Access Legal Systems And Dps Software – The Partnership Works!
In March 2009 DPS Software announced that they had taken over the development and
maintenance, support services, sales and ongoing training duties of Access Legal Systems. The take over of Access Legal Systems means that firms such as CTurner Solicitors, who use both Access and DPS Software solutions, now use one company for the support and maintenance services of their software.
CTurner Solicitors is a general legal practice situated in the market town of Blackburn, Lancashire. This three partner firm was originally established over twenty years ago when it specialised in law relating to the road haulage industry. Since then, it has expanded to cover a wide range of specialist areas including conveyancing, criminal and family law, personal injury and employment.
CTurner have implemented a fully integrated system for accounts and case management, drawing on the expertise of Access Legal Systems and DPS Software. The firm use Access Legal Systems for the accounts, time recording and case management in Family, Personal Injury and Conveyancing. This system works in conjunction with their Criminal Billing System from DPS Software.
The Solutions
CTurner Solicitors have been a long term user of accounts and practice management systems from Access Legal Systems. The firm installed a DOS?based system in 1992 and since then, the system has evolved into one of the most feature?rich Windows?based systems currently available.
Access Legal Accounting and Time Recording System has been designed to meet the requirements of the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 and provide the solicitors’ practice with the financial and management information necessary to manage the practice and comply fully with the solicitors accounts rules.
The product can be run as a stand alone application or it can be fully integrated with the Access Practice and Client Database, Case Management and Time Capture systems to provide fully comprehensive practice management, marketing and fee earner support systems.
The time billing system enables all time spent in the preparation of letters and emails, the handling of telephone calls or attending meetings to be automatically captured along with all disbursements. In addition, the integrated diary system enables the firm to keep track of all key events and dates to ensure that every case was being handled efficiently. Staff are alerted of all events such as court dates, document submissions, witness notifications, contract exchange and completion dates enabling key actions to be completed in a timely manner.
The Access Legal practice management system delivers major benefits by enabling the departments where it is in use to maintain complete records of everything relating to individual matters. This information is readily available to members of staff from any PC and has reduced the handling of paper?based files.
The firm’s Access Legal System works alongside their DPS Criminal Billing System. DPS One Office Crime CDS system contracting operates according to the latest criminal Publicly Funded & Franchising criteria. It is a unique and powerful system which can literally save hours of valuable fee earning time and facilitates accurate and efficient billing.
The Practice Manager at CTurner Solicitors commented: “In common with many other legal practices, there is an increasing emphasis on integration to drive down costs and meet the demands of an ever more competitive business environment. Our system has the flexibility to adapt to our way of working and is enabling the management team to keep a close watch on the business to ensure that every case is handled to the highest professional standards.”
Founded 25 years ago, DPS Software are one of the UK’s leading providers of case management and accounting software for solicitors. Their award-winning case management systems cover Conveyancing, Crime, Matrimonial, Personal Injury, Wills & Probate and are complemented by fully integrated Accounts and Digital Dictation systems.