The Ultimate Bucket - Dec/Jan '00

The Ultimate Bucket

My supervising attorney uses legal-sized pink sheets, and scratches out some lines and boxes to enter client information, deposition status, case contacts, docketing information and the like. He wanted the pink sheet updated on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the pink sheet was cumbersome and had to be run through the typewriter in order to enter the information. And since the advent of PCs, there was only one typewriter in the office. As you probably guessed, the pink sheet never got done, so my attorney had to grudgingly dig through his files or ask me for case information.

The Ultimate Bucket is on the fast track to solve the problems of collecting and updating both case contacts and client information. The software bills itself as "case information management" software. Automatic features include: countdowns on dates; indexing of pleadings and motions; tracking of medical care providers, medical treatment totals, discovery and exhibits; and tracking of clients, witnesses, opposing counsel and court contacts.

The software's basic premise is to first enter client information such as case contacts, expert witness information, law and motion dates, deposition dates, case dockets and the like. From there, you can print various reports based on the case information.

During a test run, I entered information on sample cases and printed various reports. The reports were neatly formatted and made for organized reading on the topic I wanted. This is one of the program's strongest features. The ability to quickly access case information also has strong appeal.

I did notice, however, a few omissions. The program's Deposition tab didn't have a category, or box in which to track sending or receiving revised testimony after a deposition. Also, there's no place (under the Deposition tab) to note whether a condensed and indexed deposition transcript has arrived from the court reporter. Many attorneys find the condensed transcripts to be important tools. This is important stuff, and I would prefer to enter this information in a designated place under the Deposition tab.

The next omission involved getting help and troubleshooting within the program. The Ultimate Bucket provides no online help under its Menu bar. Its user's manual is skimpy and offers only the most basic information. (Trust me, anyone could have figured this stuff out.) I called customer service and sent e-mails to technical support. The company, to its credit, was very responsive and provided easy-to-understand answers to my questions.

This software definitely has value in a litigation practice. It improves upon the existing methods of using pink sheets or similar word-processing charts or tables to track case information.

There is one caveat, however: Be prepared to spend time entering all the details, as well as keeping the whole enchilada updated on a routine basis. Then, sit back and count the rewards.

Questsoft Inc./Legal Resource Group
(877) 822-7923
www.legalrg.com

Windows 2.x/95/98/NT

$399;
$249 Document Management Standalone Version;
$598 Combo Package (both progams)

Reviewed by Melynda Hill-Teter, contract litigation paralegal, Mesa, Ariz.

Dec/Jan '00 Issue

PROS
Automatic features; neatly formatted reports; quick access to client information.

CONS
No online help under its Menu bar; skimpy User's Guide.

VERDICT
The fast track to collecting and updating case contact and client information.