Quality Technology Investment

	1. MICHELLE DE VEAU 2. SOLICITOR BRUCE GIBSON 3. PRINCIPAL BARRY COSIER 4. SOLICITOR KRISTI MCCUSKER

Quality technology is the best way to avoid waste, improve service and keep costs down. Choosing your supplier is critical, according to one law firm.

Barry F. Cosier & Associates, specialists in mining injury and conveyancing in Lithgow NSW, recounted the firm’s three year
struggle to manipulate cheaper software they had purchased to accommodate the firm’s budget:

"The competitor’s software had not been properly tested, their
hardware requirements were misrepresented. In the end
that cost us more because we had to upgrade", described Practice Manager, Michelle de Veau."

"Significantly, a lot of the staff’s time was wasted trying to massage data into appropriate accounting report formats. Although the competitor tried to change the software to suit our requirements, it proved beyond its capacity. They couldn’t
do what we wanted."

"When the GST became imminent, we found the competitor’s software was not even GST ready. That was the last straw so we went to Locus."

"Locus by comparison was well prepared for the GST and proved to be a true legal management package. The reports we previously tried to patch together were available in Locus, ready-to-use. We should have gone with Locus in the first place."

Barry F. Cosier & Associates also integrated Disbursements Interface Softlog with their Practice Management System. It now accurately tracks the firm’s disbursements:

"Within two weeks, the partners realised how much the firm was spending on photocopying alone and the system has already paid for itself!"

Legislation requirements highlight the need for fee earners to keep accurate records of time spent on all matters. This is not a problem using Locus, by implementing Time Keeping into the daily routine of fee earners we have an accurate account of Work In Progress per matter. Our professional time is recorded, deleting "the
guess factor" from our Professional Costs in the automated billing process.

Conveyancing Time Saver

The conveyancing department staff, have nothing but praise for Locus MasterPlan and emPower Precedents.
Documents are routinely generated:

"It saves us two to three hours a day."

In terms of Locus service in country areas, Assistant to Business Manager Shireen Sheehan said:

"We’ve been given help from day one. We arrange "in house" training with Locus, for updates and refresher courses, which make things easier for our staff. We know that prompt help is only a phone call away (Helpline)."

"Choosing your supplier is critical."

Michelle de Veau is now enjoying the benefits of one integrated Practice Management System. With Locus as her
chosen supplier, she is amazed at the variety of ways Locus has assisted in the daily operation of the firm:

"We’ve learnt that price should not be the deciding factor when investing in legal technology. The software should accommodate the needs of the firm and not the other way round."

To visit our website please click here www.cosier.com.au.

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