LawBase for Windows - Dec/Jan '98

LawBase for Windows

As the name implies, LawBase by Synaptec Software is structured as a database. But whereas that could be a problem if the fields and searching procedures were overly structured, the database used by LawBase is very user-definable. You can define all the fields yourself to customize the software for your practice, or you can use one of Synaptec's pre-defined practice modules at no additional cost.

LawBase's calendar is basic but functional. You are shown a calendar on the left, your appointments on the right, and a list of to-do items below. One nice feature is the ease with which you can perform group scheduling and assign tasks. If you have the necessary permission, you can review any other user's calendar and to-do list and assign a task or schedule an appointment to anyone. As with some of the other programs, I was disappointed to see that the calendar cannot be resized to show additional detail, leaving the descriptions unnecessarily abbreviated.

The ability to set appointments and tasks for others could get confusing if there were no indication as to who had done the assigning. LawBase avoids this problem by creating an audit history, showing when each item was created as well as the person who created it. This entry is not changeable once it has been created.

As to maintaining case notes, LawBase is again basic but functional. Notes are automatically flagged to indicate who entered a note and when. But for further organization, LawBase also lets the entry be categorized. For instance, if the note concerns settlement discussions, it could be categorized as such. Then, all notes relating to settlement discussions could be retrieved by selecting that category from the drop-down list.

LawBase has strong reporting features, allowing the easy creation of such reports as a Case Accounting, showing all fees and costs generated on a case to date; and Case History, showing all completed critical dates and an index of all pleadings. LawBase will also print reports in HTML so that they can be published to an Internet or intranet site. With a little effort (and the appropriate security) you could keep updates and pleadings posted on your Internet site so that clients could check on the status of their cases at any time.

LawBase provides many links to other programs, including WordPerfect, Word, GroupWise, cc:mail, Summation and PC Docs. This permits you the option of using LawBase while at the same time deriving the benefits of these more powerful standalone products. If your firm is already using GroupWise, then LawBase would be a very powerful front-end to that program.

Synaptec Software
(800-569-3377

By Aaron P. Morris

From the Shopper's Guide to Case Management Software - Dec/Jan '98