The Legal Tech-To-English Dictionary: Law Practice Management Software

Ed. Note: This is the second edition of The Legal Tech-to-English Dictionary, part of our Non-Event for Tech-Perplexed Lawyers. Jared Correia is hosting the non-event cast.

There is a term for lawyers using Latin and other obscure languages ​​to describe legal processes to consumers: “Legal”.

But there is no similar term for vendors using technical and other obscure languages ​​to describe their legal software operations for attorneys.

It is true that this dynamic may seem unfair. But now we have the Legal Tech-to-English Dictionary to help us deal with it.

Read on for part two where we translate topics related to law firm management software into plain English.

Further comments on Legal Tech can be found in the non-event cast in the rooms Law Practice Management Software, Legal Document Management Software and Legal Operations Contract Lifecycle Management in Above the Law Non-Event.

Office management software

1. A law firm management database that organizes primary case information on file.
2. A platform for systematising customer data collected by integrated systems via software integrations.
3. Customer files organized by email sub-folders … in 2002.

Lawyer 1: I just bought new law firm management software and spend a lot less time looking for everything because everything is now in one place!

Lawyer 2: Yes you should see this excel file I put together. It is tough.

Lawyer 1: Just stop.

See. Organization porn.

Relational database

1. Software that recognizes relationships between data segments.
2. A system based on the relational data model, created by Edgar F. Codd.

See law firm administration software

See. The Oracle of (Kevin) Bacon.

Customer portal

1. A software system function that enables law firms to share certain data with customers via an internal, encrypted storage container that customers can access with a unique password or PIN (personal identification number).
2. The means by which unwieldy tasks flow seamlessly into your workflow.

Lawyer 1: The good news is that my customers can send me stuff through our portal. That’s the bad news too.

Lawyer 2: Ba-dum-cha.

Lawyer 1: Thanks very much. I’ll be here until Thursday. Try the veal.

See online document drives, most of which de facto Customer portals also allow users to share information with others in a secure format. Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, et al. offer such functions. These can also be linked to law firm administration software via integrations.

As in action films, There is always a portal that all these aliens come into to conquer the planet. To be honest, I don’t know which portal is worse: this one or that that puts a 90-page contract in your lap for review.

integration

1. Linking two pieces of software via an API (Application Programming Interface), which enables each software system to share data with the other.
2. Connect two software via an intermediate program (such as Zapier) so that the two programs can exchange data without the need for an API.
3. A major reason that modern practice management software can be life changing, especially for those currently using a combination of dictation machines, printed markups, and the logo turtle.

See. By linking law firm management software with productivity software (email, calendar), users can synchronize emails, events and tasks with customer files within the law firm management software and consolidate this program as a holistic solution for law firm data management. By linking an accounting program with law firm management software, users can transfer expense and billing data into the accounting program.

Business intelligence

1. A method of collecting and aggregating data into a digestible format that enables software users to make data-driven business decisions.
2. Reports generated by software systems that focus on specific business metrics, including key performance indicators.
3. You know, pretty much everything your law school failed to tell you about. But hey: you still know what the rule against eternity is!

Lawyer 1: What does your income statement look like for the last quarter?

Lawyer 2: Ah. One. The thing speaks for itself.

Lawyer 1: Say what?

Compare not that Edsel.

This is the second edition of The Legal Tech-to-English Dictionary, part of our Non-Event for Tech Perplexed Lawyers. Read the first part here.

Jared Correia, a legal technology consultant and expert, is hosting the Non-Eventcast, the Above the Law non-event podcast for tech-savvy lawyers.

subjects

Artificial Intelligence, ATL Non-Event, Automation, Jared Correia, Legal Operations, Legal Tech-to-English Dictionary, Legal Technology, Non-Event, Non-Eventcast, Practice Management, Technology

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