|
|
|
|
| Amicus Attorney Version V | Case Management |
| I have often fantasized about a
killer software application that will automate all the essential functions in my law
practice. Well, a fantasy may be stretching it a bit, but I have looked at various law practice management or case management programs hoping to find one that will do it all. Unfortunately, many such programs, in my estimation, come
up short. However, Amicus Attorney comes pretty close, and with the new features just
released in Version V, it’s getting closer. You can attach e-mail messages to “Files” and “Contacts” individually or have the program do it for you automatically. The newly updated “ComCenter” module provides a common inbox where you can manage all of your e-mails, phone messages and notes in one place. Version V also allows you to convert e-mails into
“to-do” items from which you can generate reminders in your “Daily
Report.” The program also has a new “Dailies” module that allows you to create a “Daily Report,” which places all your reminders, appointments, tasks, messages and e-mails into one screen. Also integrated into this module is the capability to have current news, weather and other information gleaned from the Internet and elsewhere presented to you as part of a daily overview. One interesting new feature is the Anytime Anywhere Intelligence (AAI) capability. Essentially, this capability allows you to remotely retrieve practice information, such as contacts, appointments and messages, from Amicus Attorney. Basically, you send an e-mail message requesting information to your machine running Amicus Attorney, and the program sends you an e-mail response. The capability is designed to work on any e-mail enabled device including Palm OS, RIM (Research in Motion Ltd.) BlackBerry, a cell phone or another PC. The e-mail request is set up in a specific format, which Amicus Attorney easily recognizes and can, therefore, respond to. A new “Library” module organizes all the research that a firm may do on multiple cases in one place. Research from memos generated internally as well as information gleaned from external online services can be organized in one place and accessed either by folder or by category. Version V Client/Server Edition also offers a number of enhanced security and access control features that allow you to establish various profiles about what information can and can’t be seen as well as the ability to mark information as private. Additionally, there is an enhance spell checker that will run a spell check on all notes fields, including phone calls, time entries and e-mails. The dictionaries included are legal, medical, standard English, Spanish and French. Version V also has a dynamic link with Worldox 2000, a document management software application (see June/July 2001 Law Office Computing). The link is available for existing users and new users. The program will automatically synchronize with previously created Worldox documents with client files managed in Amicus Attorney. Client and Matter identification codes also will automatically sync. Amicus Attorney is available in three editions, including the Client/Server Edition, which offers Wide Area Network capabilities and supports up to 500 users; the Advanced Edition, which provides networking for up to 29 users; and the Organizer Edition for solo attorneys. Is Version V for you? If you are a Version IV user and have been satisfied with the product, the answer is a resounding yes. If you have never used Amicus Attorney before, but are looking for that practice management killer application, then you owe it to yourself to give Version V a good look. |
Gavel & Gown Software Inc. (800) 472-2289 www.amicusattorney.com New Users Upgrade from Version IV Windows 95B/98/2000/NT Workstation Version 4.0 (SP 4 or later). Reviewed By Arlin P. Neser, an Attorney at Law, Gibson, Haglund & Paulsen, Irvine, Calif. PROS CONS VERDICT |
| Home | | Issue Archive | Resources | About Us | Contact Us | Subscribe | | Subscribers | Advertisers | Updated 09/18/01 |
