Case Management

Like other programs in this product category, LawLog provides a place to store case information and case notes, client and contact information and a calendar. Setting LawLog apart is its inclusion of an integrated time and expense tracking system.

For advanced users, LawLog is network ready out of the box, integrates with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, and, using ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) drivers, has the ability to link data entered into LawLog with other programs.

LawLog opens to a simple “Main” screen. From there, you start with the “Master” or “Calendar” screens. When you open the “Master” screen, you see a series of tabbed data screens.

The first tab is a list of cases. Simply press a button at the bottom of the screen to add a new matter. The second tab shows a list of clients. The third tab gives a master list of individuals, with the fourth providing a list of staff and the fifth listing invoices. The “Master” screen is the only one in which you can add case or client information.

The case module is where LawLog begins to show its weaknesses. The program is clearly intended for litigators. You enter a case number or your firm’s case numbering system. Then you enter a date, presumably, the date the file is opened. Next you enter the plaintiff’s name and the defendant’s name.

There is a status box to indicate whether the case is active, inactive or closed. You can only indicate whether the client is a plaintiff or a defendant. This field, like most fields in LawLog, cannot be edited. It’s too bad if the client is a cross-defendant or a defendant and cross-complainant. One unusual requirement is you must first enter case information before you enter other information. The reason: The case number is a required field in most of the other data screens.

The case module is also frustrating if you handle more than one case for the same client. There’s no way to use existing client information in more than one matter. For example, I have a client I will call “Joe.” Currently, I’m handling three different matters for him. I entered the case information for all three. Now if I look up the list of clients generated from entering case information, Joe’s name, company and address appear three times.

The “Calendar” screen shows a monthly calendar, daily calendar and a task list. You log in and view your task list and events for the day. To add an appointment or event, you click a time on the daily calendar and complete the form. The calendar allows you to enter appointments or events related to cases. If the appointment or event isn’t related to a particular case you can enter “None” or other descriptor in the “Case” field.

One of the more interesting features in the “Calendar” screen is the “Auto-Bill” and the “Auto-Entry” fields. If you click the “Auto-Bill” field, the time entry and description are automatically entered into the billing section. If you click the “Auto-Entry” field, the entry is added to the “Event” screen for the case. However, there is no way to do the same thing with “Tasks.”

Along the right side of the “Main” screen are buttons for addresses, billing, events, research and notes. To open these screens, you need to select a case number from a drop-down box at the top center of the “Main” screen. When you open the “Address” screen, you get a list of individuals related to that case.

The “Address Book” contains the usual elements. You can enter the name, address and multiple phone numbers for each contact. You also can enter an e-mail address. What is interesting is LawLog is one of the few programs that provides separate modules for clients and other contacts. You are limited to one address, and there’s a one-to-one relationship of matters to individuals.

If an individual appears in more than one case, an expert witness, for example, you must re-enter that information for the individual to appear linked to a new matter. (Although, in the new version, LawLog will allow such information to be automatically entered on a single click rather than manually re-entering the information.)

The “Billing” screen is an interesting feature but falls far short of being useful. On the plus side, I can create a billing slip manually or auto bill from an “Event.” You also can bill for expenses. But you are limited to billing time in half-hour increments provided by a drop-down menu. Again, you cannot modify this menu.

Many of my clients require that I bill in increments 0.1 or 0.2 hours. I am out of luck with LawLog. It doesn’t track payments, past due accounts or client trust accounts. You can create an invoice, but you can’t modify the format. My firm name, Law Office of Charles E. Whisonant, wraps to a second line. In doing so, the first line of the address is obscured.

When you are creating invoices, you can create only one matter at a time. You can’t prepare invoices in batches, and you cannot invoice a client for multiple matters.

The “Events” screen allows you to see all of the events related to a particular case. An event can be a telephone call, a letter or other type of document, a meeting, description of a piece of evidence or any other item related to a case.

The “Research” screen allows you to view research references that have been performed for a particular case. The “Notes” screen allows you to enter and review case notes.

The developers of LawLog boast it is powerful and easy to use. The program is relatively easy to use. Adding and viewing information is performed essentially the same from screen to screen.

LawLog also allows you to view all the information it tracks in either a master list or by case.

However, I was continually frustrated by the limitations on the information available or the inability to customize information available in the drop-down screens.

There is latent power in the product. For instance, LawLog can link information with other programs.

WinFax Pro can use address book data in LawLog through the use of ODBC drivers. The documentation for LawLog states that data from LawLog can be exchanged with accounting programs such as Peachtree Accounting, QuickBooks and other ODBC-compliant accounting programs. It also provides links to Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect and Lotus Word Pro.

LawLog has indicated that it is expecting a new release at the end of January, which will include receipts, additional addresses per individual, multiple relationships to matter, linking actual files to the “Events and Research” sections and Internet access.

Until then, there are much stronger offerings in this product category.

$499 for a single user; $449 per user for 2 to 5 users; other discounts for more users.

Windows 95/98/NT/2000

Reviewed by Charles E. Whisonant, Law Offices of Charles E. Whisonant, Newport Beach, Calif.

Feb/Mar '01 Issue

PROS
Easy to use, network ready, integrates with third-party products.

CONS
Minimal customization, limited feature set, must be a litigation shop to get any practical use, expensive.

VERDICT
LawLog Pro needs a lot of work if it wants to compete in this product category. For the time being, look elsewhere.

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Updated 09/19/01
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