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LEAP

LEAP launches major revision of Legal Aid software

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Firm shows commitment to legal aid market with major software revamp

LEAP, the world’s leading cloud software provider for small to mid-sized law firms, announces the launch of its new Legal Aid software. LEAP now provides a completely integrated Legal Aid software package including case management, time recording and billing solution. The firm provides a comprehensive solution for both Criminal and Civil matter types for Legal Aid work in England and Wales.

LEAP works closely with the Legal Aid Agency, making regular enhancements to its software to ensure it is up to date with the latest requirements. Integrated submission for both Civil and Criminal work types via CWA (contract and work administration) ensures claims can be checked and submitted electronically in readiness for payment, ensuring faster payment. The system can reduce the time a firm spends on billing by up to 50% and the new software will assist firms with compliance and the Legal Aid auditing process.

Major feature of LEAP Legal Aid include:

  • Faster and more intuitive Time Recording function
  • Captures all information needed for invoicing, monthly billing to LAA
  • Support for multiple time entries
  • Fees and disbursements – auto update fee structures
  • Fixed fees for Civil Legal Aid (Legal Help/Controlled Work)
  • Smarter bolt on payments (Mental Health and Immigration)
  • Simplified recording of FAS, CPGFS & PFLRS for Family and Care matters
  • Integrates with Crown Court Portal

Kirsteen Forisky, Legal Aid Manager at LEAP UK comments: “At a time when some legal software suppliers are paying Legal Aid lip service we at LEAP are bucking the trend by making a major investment into Legal Aid. We are proud that our software now makes it easier, quicker and more profitable for clients to undertake Legal Aid work. We recently had over 100 legal firms attend a webinar about the new version and the reaction was extremely positive.”

Ryan Dormer from Nelson Guest & Partner Solicitors comments: “We have used LEAP’s updated legal aid software to run our latest submission, and it was the most hassle-free submission we have ever done!”

Ali Hussain from Legal Justice Solutions comments: “As a Legal Aid firm, we were looking for a partner who could provide us with a system to make the life of caseworkers easier. LEAP does this. The Legal Aid time recording is easy to use and billing is made easy to navigate. With the recent update to the system we received training which was very good and support was on hand if any issues arose.”

About LEAP UK

LEAP is the cloud legal software solution for small to mid-sized law firms wishing to become more efficient, more flexible and profitable. It allows everyone in a small law firm to work naturally using a single integrated system that enables them to do more work with the same number of people. The smartphone app allows lawyers to work whilst on the move, and includes innovative features such as time recording mobile phone calls directly into a matter.

More than 6,000 small to medium sized legal practices across the world use LEAP cloud software every day. It avoids the need to buy expensive servers that can soon become obsolete. LEAP is focused on the needs of small law firms and designing the very best software, and it supports this commitment by investing more than £8m per year on innovation and design.

LEAP is a global company, originating in Australia where it is the dominant provider of legal software for small law firms. The firm is the largest privately owned small law firm software provider in the world and there are more than 6,000 firms using LEAP software. In the UK LEAP has offices in London, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh.

https://leap.co.uk/

LEAP media contact details:

Alison Scarrott, brookscomm  Tel: 01483 537890  Email: alison@brookscomm.com

LEAP contact details:

Tel: 0845 683 2517  Email: info@leap.co.uk  Web: http://leap.co.uk

The rise of the digital lawyer

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Work is no longer a place – it’s an activity.

Technology and innovation continues to drive change and none more so than in the legal profession. Times have moved on since the days when lawyers would be noticed dashing out of a law firm carrying a laptop in one hand and furiously typing on a BlackBerry device in their other. As hardware moves on, so does software, and lawyers now find themselves at a stage where the lines between work and leisure are so blurred that they now have the choice to work wherever they like. They may even find themselves lying on a beach and dealing with their legal matters from an iPad if they chose to – this is now a reality. This is all thanks to the latest cloud-based practice management software which can enable a lawyer to work anywhere at a time that suits them. Software has been miniaturised to the point that the modern-day digital lawyer can run a law practice from their smartphone! How so, you say? Well, the latest practice management software is so innovative that it uses the benefits of the cloud to provide a go-anywhere centralised hub that a lawyer can plug into at any time to retrieve or work on their matters from whatever device that suits them at the time.

Yes, there are some lawyers that are slower or more resistant to adopting mobile technology but this is changing as they realise the virtues of features such as time recording on the move, tracking billable time, accessing documents, communication, accessing calendars, dictation for meetings away from the office and scanning documents directly into their phones. Also, being able to generate documents there and then that their clients can sign immediately without the need to wait and having a secure environment where they can communicate and collaborate with their clients.

The fact is that mobility is becoming less about choice now and more about being essential in order to keep up with the pace that everyday life and moreover the legal profession is now moving at. As younger lawyers enter the profession, they are also bringing this technology with them as they become more accustomed to it from an earlier age.

The very nature of mobile technology lends itself much better to real life and provides the ability to log in and out of your office at any time and have better flexibility about how you handle the ever flowing inbox of emails or the client matters that seem to constantly appear.

Client confidentiality is still key for law firms and the cloud-based practice management systems can actually offer better security than many of the local servers and IT infrastructures that law firms use for their data.

Some lawyers have even taken mobile technology to the next stage and have virtual law firms. Taking bold steps into the future, they have abandoned the more traditional bricks and mortar law firms and opted for an online presence only. Of course, this is not preferable for every law firm and does have certain drawbacks; however, it does go a long way to show how far the profession has been evolved by digital technology. They also offer advantages such as reduced overheads, no need for one central location and, obviously, all round mobility.

While virtual offices are still a minority, the very similar sounding mobile law firms are popping up everywhere and proving very popular within the legal profession. Somewhat of a hybrid option, mobile law firms still have physical offices but you don’t have to actually physically be in them to be able to work. With the right cloud-based technology, they offer the convenience and flexibility to work securely from anywhere at anytime. In 2017, most lawyers were mobile or telecommuting lawyers. The main tasks they carry out online are practice management-based.

The fact is, whether we like it or not, mobility is transforming the way we all work.

So, with mobile devices as mere portals to the cloud-based law firm. It seems that the invasion of mobile technology is now here to stay in the legal profession. However, that’s not without distinct advantages that go beyond just saving paper. It means that the modern digital lawyer can now make the law firm work around their lifestyle, instead of being a slave to the demands that running a law firm entails. It means that the modern lawyer can enjoy a cold drink while keeping a watchful eye on their firm with a device as compact as a smartphone, without the need to move from that well-earned spot on the beach.

10 Essential Steps to Renewing your Law Firm’s Professional Indemnity Insurance

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Professional indemnity insurance (PII) is mandatory for any solicitor’s practice. The costs are significant and the time expended on various forms can make it a harrowing experience. Firms often complete the proposal form, send it off and wait for the terms, wondering if the costs have risen or if they will struggle to find cover. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Through careful planning and partnership with the right broker, you could not only make the process easier but also save money. Below are a few simple steps to consider when renewing your PII.

  1.   Start the renewal process early

Many firms believe that leaving the renewal process until the last moment will save them money, that insurers and brokers will pull out a ‘deal’ to get the business. In some cases this may be true; however, for most leaving the renewal to the last minute could cost them more. Conversely, starting the renewal process early allows time for your broker to help you present a submission that places the firm in the best light.

  1.   Don’t accept terms too early

Many brokers will offer an ‘early bird’ renewal to entice clients to renew and to protect their business. Often, terms remain as per the year prior, which may seem like a great deal, but is it? Without a comparative quotation, can you confidently say it is the best quotation the firm could have got?

  1.   Make use of a specialist professional indemnity broker

With the large premiums often attached to solicitors’ PII, firms normally receive a plethora of invites from insurance brokers offering to quote. Many are not specialist PII brokers and may not have the experience required to best assist the firm. Using a specialist PII broker could not only save you money but also provide experience on how best to handle a claim in the event of an allegation of negligence against the firm.

  1.   Don’t flood the market with your submission

A misconception is that the more brokers you approach, the better chance you have of reducing your premium. Whilst this may be true for many lines of insurance, it’s not always the case with PII. The solicitors PII market is relatively small compared to other professions, meaning there is less competition. Many brokers have access to the same markets which in turn can lead to the same submission being duplicated and sent to the insurer multiple times, something insurers are not keen on.

  1.   Meet with your broker

With many firms still renewing on the 1st October, brokers and insurers can be very busy, meaning that first impressions are even more important when an insurer looks at your submission. Meeting with your broker in good time affords you the space to fully explain how your firm runs, any issues you may have had in the past and any extra information you think may be useful for the renewal.

  1.   Spend time on your submission – it could save you thousands

Many try to complete the process of completing the proposal form as quickly as possible or may leave certain sections blank as they don’t have time to fully collect the information needed; however, you could be costing yourself money by rushing through the process.

Take the time to detail why insurers should insure the company – You could detail your risk management procedures or the experience of your staff and partners. Provide information which shows to the insurers that you are a good risk for them and give them a reason to discount your PII costs.

  1.   Claims

Along with the proposal form, insurers require a firm’s claims experience for the last six years which must be dated within no more than three months prior to renewal of the policy. A firm’s claims history has an impact on the costs of the PII – The more paid claims and defence costs incurred, the larger the premium.

  1.   Risk management

Did you know that along with fee income, work split and claims experience, the approach and implementation of Risk Management procedures can affect the cost of PII. Firms with robust risk management procedures and internal systems could expect to see a difference in their PII costs compared to those who don’t implement such measures.

  1.   Have you thought about how you are going to pay for PII?

Funding PII premiums is often the last thing to be considered; however, it should possibly be one of the first. Most insurers operate what is known as a ‘cash with order’ policy, meaning that they will not confirm cover until they either have cleared funds from the client or an agreed finance agreement they deem to be acceptable.

  1. Consider other exposures

Professional indemnity insurance provides security in the event of an allegation of negligence against the firm, although often a source of resentment in the legal profession due to the costs, it is invaluable in the event of a claim. Directors and officer insurance and cyber insurance are two other covers which firms may also want to consider.

Tim Grant is the operations manager of Trinity. To download the full whitepaper please click here.

 

Filed Under: PII

Digitisation of conveyancing: a key opportunity for law firms to innovate

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With buying and selling a home still typically taking months to complete, private sector businesses are leading the innovation charge to drive transformation and reform. Conveyancers that resist digital transformation face a challenge to keep up.

The digitisation of conveyancing, also known as e-conveyancing, is regularly mooted in the media as something for the future, with the government attempting to take a leading role in reforming how people buy and sell houses, which remains a process filled with bottlenecks and flaws.

When the Land Registry set out its priorities for an ambitious digital transformation last year, its chief executive Graham Farrant asked for the support of law firms as it “explores how through digital technology we can… make conveyancing quicker, cheaper and simpler for everyone”. It also recently revealed plans to publish comparative data on how fast and efficiently conveyancers perform, giving home movers more clarity.

However, these efforts have raised concerns that taxpayers’ money is being spent unnecessarily on e-conveyancing. Meanwhile, the Law Society, a professional association funded by membership fees from law firms in England and Wales, spent millions of pounds on their Veyo initiative, a failed attempt at introducing e-conveyancing to the masses.

“If the government are looking to target legislation towards streamlining the conveyancing process then it should be left to the private sector to deal with the innovation around delivery,” says Richard Hugo-Hamman, executive chairman at legal software firm LEAP. “We have seen before how government consultations on delivering digitisation have hindered progress more than they’ve helped.”

The reality is a lot of forward-thinking firms are already doing all manner of conveyancing digitally, from listing the property for sale through to AP1 lodgement. And this innovation is being firmly driven from the private sector.

A rapidly growing number of law firms are pursuing a paperless office as they face up to demands from customers to be more efficient and deliver documents back at their convenience. Young property buyers are accustomed to the seamless user experience they enjoy on social media and when banking online, and expect the same from their lawyer. However, many firms lack the knowledge or conviction to make the change.

In a study of the mortgage sector conducted for the CML (now UK Finance) by Accenture, 84 per cent of companies said technology could improve customer experiences and relationships, and 76 per cent said it could improve their own operational capabilities. It’s clear that law firms need to transform their businesses and digitise internal processes to survive in an ever-changing market. Time is a lawyer’s only commodity and inefficiencies from poor IT can waste hundreds of pounds a day.

LEAP, the largest provider of innovative software to small law firms in the UK, is leading the innovation charge. Last year, 852 law firms used its document sharing system LawConnect, sharing 63,411 documents. More than this, law firms turn to companies such as LEAP to help with the change management required to go digital.

“Our focus is to help small law firms change and be more profitable. Some of those firms just don’t know how to do it, so we have a dedicated team to help,” says Mr Hugo-Hamman. “Our teams travel around the country delivering not only great software, but detailed knowledge of how a legal practice works within the e-conveyancing space.

“We see a trend gathering massive momentum within firms to provide a more client-focused and business-like service, not only at the point of instructing a solicitor, but well before that too. Having access to documents online and the ability to sign these documents digitally are just a few of the ways law firms are changing the e-conveyancing landscape. A completely digital end-to-end process is here and LEAP clients are already enjoying the benefits.”

One of those law firms is Ipswich-based Michael Smith & Co Solicitors, which sought a case management system to keep up with the expectations of younger customers, as well as increase efficiencies and ease the burden of dealing with compliance.

“We are a small law firm with a very loyal, traditional client base, but we can’t rely solely on that loyalty because younger users need a law firm that matches their IT abilities and their expectations for how they want the information delivered and returned,” says Vicky Hosking, the firm’s managing partner. “What I liked about LEAP is I could really tell that they were very forward thinking in terms of future IT. I like the way they partner and connect with other programs and systems, such as Xero for accounting, rather than trying to be everything themselves.”

Like most law firms, Michael Smith & Co is trying to use less paper and using LEAP’s software has allowed it to accelerate those plans. “I feel more assured that our online matters in the case management are likely to be complete, meaning I don’t have to rely on paper files so much in the future because everything is there,” says Ms Hosking. “I also like the fact you can track through the matter, order your searches and get the results back into the matter, so lots of efficiencies are gained.

“Now, when estate agents ring up and want an update on where the file is, I can go on the LEAP matter and see if the searches have been ordered and when they’re due back, and that’s often enough to satisfy the estate agents by way of an update. That means the support staff can provide the updates and that’s really good for business because estate agents are very much an important part of us getting work in. We come across as efficient and on the ball, and we will pick up the phone and provide a good service.”

Agility is set to be the new kingmaker in the legal sector and that can only be enabled by digital innovation. In the short-term future, most house purchases will complete within six weeks and law firms that fail to transform in this landscape will struggle to survive.

“They will soon find themselves unable to compete with the same level of speed and efficiency, making them less streamlined,” concludes Mr Hugo-Hamman. “With the government’s intention for a digital future within conveyancing, firms that don’t innovate are in danger of falling behind. The e-conveyancing tidal wave is on its way – change is inevitable.”

For more information please visit www.leap.co.uk.

Practice management software: 4 steps to a successful data transfer

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Honesty and realistic expectations throughout the buying process

When making the decision to transfer data to a new practice management system, it is imperative that your new service provider is honest and sets realistic expectations on what they can deliver early on in the buying process. It is often the case that overzealous sales people promise something they cannot deliver.

The transfer process should be a partnership between the firm and the software provider, requiring time and effort from both parties. For law firms, being briefed and involved in process from the beginning helps to minimise issues that may arise later. Occasionally, unforeseen circumstances can cause the conversion to be delayed, for example: data not being available, a data tidy up not carried out before the conversion and reports not being available to cross check data.

Know your transfer options

The data transfer from one system to another can be completed at many different levels. One end of the scale would encompass perhaps just the static data for live clients and matters, through to the other end of the scale where all data including historic transactions and other ledgers such as a Purchase Ledger would be included. Generally, the options would be:

  • Static Data only: This would include static client and matter data with no balances or transactions.
  • Static Data and Balances: This would include static client and matter data with top level balances only, but no transactions behind those balances.
  • Static Data, Balances and Transactions. This would include static client and matter data, balances and transactions.
  • Full Transfer: Includes all static data, balances, transactions, case management and peripheral data across the whole system.
Get prepared

It is important that law firms familiarise themselves with their data, understanding what is involved with the transfer process and what their obligations are. Preparation is key to a successful data conversion and tidying up data before the process is essential. There will probably be certain choices and decisions to be made, for example:

  • Choosing whether to only convert live matters
  • Keeping a copy of your old system to access historic data – It is always advisable to keep a copy of your data in a secure location
  • Keeping a set of reports – printed or electronic is also a must

You should also check your service contract as data extraction usually falls outside of your service contract terms and conditions so the rates may differ.

Own your data and ensure you are happy at the point of sign off

It is important that the client takes ownership of their data and that they are au fait with the data transfer process at every stage. Data conversions are resource heavy for both the provider and the firm. Therefore, you should factor in how delays may affect your firm, in terms of scheduling training, re-keying data and availability of resources, such as your IT provider. Advance preparation and data ‘housekeeping’ would minimise this.

Regardless of the type of conversion you opt for, you should always keep a copy of your old data in a secure location. Keeping a copy of your old system, or a single licence to access your historic data is also good practice. It will make scrutinising data far easier when it’s needed, usually around audit times.