QualitySolicitors Devonalds, a leading law firm in south Wales, has selected SOS Connect from (SOS) to replace its existing case management system and provide seamless integration with its accounting system for more streamlined operations.
The goals are to introduce greater use of e-mail and adopt matter-centric working methods to generate cost savings, simplify risk management as well as improve client marketing and performance management.
QualitySolicitors Devonalds serves individuals, their families and businesses from offices situated throughout Rhondda Cynon Taff at Pontypridd, Talbot Green, Tonypandy and Tylorstown.
With the previous case management system showing its age, QualitySolicitors Devonalds began its search for a replacement system in 2011, taking the time to review the market extensively. A key requirement was for the software to be fully integrated with Outlook and support the more extensive use of e-mail.
Partner Steve Evans explained: “We wanted to work more effectively by using e-mail as much as possible. It was also essential that we accounted for the time involved with sending and receiving e-mails as well as mitigate the risks by being able to track all e-mail correspondence back to a matter.”
Steve Evans continued: “It helped that we were already using SOS for our accounts as this greatly simplified integration, but selecting SOS Connect for case management was no forgone conclusion and we shortlisted three other systems which were given equal consideration.
“After carefully reviewing them all, we were impressed by the close integration of SOS Connect with Outlook and e-mail. This will not only enable us to capture costs but also improve risk management and information retrieval as everything will be tied to a matter.
“We are also looking forward to using the CRM (client relationship management) marketing tools in SOS Connect to increase our client communications and adding key performance indicators to fee earners’ desktops so they can monitor their own performance.”
The people factor was another major consideration in the final choice of supplier. Steve Evans said: “We felt that SOS cared about winning our business and about building a long-term relationship. We were impressed that SOS executive directors were prepared to invest their time in us which contrasted dramatically with some of the other firms who simply provided web demonstrations.”
David McNamara, managing director of SOS, said: “SOS has built up a culture of client care which develops long-term relationships and which is fortified by our independence and focus on the legal software market. We look forward to working with QualitySolicitors Devonalds long into the future to ensure they maximise their investment and get the very best from the software as it continues to evolve to meet the sector’s needs.”