TechnoLawyer

Tony Mankus, Review: QuickBooks v. PCLaw in a Law Firm

TechnoLawyer member David Marcelino asks:
"Does anyone out there use QuickBooks for both billing and time entry? I am currently using Timeslips for time entry. Timeslips has frustrated my office. We are tired of the instability."

We used QuickBooks Pro for a number of years for accounting and time-billing. It's accounting and payroll features and interface are intuitive, simple to use, and generally excellent; the time-billing feature was not as good. A number of steps were required to accomplish what we wanted.

It's a generic program written for any type of small businesses and not law firms specifically. (Although a law firm specific version came out about a year ago which we did not try out.) Also their technical support was non-existent, unless you were prepared to pay a hefty support fee.

We switched back to PCLaw which has a better time-billing feature for law firms, though the accounting and payroll features are not as good. Their technical support is excellent. LexisNexis recently purchased PCLaw and we're hoping that their bigger budget will help to make needed improvements.

Tony Mankus, Esq.
Mankus & Marchan, Ltd.
Lisle, IL

[Publisher's Note: Learn more about QuickBooks and PCLaw. — Sara Skiff]

About Answers to Questions
Posts like the one above appear exclusively in Answers to Questions, a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.

Wandal Winn, Tip: Possible Solution for Dragon Installation Issue

TechnoLawyer member Robert Bass asks:
"Howdy: I bought Dragon 8 to upgrade from Version 6. The install seemed to go well until the very end, when I got this message: "Error-1607. Unable to install Install Shield Scripting Runtime"

"I called tech support. They said it wasn't a Dragon problem, it's an Install Shield problem. They referred me to the Install Shield Web site. There I found a multi-page list of very confusing instructions that I tried, but failed to successfully complete. I finally threw up my hands and decided to stick with Version 6, only to realize that Dragon 6 doesn't live here anymore. It seems to have been eaten by this now-dead Version 8 monster.

"So here I sit, having bought and paid for Dragon twice, I've wasted several hours, and I can't use the program at all. I feel like an orphan nobody wants to take care of!

"I call upon my TechnoLawyer brethren and sisterthren for help! Do I have to pay some high-priced tech to figure out why there is a conflict between these two programs, or is there some common sense fix?"

Hi, Bob. Saw your post and have a comment. Note that I do not have Dragon but have used it in the past and have colleagues using it. What you describe is a black mark on Dragon's Cust/Tech Support so I hope others take heed. Your problem could relate to things you do not mention such as what OS you are using, what other software is installed (esp memory resident apps), etc.

Suggestion:

1. Uninstall all Dragon software using Dragon's Uninstall or the OS's Start -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Software.

2. Do a full virus scan of your system.

3. Shut down mem res virus and spyware software.

4. Reinstall Dragon V8.

Should work ... I hope so and good luck!

Wandal Winn
Anchorage, Alaska

About Answers to Questions
Posts like the one above appear exclusively in Answers to Questions, a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.

Coming February 14, 2006 to TechnoFeature: Most litigators see creating a case chronology as a cut-and-dry process — just the facts, ma'am. But litigation expert and CaseSoft CEO Greg Krehel takes a different perspective. In this article, Greg proposes that within the production process of a case chronology lies a fountain of information that could greatly contribute to more effective case analysis and trial preparation. With Greg's tips, you can transform your case chronologies from static to dynamic.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature is a weekly newsletter that contains in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming February 13, 2006 to IP Memes: You'll learn about Bill Gates' latest technology prediction, why venture capitalists may be contributing to the delay in patent reform legislation, who's laying claim to a popular American football phrase, and a cell phone service with an eye on patenting emoticon keypad entry.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Mondays, IP Memes is a biweekly newsletter that explores emerging technology-related intellectual property issues — or "memes" as we call them. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming February 17, 2006 to Fat Friday: Mark Klarich discusses his take on our long-running series about the legal technology industry, Ronald Burdge and Douglas Thomas review their experiences using Amicus Attorney, Jim Calloway reviews WordPerfect 12, and Andrew Simpson responds to criticism of the Time Matters AIC listserver. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming February 16, 2006 to Answers to Questions: D. Paul Dalton reviews Hitman Pro, a new spyware/adware removal tool, Ted Ardelean reviews the Canon imageRUNNER for the law office, Brian Garves reviews his experience using Time Matters over the past year, Barry Greenberg shares his RAID 5 backup routine, and Michael Espinola Jr. discusses a step-by-step spyware removal regimen. In addition, this issue features links to 13 additional Posts in the TechnoLawyer Archive. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

I started TechnoLawyer when I turned 30. Back then, people like Wells Anderson, Dennis Kennedy, Ross Kodner, etc. were the young guns of legal technology. These pioneers continue to educate thousands of legal professionals here in TechnoLawyer and at trade shows like the just-finished LegalTech. But I'm growing concerned by the lack of new faces. Where are the new young guns of legal technology? Jason Havens is one. Who else will carry the torch? And who will preside over TechnoLawyer when I step down someday?

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers a powerful document search tool from one of the biggest names in the tech industry, a Windows Explorer replacement utility, and a new "photocasting" service for sharing your photos, either publicly or privately. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Google Your Clients and Colleagues
By Jill Bauerle
If you work in litigation, you're always looking for the quickest way to search through thousands of irrelevant documents for a few critical ones. You used to call it hard work. Now you can just call it Googling. The Google Mini soups up your intranet with Google's famed search technology, enabling you to find the proverbial smoking gun in an instant. You can also use it to search your firm's work product — find a model brief just as quickly. Just plug in the small, slender box and, after 30 minutes of configuration, it's ready to go. Three versions exist that will search up to 100,000, 200,000 or 300,000 documents respectively. Your colleagues will instantly recognize the Google Mini's interface, saving you training time on top of searching time. The Google Mini works with over 220 file types, including HTML, PDF and Microsoft Office, and features a self-learning spell-checker. Google Mini pricing starts at $2,995 (100,000 documents), including hardware and software plus one year of support and hardware replacement coverage. Learn more about Google Mini.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

This year I've encouraged TechnoLawyer members to start thinking about how to incorporate mobile video into their marketing activities. For inspiration, check out Podguide.tv, a new site devoted to content created for the video iPod. A tip of the blog to Richard DeLuca of Stark & Stark for informing me about this site.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

The industry's largest trade show celebrated its 25th anniversary last week. In two days, I met with 18 legal vendors, dined out four times, and attended a low-key happy hour and a raucous nightclub. Here are my notes:

• The biggest change this year was the roped off Bridges Bar in the Hilton Hotel. Those without access complained, and those with access rejoiced. I guess it depended on your point of view.

• The WiFi hotspot on the third floor didn't work reliably. Fortunately, the Wolters Kluwer executive trying to give me a demo of CCH @Hand 2.5 was able to use his wireless modem.

• The exhibit hall seemed busier than I've ever seen it before. I heard a rumor about 11,000 attendees. However, one legal vendor remarked that the crowd seemed static (same faces every year).

• I personally witnessed salespeople make unsolicited pitches to exhibiting vendors — a practice that ALM Media should outlaw. Vendors pay a lot to exhibit at LegalTech. I met with legal vendors last week, but only with those that set up meetings with me in advance. All of my meetings took place away from the exhibit booths (except for Litera).

• Rob Robinson has uploaded some LegalTech photos to Flickr.

• On the first night of LegalTech, ALM held its annual awards ceremony. Read about the winners.

• ALM doesn't hand out best of show awards, however, so Matt Homann filled the void and bestowed this honor on the o-Ya search appliance. Don't miss Matt's upcoming LexThink Lounge if you plan to attend ABA TechShow. Being an avid bowler, I hope to attend.

• As I mentioned, I had about 18 meetings. Mostly, I discussed TechnoLawyer (which you already know about) and learned about forthcoming products (which I cannot yet talk about). Here's what I can disclose: CaseCentral announced bundled pricing for its litigation services, CCH's @Hand 2.5  and the LexisNexis Toolbar may change the way lawyers conduct legal research, and LexisNexis has teamed up with the Wall Street Journal.

• The third annual Best of Breed party at at Strata sponsored in part by CaseSoft and Dataflight was the best one yet — a great crowd (250 people) and great food (brie-pear dumplings, coconut chicken skewers, chocolate strawberries, cannoli, etc.). Before the party, I dined at Pinch with my colleague Sara Skiff and her husband Eric. After dinner, we "evaluated" a possible location for the next TechnoLawyer party.

• More Schmoozing: Breakfast at Norma's on Monday with Julia Wotipka and Mary Mack of Fios and several bloggers, lunch at Redeye Grill on Monday with JoAnna Forshee of Envision, lunch at Beacon on Tuesday with Les Hansen and Andrew Cummins of Gavel & Gown, and dinner at Bellini on Wednesday with Scott Rosen and Greg Miller of Network Box. Finally, Dennis Kennedy's informal happy hour at the Bridges Bar (before it became a VIP lounge) on Sunday night enabled me to meet Jim Calloway who recently secured free TechnoLawyer Archive access for every Oklahoma lawyer.

Congratulations to ALM for raising the bar yet again with its biggest LegalTech ever. Here's to another 25 years!

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.