Timeslips, Version 10

Timeslips, Version 10

Timeslips has been the small office time and billing program of choice since Version 2.0 came out years ago. Since then, Timeslips has released many versions, including Version 9, which was written as a 32-bit Windows program to appeal to larger firms using time and billing programs such as TABS. Unfortunately, the transition to Version 9 was not smooth, and it went through 11 service releases. So, naturally, when Version 10 was released, some were concerned about the upgrade. Fortunately, other than one embarrassing glitch, even large firms should consider using Timeslips as their time and billing program.

When you open Timeslips 10, you will get an error message trying to enter a $.33 stamp on an expense slip (but not a $.32 stamp). You work around the error by entering $.3301.

The first service release fixes this bug. But everything else seems to work fine. It installs easily, converts data from Version 9 without a hitch and integrates smoothly with Time Matters 3.0 and QuickBooks 99, 2000.

Timeslips is the lynchpin in a group of three programs that can truly organize and mobilize a law office.

Those three programs are Time Matters 3.0, Timeslips 10 and QuickBooks 99, 2000. Add Checkmagic to automatically print your checks and TurboTax for Business to prepare tax returns. Set up these programs correctly, and you theoretically never will have to enter the same information twice. For example, you can set up Timeslips to receive client information from Time Matters or vice versa.

Timeslips collects all financial information including why, how and when you get paid. It tells you anything you want to know about the legal part of your practice. It groups and displays the information any way you want, and the extensive reporting capabilities of Timeslips are unmatched by other similar programs.

How much retainer does each individual client have on deposit? How much does each client owe? How recently has each client paid? By using Version 10, each lawyer in your firm can find all this information on the network without bothering the firm bookkeeper — the biggest advantage Timeslips has over other programs, such as TABS III Remote.

There are two types of Timeslips users: those who track their time using the timer and those who enter their time at the end of the day, week, month, etc. If you don’t use the timer, you have to enter billable hours after the fact, from either memory or notes. The timer allows you to note the exact time and duration of a call, avoiding possible time billing disputes with clients.

You even can create a new slip for each billable activity, rather than aggregating all of the dictation, conferences and telephone conferences for a client for the day on one timeslip.

Although the bills may get very long, breaking down the information makes mistakes obvious and enormously reduces client complaints.

To use the timer, start the Minitimeslips program (minits.exe). When the phone rings, press F3 to create a slip and then F5 to start the timer. When the call is finished, press F5 to turn off the timer. It takes about 20 seconds to fill in the remaining information for the slip. To start, press F3 and F5, and then fill in the information.

Another strength of using the Timeslips with the timer is its portability and interaction with other programs. If you work at home or on the road, you can install a scaled-down version of Timeslips called Timeslips Remote and keep your time on it. When you transfer the information to the main database, the start time and duration is retained. But the remote version lacks the reporting functions, which include accounts receivable and client contact information. However, you can access the reporting functions when you’re connected to your home network.

The Billing Assistant button groups information about each client. If a client is on the phone demanding action or the advance of costs from your firm, you can instantly evaluate the reasonableness of the request. From the Billing Assistant, you can run your prebills.

After you review the prebills and make any necessary corrections, you can print the bills from the Billing Assistant, and place those bills in proof stage. From there, you can make revisions, write-ups or finalize the bills, which can be undone if necessary.

Already printed bills can be printed again without affecting the accounting. Once bills are finalized, the program keeps track of the fees, tax, costs, interest and late charges associated with each invoice. The default payment rules (interest, costs, fees) can be changed. If a payment applies to more than one invoice, the details are broken down for you automatically.

You can use QuickBooks or some other accounting program with Timeslips. With Timeslips Accounting Link (TAL), a report called G/L Transfer Register will create a file importable into QuickBooks. With a tax program, such as TurboTax for Business (which can prepare tax forms 1120 and 1120S), you don’t have to re-enter data for tax-return preparation. If you have linked Timeslips with Time Matters 3.0 for exchanging client data, you have greatly eased the burden of data entry.

Sage U.S. Holdings Inc.
(800) 285-0999
www.timeslips.com

Timeslips runs on Windows 95/98/NT 4.0/2000. It doesn’t run on Windows 3.x. It’s available in three versions (Levels 1-3), each level with an upgraded feature set.

Price: Timeslips Express (formerly Level 1): $129.95; Level 2: $399; Level 3: $999.95

Reviewed by Steve Schmidt, an attorney with Singer Smith & Williams, Albuquerque, N.M.

Dec/Jan '01 Issue

PROS
Unsurpassed reporting capabilities. Timeslips can accept slips from Time Matter 3.0 and transfer information to QuickBooks and other accounting programs.

CONS
Timeslips Remote can’t accept slips from Time Matters. Slips transferred from Time Matters lack a date stamp.

VERDICT
The most important program for the management of the small- to medium-size law firm. Large firms benefit from the reporting capabilities and billing options.