Carpe Diem, Version 2.2

Carpe Diem, Version 2.2

A necessary chore of any legal practice is the daily timekeeping ritual. Given the unavoidable complexities and responsibilities of a typical law firm, tracking and recording time can sometimes be a low priority. However, time is the currency of the legal profession. It must be done, if not every day, then definitely every week.

A variety of companies have created time-tracking programs to assist attorneys in this process. One of the more successful--and widely used--is called Carpe Diem.

Created by Prosoft Corporation, Carpe Diem is a comprehensive application that allows attorneys to easily track and record their time and expenses. The application is separated into three modules: CDTracker, CDEntry and CDAdmin.

The CDTracker module helps users facilitate time-tracking by using electronic timesheets. The user need only enter the time, the client and matter numbers--as well as a few other minor tracking information items--to automatically post an entry to a timesheet. In order to track the status of your entries, Carpe Diem uses different colors to notify the user if an entry is "open" (meaning user is still adding information), "closed" (user is finished adding information and entry is ready to be transferred to accounting) or "transferred" (entry has been transferred to accounting). However, these entries lead to one downside in the program. Once entered, the time entries are quite small on the screen. This makes them more difficult to read. The user should be able to enlarge the time entries, but I was unable to determine how to accomplish this task.

The CDEntry module primarily allows administrative staff to create and modify timesheets and reports before they are sent to accounting. Timekeepers would use CD-Entry when they do not have access to the law firm's computer network. They could send their time entries to support staff. Staff would then use the module to enter the time into the system.

The CDAdmin module in the present release of Carpe Diem gives the administrator complete control over all of the other modules and grants the ability to add users, define entry information as well as completely customize the program to the needs of the particular law firm. In addition, ProSoft claims that this version of Carpe Diem can support just about any client/server database backend. This capability should reduce the number of installation headaches that often come with the implementation of any new software application.

One important new feature of the CDAdmin module is that it gives the administrator, from one location, the ability to manage different installations of this product on multiple servers across a wide area network. This management feature should save the administrator time and effort by eliminating visits to remote locations simply to modify the system.

Another important addition to the latest release of Carpe Diem is that much more customization is possible than in previous versions. My office has version 1.61 and it's not very customizable. However, the latest version allows many more user-customizable fields--ProSoft claims there are over 100.

The 32-bit version of Carpe Diem is scheduled to be released "soon." Prosoft Corporation also estimates that by August, it will release a version that will utilize the World Wide Web for direct data transfers.

ProSoft Corporation
(972) 818-3900
www.pscorp.com
Windows 95

$275 per license for under 25 users, 25-100 users $220

Reviewed by Adam C. Nelson, Esq., attorney and consultant, Baker, Robbins & Company, Chicago, Ill.

Jun/Jul '98 Issue

PROS
Very customizable.

CONS
Small time entry records are difficult to read.

VERDICT
I recommend this program. It is relatively easy to use and should fulfill all of your law firm's time and expense keeping needs.