Trust Accounting module handles multiple bank and client accounts. You also can transfer funds between accounts, or write checks using the client trust accounts. Best of all, you can obtain a complete audit trail for all trust account transactions, a necessity when multiple accounts are used. The Office Accounting function handles regular front-office bookkeeping procedures, including General Ledger postings, bank reconciliations and year-end 1099s. There also are accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, all fully integrated with the time and billing function. Brief Accounting’s real strength is its “Time and Billing” module where you can create and edit time and disbursement slips, create detailed invoices, print pre-bills for review and print all necessary back-up documentation. Time and billing information also can be imported from Brief EnCounters, the time and billing program that comes with Brief Accounting. The only drawback to Brief Accounting is its awkward user interface. I never really became comfortable with the Office Accounting module. Keeping that in mind, however, Brief Accounting does have a strong reporting module that produces professional reports and a thorough time and billing function. Get past the awkward interface, and you will find a software product well-suited to smaller law offices. |
Brief Legal Software Price: $1,995 Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP; Mac OS 7/8/9/X Reviewed by Mary Girsch-Bock, a technical writer and independent software consultant based in Albuquerque, N.M. PROS CONS VERDICT |
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