TABS III, Version 9.2

TABS III, Version 9.1

Software Technology Inc., the makers of TABS III time accounting and billing system, recently released a free update that has been sent to Version 9.0 users.

TABS III, Version 9.1 added and updated features both new and existing users will appreciate. From the Client Manager, you can open a client file, enter fees and costs, record payments, create a work in progress report and print a billing statement, all from the same window. The Client Manager also allows everyone in your firm to customize the program and report functions used most often.

Version 9.1 has a full arsenal of weapons to make it a cinch for both attorneys and staff to record and bill their time.

Attorneys and paralegals can manage multiple projects by using fee timers to time events, such as phone calls or office conferences. Although TABS III does support multiple timers running at the same time, the program needs to do a better job of indicating which timer is running in each data entry window.

Another helpful function is TABS III’s ability to show a date-specific on-screen recap of billable and nonbillable hour totals for each timekeeper. Individual entries can be viewed (with drill-down editing capability) to ensure that no entries have been missed for a particular client or time period.

It would be nice, however, if TABS III could add a function to allow users to print the on-screen recap from the same screen.

When you are away from the office, you can record both fees and costs for each client into a Palm Pilot. The two-way synchronization capability of TABS III ensures that you have the latest client database on your desktop, as well as on your Palm Pilot.

One disappointment, however, is the Palm Pilot Integration software component is separately priced. It should be built into TABS III given the enormous popularity of the Palm devices.

There are many features in TABS III that make it attractive to the sole practitioner as well as larger firms. At the most basic level, a practice with minimal requirements can open a client matter, establish a retainer, record work in progress and produce a final bill in minutes.

However, TABS III also provides more advanced tools to manage individual matters on an hourly, flat fee, split fee, contingent or even a task-based billing basis. You can even track the status of prebills issued and immediately generate final statements when those statements have been reviewed. If a mistake is made, statements can be unbilled with about three clicks of the mouse. The same is true if you accidentally update any statement to accounts receivable. The program even adjusts productivity figures affected by the reversal.

As an accounts receivable system, TABS III helps you bill for services and enables you to get paid for them as well. Detailed reminder statements and finance charge capabilities are just a few functions available that can remind your client to pay on time.

TABS III has more than 40 reports available for client, timekeeper, category, activity productivity, as well as profitability. Each report can be previewed on the screen, printed or saved in a text file for use in a word processor or an e-mail attachment. I can easily load my own preferences for each report and save them in a report suite to print several reports at the same time.

Furthermore, TABS III is ODBC-compliant (open database connectivity-compliant) so that its data can be read into programs, such as Excel or Seagate Crystal Reports writer. However, the ODBC driver (purchased from FairCom) is optional. TABS III also integrates with programs such as Time Matters and Amicus Attorney.

From a systems standpoint, TABS III has many security and data integrity checking features needed in today’s computing environment. The program offers utilities that can renumber and rearrange large amounts of data at once.

However, TABS III needs to simplify its integration with the Palm Computing environment and its ODBC to give its users immediate access to this technology on their own terms.

Software Technology Inc.
(402) 423-1440
www.stilegal.com

Windows 95/98/NT/2000

Prices start at $295 for single user; $995
for multiuser versions.

Reviewed by Harry W. Salavantis, legal software applications specialist, resource adviser for Computers Corporation, Albany, N.Y.

Dec/Jan '01 Issue

PROS
Fundamental features and advanced capability with a focus on integration; a superior technical-support department.

CONS
Multiple timer features need
improvement. Palm Pilot and ODBC
interface are optional.

VERDICT
TABS III has time, billing and client accounting functions well suited for the sole practitioner, as well as larger firms.