Risk and Practice Management
Cloud Computing
In alphabetical order, here are some "cloud" services you might want to check out!
Note that many of these providers charge a fee (although some have a free version or a free trial) and many are US based. You will want to read the fine print before making any choice.
Advologix PM (www.advologix.com) - AdvologixPM online practice management system includes group calendaring, docket and activity management, client management and marketing, case, project and matter management, time and billing, document management, account management, mobile access workflow, customization and Integration.
Basecamp (www.basecamphq.com) - Basecamp is one of the pioneers of online project management tools, and although they recently raised their prices, it’s still one of the easiest to master. Basecamp has all the basic features - message boards, file storage and collaboration, task lists and time tracking, and a number of project templates that can jump-start your project initiation.
Bill4Time (www.bill4time.com) – Bill4Time says it’s “more than an egg timer.” The service provider’s time and expense tracking, billing services at both hourly and flat fee rates, invoicing, trust accounting, and integration with QuickBooks.
Box.net (www.box.net) - very similar to Dropbox, Box.net is gearing itself to the business and enterprise community, with tools to manage users, security and permissions, and other features that are necessary when rolling a tool out to a larger group of employees.
Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) - Carbonite is a popular choice for online backup, and is simple to use.
Chrometa (http://app.chrometa.com) - This web-based tool automatically captures and categorizes your time.
Clio (www.go.clio.com) - Clio is a web-based practice management system that includes a suite of features including time tracking, billing, task scheduling, online bill payment, trust accounting, calendaring, reporting, client collaboration, document management and more. The product provides email and Google Apps integration and syncs with Outlook.
Dialawg (www.dialawg.com) - Dialawg provides encrypted communications for attorneys. Files and messages are sent over an encrypted SSL channel. All data is encrypted and stored in Dialawg’s private network, and recipients can view the files or messages securely via the web, Outlook, iPhone or other device. Potential uses for a law firm might include merging revisions of a contract, junior counsel submitting a strategy summary, or multiple defendants collaborating on a single motion.
DirectLaw (www.directlaw.com) - DirectLaw provides a virtual law firm platform that includes a secure online client portal, self-service interface, encrypted attorney-client communications that are time and date stamped in threaded archives, calendaring, file storage with upload/download functions, legal invoicing, and online credit card payment for legal fees, among other features for the online delivery of legal services.
DocuSign (www.docusign.com) - This web-based electronic signature service offers universal document format, multiple recipients and documents per envelope, mobile device signing options (iPhone and iPad), custom storage folder structures, collaboration with third-parties to add/edit documents, user & group management, workflows and templates, transaction control, forms and data management, firm-branded envelopes, document management, and publisher storage and account management.
DropBox (www.dropbox.com) - The Dropbox program installs a simple folder on all of your computers; then just move your files into that folder, and they are nearly instantly synched to a cloud location.
Firm Manager by LexisNexis (Beta) (www.myfirmmanager.com) - This web-based, secure practice management application from LexisNexis is currently in beta testing. Features include matter management, contacts, calendar and tasks, client intake, conflict of interest search, alerts and notifications, time and expense tracking and management, mobile access, and more.
HoudiniEsq (www.houdiniesq.com) - HoudiniEsq provides a suite of web-based products that include client communication, time and billing, document management, integration with email, calendaring, and more.
NetDocuments (www.netdocuments.com) - NetDocuments essentially allows you to create your folder structure in the cloud. All of the documents, emails, images, and other files are completely searchable online, and you can easily import email from Outlook into your account.
LawRD (www.lawrd.com) - LawRD provides a practice management system with features including management reports, time tracking, matter management, contact management, a billing sheets generator, and more.
Legal Workspace (http://legal-workspace.com) - Legal Workspace provides a hosted desktop environment of turnkey desktop software based around Amicus Attorney and Timeslips that can be accessed over the Internet through a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection.
Lexbe (www.lexbe.com) Lexbe has two products: Lexbe Online, a web-based litigation document management and review tool, and Lexbe E-Discovery, an e-discovery service that processes email, documents and other electronic data for legal review and delivery of discovery productions. Lexbe Online provides searchable litigation document management and case analysis support.
Mozy (www.mozy.com) - Mozy was one of the first online backup services, and is still a strong choice. The company offers a Home version that would work for solos, or a Pro edition that provides network and server support for larger firms. The new Mozy 2xProtect will also create a local backup to an external drive, providing true redundant backup.
NetDocuments (www.netdocuments.com) - NetDocuments offers a bit more than the previous two products; it essentially allows you to create your folder structure in the cloud. All of the documents, emails, images, and other files are completely searchable online, and you can easily import email from Outlook into your account. NetDocuments also provides a Records Management function, to automate the retention periods of certain types of documents.
Onit (www.onit.com) - Onit is a project and process management tool that includes collaboration with other users, document management, task management, project planning, budgeting and estimating, integration with Outlook, status updates and more.
PBWorks (www.pbworks.com) - PBWorks started out with one of the best wiki tools in the business, and within the past few years expanded its services to other areas, including project management. The project workspaces are clean and easy to use. You can be notified when any change to documents, pages, or task status occurs. There are also activity streams that track detailed changes in project documents or task status.
RightSignature (www.rightsignature.com) - RightSignature uses 256-bit SSL encryption and Amazon Web Services to ensure privacy of data. The service allows lawyers to create and use legally binding electronic signatures. Features of this service include common file format support, biometric and webcam photo authentication, document archiving and more. Forms may be filled out and signed online, as well as on iPhones and BlackBerry devices.
Rocket Matter (www.rocketmatter.com) - Rocket Matter is a web-based time practice management product that includes calendaring, expense, time and task tracking, invoicing, batch billing, matter-based ledgering, phone messaging, a time-tracking timer, Skype integration, mobile access, contact management, documents and notes, tagging, reports, conflict checking and more.
Total Attorneys (www.totalattorneys.com) - Total Attorneys provides a suite of web-based products including virtual law office software, high-performance marketing and virtual receptionist services. The high-performance marketing feature includes performance-based pricing for marketing, web-based practice management, collaboration with clients online, online billing and payment processing. The virtual law office product features include online collaboration, document upload, form completion, case and client management, online invoicing, credit card processing for payment of legal fees, calendaring, form and law libraries, conflict of interest checks, trust accounting compliance, and more. A virtual receptionist can provide 24/7 live reception coverage, call screening, real-time electronic message delivery, a dedicated toll-free number, appointment setting using your calendar.
WhichDraft (www.whichdraft.com) - WhichDraft includes free online legal forms, a Q&A wizard, automatic contract drafting and online collaboration.
WiziLegal (www.wizilegal.com) - From the website: "WiziLegal enables attorneys to offer consumers and clients highly customizable legal documents and services via the Web. WiziLegal's "smart" technologies leverage the power of the Internet to ask consumers simple questions that will ultimately produce legal documents to meet their specific needs. And attorneys can incorporate multimedia (text, images, videos, etc.).”
Worldox (www.worldox.com) - the Worldox document management system is best known for its standalone software product. Now they offer the Complete Cloud product, which provides all of the same great Worldox service, but provided as a managed service. No more software to install or upgrade, servers to purchase, and you’ll enjoy redundant network daily backups.
Zoho Projects (www.zoho.com/projects) - Over the years, Zoho has been quietly creating a fantastic set of productivity tools - document creation, calendars, notebooks, documents, CRM tools, billing and invoicing services - many of them completely free. Zoho Project is no different, except that the free version just gives you one project, with only 10MB of storage space. In addition to the project management features you’ll find in most of these tools, Zoho also offers Gantt Chart reports and an issue tracking system.