Client Profiles Small Business Edition

Client Profiles Small Business Edition

Client Profiles is a full-featured law practice management suite, complete with case management, calendaring, document management and assembly. It also includes an integrated financial package with general ledger, trust accounting and check writing.

LAHC Inc., took the full version, which runs on a structured query language database, and retooled the software to work with a Microsoft Desktop Edition server and released it as Client Profiles Small Business Edition. This version allows firms to avoid the licensing and maintenance headaches associated with running on a SQL server. The MSDE version contains all the features and usability of the full version.

The setup involves installing the MSDE engine on the server, installing the Client Profiles server software on that machine, then mapping to a shared network folder and installing the client software. Add a few tweaks in the Windows Control Panel, and you are ready to begin configuring users.

Client Profiles offers installation, setup, conversion and training services at any stage in the process for an additional fee. In my opinion, the training services are almost a necessity, although the online manuals and support files are extensive and cover a lot of topics.

When configured carefully, Client Profiles is extremely powerful. The information tracked for contacts and cases changes dynamically, depending on the type. For example, a contact card for a doctor lets you select one or more medical specialties, while a card for a personal injury plaintiff includes fields for injury information, and so on. In the case information module, the choice of available information screens also changes depending on the type of law.

One of the more powerful features involves the way contacts are associated with files. Every contact fills a given role and, depending on the role, the program offers freely configurable tabs for tracking information particular to that role. Contacts can be linked and are displayed in a collapsible tree format so the relationships between the parties can be understood at a glance.

The calendar and to-do functions are on par with other packages on the market, although the interface could use some cosmetic changes. It’s easy to associate items with a matter, assign staff and set priorities or deadlines.

The document assembly engine works through the mail merge capabilities of Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect. The program takes care of the database link, and information is available for import into each template. Creating a document from within Client Profiles automatically creates a record in the program’s document management system. You can search by description, author, recipient, date and keyword. Full-text searching is available for an additional $995.

The financial management portion of the program works well and should serve the needs of just about any firm. The real power is how financials are handled from within the same program, rather than through an external link. For example, many firms track case costs in two accounts, one for costs to be reimbursed from client funds in a trust account, and another for costs to be reimbursed out of settlement.

Configuring such an arrangement would be difficult to impossible in most combinations of practice management packages and accounting software. In Client Profiles, however, you merely create the accounts in the financial module, and they are available automatically in a pull-down menu in the case module.

Rounding out the features are e-mail, messaging, case checkout and remote computing on a laptop. Technical support staff is presently available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern time. However, the company offers on-call support for after-hours problems and plans on expanding support hours.

This is a good, comprehensive package that performs solidly in all areas. For firms looking for a software solution, it’s worth a look.

LAHC Inc.
(866) 720-5005

www.clientprofiles.com

Price: $395 per user. Contact company for additional prices and options.

Windows 98Se/NT/2000/XP

Reviewed by David Hiersekorn, a legal researcher and brief writer based in Orange County, Calif. He can be reached at hiersekorn@
sbcglobal.net.

Oct/Nov '03 Issue

PROS
Just add a word processor and you have everything you need.

CONS
It might be too complex for some practices or users.

VERDICT
It’s affordable, scalable and complete. It’s a solid program that should serve the needs of most small- to mid-sized law firms.