Category: Legal Operations

The amount of legal data that enters your legal system daily is no small number. But, once the data enters the system, how do you ensure it is accurate and maintained? These are two important questions legal professionals should consider before selecting a legal case management software system. 

The accuracy in your legal data is important because even small errors can have negative consequences. And no one wants to waste the valuable legal data you have stored. 

With a legal case management system, you can do both: ensure your data is up-to-date as well as analyze and report on the critical data you have stored. This can help you not only maintain trust and preserve data integrity, but also improve your operations and performance. Let’s take a closer look at how legal data entry is defined and how you can better manage your data with legal case software. 

What is Legal Data Entry?

Legal data entry is the process of inputting legal information, which can include legal documents including contracts, historical records, case details, opinions, advice and more, into a digital database or legal case management system. 

While automated data feeds and technologies have certainly streamlined many aspects of legal

data management, manual data entry remains essential in ensuring accuracy, maintaining data

integrity and managing the complexities inherent in legal information. As technology continues

to advance, the role of manual data entry in legal settings may evolve, but it is unlikely to be

completely replaced in the near future.

Four Ways Legal Data Entry is Made Easier with Legal Software 

There are several ways legal case management software can help you become more efficient and effective in managing your critical legal data and related activities. Here’s a look at four ways legal case management software can help you better manage your data: 

1. Consistent Data Forms 

When it comes to legal data, you are receiving information from multiple sources and in multiple formats. One way to increase accuracy and consistency is to employ standard templates and forms to receive information consistently and accurately. Case management software can help you create customized templates and forms for a variety of data types including intake requests and more before even picking up the phone. 

Typically, the following information makes up a standard intake request: 

• Personal Information: This section includes fields for personal and contact information as well as department details if necessary. 
• Legal Services Requested: This section can include a checklist of services offered so that the customer can select any and all that may apply. You can also include a brief description of each service offered on the form. 
• Case Explanation: This section provides the customer the opportunity to describe the incident or help needed. There may be specific prompts to include based on your unique organization to ensure you get all the information you need.

The beauty of customizable legal software is the opportunities are endless when it comes to creating a form that works for your unique department or organization. It is important to keep in mind that usability is key when creating your form and simple is best. You want to use friendly language and familiar terms that will help you get all the information you are seeking while easing your customers’ worries at the same time. 

2. Standardized Templates 

Legal software allows you to customize templates with your organization’s style, terminology, file numbering schemes and other brand elements to ensure consistency across the organization. This not only helps your team easily create and distribute documents they need, but they can also save time by not having to search for the document they need, when they need it.

Special features like document “check-in” and document “lock-out” ensure that team members are always accessing the correct document and duplicate documents aren’t possible. Lastly, you can have the flexibility to create a template for any type of document, automatically merge file information into your documents as needed and store documents directly in the case or matter. This saves valuable time and resources to maximize productivity across the organization. 

3. Superior Admin Tools 

Legal software admin tools enable managers to have full control over all the data that goes in or out of the system. This flexibility allows you to set up the system exactly as you desire to meet your organization’s unique needs. With full administrative control you can:  

• Set up case/matter menus
• Establish appropriate user workgroups
• Decide and establish system security
• Create custom windows
• Create workflow wizards
• Create document assembly templates

The best part? You don’t have to be a software expert to do this. A good system will be designed for non-technical users, so you can easily customize critical aspects of the application. There should be no limit to the number of custom menus, windows, prompts or look-up tables you can design to better suit your data and your organization. 

4. Enhanced Reporting and Analytics 

Legal case management software tracks all your key qualitative and quantitative data in a single location, giving you the ability to run reports at any time. With easy access to data and the ability to quickly understand it, managers can identify and analyze trends on the fly and observe patterns that help them make better decisions about forecasting, how to allocate resources and improve operations.

There are numerous data analytics reports that legal managers and in-house teams can take advantage of within legal case management software including: 

• Trend Reporting – Expense Reporting
• Budget Reporting – Time Reporting
• Allocated Resources Reporting – Risk Management Reporting 

The vast advances in legal technology now afford you the opportunity to view data through visual analytics dashboards so you can finally say goodbye to those dreaded spreadsheets. 

Maximize Your Legal Data Through Legal Case Management Software   

The benefits of utilizing legal case management software to manage your valuable legal data are numerous—more accurate data, advanced reporting and happier customers— just to name a few. And since your legal professionals are already tasked with doing more with less, you can almost immediately boost morale across the entire department by eliminating time-consuming manual processes.

With Legal Files Software, you can maximize your legal data from beginning to end. You no longer have to worry about capturing all the details from a potential matter or case and relaying the information to others, but can execute all your important data request activities from a single platform that synchronizes with your team members’ calendars and to-dos so you can assign the right person to the right request as well as report on all the valuable data you are storing. 

Legal Files offers 30+ years of experience supporting organizations across a number of industries. Its legal software, Legal Files gives professionals the complete package when it comes to managing your legal process.

From the moment a legal request comes in, there is no shortage of important activities that must take place—from evaluation, assignment, tracking and resolution—you need a way to manage every step along the way. 

Today, many organizations are still doing everything manually. But, what if you could simplify this process and help your staff more easily manage legal cases from beginning to end? 

Legal case management software allows you to use the latest technology to your advantage so you don’t have to rely on time-consuming or outdated processes any longer. With software that can automate and store everything you need to manage your legal requests and cases—from critical matter data, emails, tasks and to-dos to reporting, tracking and analytics— you have all the information you need in one place to stay up-to-date and respond quickly to every request.

How Legal Software Helps You Manage Cases From Beginning to End 

There are multiple ways legal case management software can help you become more efficient and effective in managing your critical legal requests and related activities. Here’s a look at how legal case management software can help you every step of the way: 

1. Intake

Legal intake is the first step in the process when a legal request comes in. This can occur in numerous ways: emails, handwritten notes, jotting down data in Microsoft Office, having requesters complete PDFs to print and scan back and more. Legal case management software enables you to switch from paper files to online intake forms, which allow you to maintain better organization and decrease the amount of time spent on administrative tasks. 

The software also allows you to establish a customized workflow to ensure that each intake request is automatically routed to the right person or persons on your team. This gives you peace of mind knowing that no important information gets lost and all relevant information is included the first time. 

2. Evaluation 

In the evaluation stage, you are tasked with determining which category the intake request falls under. Since legal case management software can help you create a customized template for intake requests, this helps greatly with determining where the request should be routed to. 

By examining the intake form and the legal services requested, you can set up an automatic workflow to send the information to the right individuals for evaluation based on the details captured in the intake form. Here are just a few of the details captured in the intake form that can help with the evaluation process: 

• Contact Information: This section includes fields for contact information (i.e., requester name, emails, phone, etc.), as well as department details if necessary. 
• Legal Services Requested: This section can include a checklist of services or matter types offered so that the requester can select what may apply. Depending on your office, these types of requests may include contract reviews, general advice/issues, complaints, human resources investigations, trademark searches and more.
• Case Explanation: This section provides the requester the opportunity to describe the incident or help needed. There may be specific prompts to include based on your unique organization to ensure you get all the information you need.

The beauty of customizable legal software is the opportunities are endless when it comes to creating an evaluation process that works for your unique department or organization.

3. Assignment 

In the assignment phase, you are tasked with determining which team member should handle the request. Armed with all the information you need from the online intake form, the time it takes to make an assignment is much faster than traditional routes. With software designed to manage the influx of requests that come in through a designated workflow, you can respond to each request with ease and ensure nothing gets overlooked. 

If you want to assign a request to the right individual within the organization, you can simply filter and sort to delineate which requests need attention first and assign a specific person to each case. This proactive approach helps ensure that your requesters are receiving faster responses and better service—which is a win for everyone. 

4. Status

In the status phase it is important to properly track the request after it is assigned. With built-in tracking dashboards, you can do this and more. 

Legal case management software’s tracking functionality gives you a better picture of where your requests originate, how quickly requests are completed, which requests have the highest value or priority, and more to better analyze your organization’s activities. With this technology, you can learn quickly what’s working and what isn’t—automatically. 

5. Resolution

The resolution phase is the final step in the process. Legal requests are sometimes time-sensitive, so the faster they’re resolved, the better. Legal case management software lets you pull up analytics on open requests, cases and complaints within seconds and analyze action items at a glance. This increased visibility helps with determining which cases are closest to resolution so you can report back to upper management. 

With intuitive features that keep track of all your legal cases, you can take a proactive approach to identify trends, which can help you manage cases and disputes before they even arise. Legal case management software makes it possible to achieve a 360-degree-view across all departments and locations for ultimate intentionality.

Streamline Your Important Legal Processes From Beginning to End  

The benefits of utilizing legal case management software to manage your legal requests and processes are numerous—increased efficiency, more information up-front and better service— just to name a few. And since your legal professionals are already tasked with doing more with less, you can almost immediately boost morale across the entire department by eliminating time-consuming manual processes.

With Legal Files Software, you can maximize productivity from beginning to end. You no longer have to worry about capturing all the details from a potential matter or case and relaying the information to others, but can execute all your important intake request activities from a single platform that synchronizes with your team members’ calendars and to-dos so you can assign the right person to the right request. 

Legal Files offers 30+ years of experience supporting organizations across a number of industries. Its legal software, Legal Files gives professionals the complete package when it comes to managing your legal process.

Legal compliance and risk management are the building blocks of success for any enterprise. From contract negotiations to regulatory compliance, legal matter management touches every aspect of corporate business operations. This highlights the importance of having a robust framework for managing enterprise legal matters.

Enterprise Legal Management Defined

Enterprise legal management, also referred to as ELM, is a comprehensive approach to streamlining legal processes, enhancing compliance, and mitigating risks across organizations of all sizes and industries. ELM first emerged in the 1990s to address increasing corporate demands for accountability and transparency.

From a legal perspective, the term “enterprise” refers to all the activities carried out by individuals or groups working together towards a common business goal. This includes everything done under one roof, by different units within a company, and those operating through leasing arrangements.

What are Examples of Enterprise Legal Matters?

Enterprise legal teams handle every aspect of legal management including case management, document handling, client communication, billing, and task management. Below are 5 examples of common enterprise legal matters:

1. Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM)

Contracts drive business relationships forth, and managing them efficiently can make or break that relationship. Hiccups in contract processes such as contract creation, negotiation, or approval can pose risks associated with non-compliance or missed deadlines.

2. Litigation Management

Legal disputes and lawsuits often involve collaboration between in-house legal teams, external counsel, and other stakeholders. From case assessment to court hearings, each step of litigation management requires careful handling to mitigate corporate risk.

3. Regulatory Compliance

Staying compliant with laws and regulations is essential for maintaining corporate integrity and minimizing legal risks. Regulatory compliance requires businesses to stay on top of changes in laws and regulations relevant to the industry and ensure adherence to them.

4. Legal Spend Management

Properly tracking legal expenditures is a must when it comes time to optimize budgets and achieve cost savings. Legal spend management involves managing and monitoring the costs associated with legal services, including attorney fees, litigation expenses, and settlement costs. 

5. Document Management

Managing legal documentation efficiently ensures compliance, and collaboration, and helps mitigate risks. Document management encompasses the systematic organization, storage, and retrieval of legal documents, including contracts, agreements, and correspondence.

The Benefits of Legal Management Systems

Legal management systems help law firms improve their daily workflows and client services by providing firms with quick accessibility to business-critical info like correspondences, documents, and case deadlines across all facets of their operations.

• Maximize Efficiency: By automating routine tasks and providing easy access to documents in multiple places, ELM solutions enable legal departments to operate more efficiently, freeing up time for strategic initiatives.
• Cut Costs: Through better management of legal spend, including billing review, budgeting, and vendor management, enterprises can achieve significant cost savings over time.
• Inform Decision-Making: Access to comprehensive legal data and analytics enables informed decision-making at all levels of the organization, from operational to strategic.

Choosing Legal Files as Your ELM Software

Enterprise legal management software eliminates the common frustrations behind managing legal matters from external and internal sources. With automation offering a centralized approach to routine processes, embracing technology is no longer a luxury for law firms—it’s a necessity for success in the modern legal industry.

Legal Files corporate legal software provides a central hub for managing all matter-related information, streamlining operations, and enhancing efficiency for your legal department. Request a demo to learn how Legal Files enables enterprise legal teams to automate processes, monitor legal spending, and manage every new legal matter with ease.