Case Management

CaseMate97, a client/server application developed in Microsoft Access 97, may fill your case management needs.

Creating new case files is a snap with CaseMate97. Just open a new file and the software thinks ahead for you by duplicating your input for a case opening sheet and a folder label. A built-in conflict of interest feature automatically checks for any problems with the case you are opening, a real timesaver.

Contact information can be quickly cross-referenced and is available without having to exit Case-Mate. This could be vital when information needs to be
verified with other contacts. You can simply view the contacts while the case information is open in the background.

Tracking events and court schedules is easy. The "Events" tab tracks filing dates, court appearances, deposition dates, etc. and lets you generate a to-do list by person or case name. The built-in search engine lets you search cases by date, venue, adversary, judge, case type, plaintiff and defendant.

As your caseload grows, you can produce case listings by attorney, legal assistant, investigator or firm. Reports that make CaseMate97 a flexible tool in managing case work and assignments can also be produced for referrals, investigators and legal assistants. After becoming familiar with the functions of the buttons on the toolbar, I was able to view case files and, in a few mouse clicks, view billing information and any transactions I wanted to plug in
pertaining to any of the cases.

Installation is simple, although the initial screens for building your database are a little intimidating at first. First-time users can be stumped by fields that require certain information to be entered, especially if the information is vague or not pertinent to your firm. But for the most part, it is a workable database for the first-time user.

Although CaseMate can operate on a 486-66, I recommend installation on at least a Pentium 90 with 32 MB RAM. I tried it on a 486-66, and it was slow just for a few cases. The larger your database grows, the more muscle you will need to access it. Should you have problems, help is not hard to find. In addition to the online help and user's guide, a dedicated support line is available, along with a Web site.

$399 per user

Reviewed by Milton Hooper, computer specialist, U.S. Attorney's Office, Macon, Ga.

Dec/Jan '98 Issue

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Updated 09/19/01
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