Historically, the main area of focus for legal software was the accounts department. Legal software companies knew that most solicitors ran a paper file, but the accounts were electronic. It was therefore often the cashier having the final say on a choice of software. The process now is very different. This article explains why the accounts department are still crucial when making your choice.
Articles
Legal Aid: Are you ready for the changes to claim checks for civil submissions?
Tuesday, September 7th, 2021At the beginning of July, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) posted an update in its News Section regarding improvements to their checking system for civil claims.
Being the COFA – not just a title
Monday, August 9th, 2021In 2012 the SRA introduced Compliance Officers into law firms, the first being the Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) which focuses on regulatory requirements for the work undertaken by the staff and firm. The second is the Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) who ensures that the regulations surrounding monetary & financial aspects are adhered to. It is the COFA that I will be focusing on in this article.
When is a Good Time to carry out an Internal Procedures Review?
Monday, April 12th, 2021Internal reviews on procedures surrounding the accounts department are never deemed a particularly exciting part of running a law firm, however they could make a real difference to efficiency and compliance.
Approaching Residual Client Balances
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021As legal cashiers we can often come across a matter balance listing which needs reconciling to get the monies moved to the correct place. Quite often the monies are to be returned to the client.
For long matter listings, the prospect of handling residual balances can be quite daunting. This article will detail how to handle client residual balances in bite-sized chunks to make the job easier.
A New Year, a new start for your legal practice?
Thursday, January 21st, 2021Often, we hear phrases like “a fresh start” or “a new start” at the beginning of a year. This makes sense because as a community we feel like the start of a year gives us a natural opportunity to reset, especially after a short Christmas break. Therefore, why shouldn’t the same be applied to legal practices?
Profit costs, disbursements and expenses – Preparing Compliant Bills – The Law Factory
Monday, November 9th, 2020Legal billing can be a minefield and when drawing a bill for your clients, you need to be very careful about what is being billed and whether or not to apply VAT to each item. It is crucial to understand each legal billing element and there are three main areas: Profit Costs Disbursements Expenses Profit […]
Legal Accounts Software Migration; Will DIY Really Save Money?
Tuesday, October 13th, 2020When choosing software, the migration of the data can often be one of the last considerations. Data migration itself is unfortunately a “necessary evil” when switching case and practice management system providers. However, the way it is done is crucial and can significantly affect the relationship between provider and firm moving forward.
What does “promptly” mean? A look at the new SRA Accounts Rules 4
Wednesday, September 9th, 2020In this article, I shall be looking at one part of the new SRA Accounts Rules which every legal cashier should be questioning: the meaning of the word “promptly” which appears several times across the new rules.
Should I upgrade Legal Accounts Software?
Tuesday, July 7th, 2020This article, explores the reasons why you should consider upgrading your Legal Accounts Software now.