Creating ‘automated engagement’

Charlotte Parkinson of Modern Law Magazine, spoke to Tracy Blencowe (pictured), Business Solutions Director at Eclipse, about how  IT solutions can best help customers engage with the claims process.

Service provision is changing – end client and business partners are demanding increasingly more engagement at lower costs.

So how can IT help?

Technology can put the client at the centre and personal the experience – creating ‘automated engagement’ regardless of the client’s location. There are now applications available that will enable you to deliver that level of engagement – tightly integrated with your back-office Case Management software system.

Let’s look at an example scenario:

Meet Ian – he’s been involved in a car accident and is looking for a firm to take on his injury case. One firm he visits online is utilising a system that holds Ian’s hand throughout the entire process. So as soon as Ian has completed the initial online form, his data is captured in the firm’s Case Management system to trigger next steps, etc. Even the ‘signup’ process can be done via secure online methods.

Personalisation of the online system means that Ian can create a personalised map and snapshot of the accident site. He can also access plain-English explanations of the process, and useful FAQs. Ian can upload images of the accident scene, and / or any injuries, which are incepted into his file within the Case Management system.

Ian stays informed and in control throughout as he has access to ongoing claim milestones and ‘next steps’. He can check on his file and its documentation any time and from anywhere. It’s a transparent view which gives Ian the full picture and a greater understanding of the injury claims process.

Through marketing features in the online system, Ian also receives tailored communications, news feeds, blogs and even special offers that are relevant to him. He is free to just pull information, so he won’t get irritated by blanket ‘junk mailers’. A more positive relationship can develop, and once the claim is finalised and compensation received, Ian can then take part in a satisfaction survey – the results of which are automatically captured in the Case Management solution, triggering relevant tasks inside the firm and providing critical client data.

Find out more about our TouchPoint solution

Award winning commercial law firm chooses Proclaim

Sherrards Solicitors to implement Eclipse's Proclaim Case Management solution

Sherrards Solicitors is implementing the Proclaim Case Management Software Solution from Eclipse Legal Systems.

Established over a century ago, based in St. Albans with a second office in London, Sherrards Solicitors is ranked by both the prestigious Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 legal directories. In addition to the Highly Commended award in the Exporting Legal Services category at the 2013 Law Society Excellence Awards, Sherrards has recently been crowned the ‘Client Choice Litigation Law Firm of the Year in England’ Global Awards Winner 2014.

The growing law firm provides a full range of commercial services to clients including international businesses, sole owner companies and not-for-profit organisations together with conveyancing and probate services to private-clients.

Sherrards Solicitors is taking the Proclaim Conveyancing Case Management Software solution for the property team, which will have instant access to the single desktop tool - facilitating a consistent approach to each file. Proclaim will streamline a vast number of administrative processes, with features such as automatic submission of SDLT forms reducing turnaround times, resulting in a superb client experience.

The firm is also taking advantage of Proclaim’s inbuilt reporting platform to provide centralised and instantly accessible key information on each file – making responding to client and estate agent queries straightforward. As part of the installation, Proclaim’s flexibility will enable a connection with the firm’s incumbent financial system for fast and accurate billing.

Andrew Mills-Baker (pictured), Chief Financial Officer at Sherrards Solicitors, comments:

“We pride ourselves in offering first class standards of service with a well-earned reputation for being approachable, available and dedicated to the needs of our clients. Proclaim’s streamlining of non-value adding administrative tasks will free up more quality time allowing us to perfect our clients’ journey even further, whilst greatly increasing our volume of work - surpassing the service offering of many larger London firms.”

Client Case Study: Unity Law

Proclaim Practice Management powers multiple award-winning Disability Discrimination specialist.

“We saw Proclaim as the market leader. It has given us clear operational advantages, putting us ahead of our business plan aims.”
Chris Fry (Managing Partner), Unity Law

South Yorkshire based Unity Law was formed by litigation expert Chris Fry in November 2010, with 6 staff providing a specialist service for victims of industrial disease, clinical negligence and work-related injuries. The practice has since won numerous high-profile awards for its service and now has over 25 staff.

The Challenge
As a new start-up business, Unity Law needed to differentiate itself from more established competitors by providing a higher level of service and a unified approach to client care – “clients not numbers”. To achieve this, a Practice Management Software solution was needed that would free up fee earners to maximise quality time spent on each client case by automating administrative tasks.

The Solution
A Proclaim Practice Management solution was implemented throughout the practice to create a seamlessly-integrated system providing an efficient and consistent approach to each case. The inherent flexibility of Proclaim would also allow for straightforward integration with productivity solutions such as document scanning, and expansion into new work areas in line with the practice’s strategy for growth.

The Results
Time-stealing tasks have been eradicated, with Proclaim automating non-value adding tasks to enable fee earners to focus on the complex litigation cases taken on by Unity Law. Integration with document scanning now means that Unity law’s ‘document inception’ processes are seamless and enable fee earners to access all client and case related information digitally, onscreen.

Compliance is assured thanks to Proclaim’s controlled workflow processes which ensure that no action is missed, and timely reminders are issued around legislative requirements.

Proclaim’s flexibility has allowed Unity Law to electronically exchange data with its costs drafting firm, Compass Costs, removing the delays inherent in postal transit of bundled documentation.

Unity Law is looking to continue its growth with ambitious marketing plans, the goal being to become the UKs leading Disability Discrimination law firm.

Client experience – the differentiator

Charlotte Parkinson of Modern Law Magazine, spoke to Dolores Evelyn, (pictured) Sales Director at Eclipse Legal Systems, about the way general insurers are pulling the client care rabbit out of the hat in their marketing messages this winter (especially for home insurance / motor claims). Does this, underpinned by the joint ventures between law firms to service claims more effectively, ramp up the pressure on the claimant PI lawyers to catch up and get their marketing budget clear?

Essentially, yes – it has never been more important for claimant lawyers to market themselves and their firms more effectively. And that ‘client service’ message, in particular, is key. I’ve seen some great examples recently from law firms who are expanding and succeeding – despite the challenging environment. This proves that despite the obstacles laid before claimant law firms, a smart commercial approach – teamed with time and effort to present a great ‘face’ to clients – can work wonders.

Recent examples include:

• Asons Solicitors in Bolton – now a 250-staff practice and looking to expand further into purpose-built premises with headroom for an additional 500 people.
• Michael Lewin Solicitors in Leeds – founded with 15 people and now fast approaching 150, spread across 4 Yorkshire locations.

What these firms – and others who continue to thrive – have in common is a focus on client service, communications that tell the client precisely what to expect, and transparency throughout the entire process.

These firms are underpinned by robust and scalable software solutions that not only provide lawyers with the right productivity tools, but also provide clients with the means to stay in touch and communicate 24/7/365.

Service, and the overall client experience, is the differentiator.

Invest then integrate…

Charlotte Parkinson, of Modern Claims Magazine, spoke to Darren Gower (pictured), Marketing Director of Eclipse Legal Systems about whether the investment/spend on technology in the claims sector matched the speed of growth for some firms, or are most still using legacy systems?

The claims sector is one where technology is utterly vital. Margins on higher-volume claims areas are often slim, not helped by legislation which constantly moves to push claimant success fees lower and lower.

So, technology has a big part to play here – not only in terms of improving processes and reducing costs… but also in terms of enabling claimant firms to manage the changes put in place by legislation, such as the need to utilise Portals to manage claims (currently RTA and EL / PL).

Of all the service sectors that Eclipse caters to, among the highest levels of investment we see are made in the claims sector. Investment in technology is a major driver of competitive advantage, and those firms that get it right get it very right!

Legacy system replacement is commonplace – as client, customer and market demands develop, so the incumbent software systems often begin to show signs of weakness. Unless the systems in place are highly configurable and have a ‘rapid deployment’ nature then the demands of new market pressures dictate that a more suitable system needs to be found.

Great examples here are the aforementioned RTA and EL / PL portals – for firms specialising in this type of work, integration between its case management technology and the relevant new portals was absolutely vital. Without the ability for the fee earner’s desktop systems to share information with the Portals, work would need to be duplicated and administrative overheads would skyrocket – not ideal in an already margin-squeezed sector. So for many firms the decision was a reasonably straightforward one – invest in technology that could provide this integration seamlessly and in a future-proof manner.

Such changes will continue to affect the claims market, and it will invariably be a firm’s technology backbone that dictates whether or not it can take advantage of the opportunities offered!

The Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards 2014 – the winners!

Congratulations to all who took part in the Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards on the 12th November at the Grange St Paul’s in London, headline sponsored by Eclipse Legal Systems.

The Awards which celebrate outstanding contributions from individuals and claims service providers, were hosted by comedian Josh Widdicombe and were attended by over 400 guests.

The full list of winners as chosen by a cross-industry panel of high profile judges can be seen below:

Claimant Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year

David Greenwood – Switalskis

Defendant Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year

Sean McGahan – McKinty & Wright

Claimant Personal Injury Team of the Year
Switalskis – child abuse compensation team

Defendant Personal Injury Team of the Year
McKinty & Wright

Barristers’ Chambers of the Year
Parklane Plowden

Mediation Achiever of the Year
Tim Wallis – Trust Mediation

Rehab Provider of the Year
Argent Rehabilitation

Claims Management Company of the Year
Atrium Legal

Medicolegal Provider of the Year
Medical Records

Insurance Provider of the Year
ARAG

Associated Industries Award
mmadigital

Young Achiever of the Year
Katie Rose – Keoghs

Practice/Operations Manager of the Year
Krissi Gillingham – Photofile

Marketing Campaign of the Year
Hilary Meredith Solicitors

Outstanding Case of the Year
Switalskis

Outstanding Achievement Award
Donna Scully – Carpenters Solicitors

Lifetime Achievement Award
Ian Walker

Eclipse’s Tracy Blencowe and comedian Josh Widdicombe with the cheque for Barth Syndrome Trust.

Ground-breaking ABS to implement Proclaim

Aspire Law chooses Eclipse's Proclaim Case Management solution

Aspire Law - a partnership between Aspire, a national spinal injury charity, and Moore Blatch, a personal injury law firm - is implementing Eclipse's Proclaim Case Management Software solution.

Aspire recently became the first organisation of its type to own a stake in an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) law firm.  The new venture will be dedicated to providing a specialist service to people with spinal cord injuries, creating a Social Enterprise Model which places clients’ needs and requirements at the centre of work, delivering a highly personalised service. The service could in time expand to include advisory elements around housing, education, care and rehabilitation.

Aspire Law will make no deduction of fees from the compensation awarded to clients and - as a joint partner - the charity will receive 50% of profits to reinvest into projects, like the Aspire Housing Programme which provides accessible accommodation to spinal cord injured people discharged from hospital who would otherwise have nowhere suitable to live.

The new ABS is implementing Proclaim across the business, providing a desktop solution for fee earners dealing with a broad range of claims.  Proclaim provides scope for the firm to expand its offerings into other areas, providing the ability to service the complete needs of its client base.

Chris Byron, Managing Director of Aspire Law, comments:

“We are extremely proud to be able to introduce an alternative way of delivering legal services to people with spinal cord injuries, which combines the legal expertise of our team with strong charitable values.  The decision to implement Proclaim was commercially right for us as a business; having seen how the system enhanced processes at another Moore Blatch business, Moore Blatch Resolve, we were confident that Proclaim would be able to deliver in line with the aims of Aspire Law."

Eclipse unveils latest version of Proclaim

Market-leading solution enjoys new look & feel, plus raft of new features 

Market-leading legal software solutions provider, Eclipse Legal Systems, has announced the latest iteration of its Proclaim productivity and management solution.

Proclaim is used in over 700 organisations by 20,000 individuals, for an increasingly broad range of requirements including case, matter, practice and process management.  This latest Proclaim iteration - v3.3.1 of the solution - will be provided free of charge to all Eclipse clients, under the firm's standard maintenance agreements.  New clients will also benefit from the solution, be it as a new implementation or as a seamless transition from the current Proclaim version.

Proclaim v3.3.1 carries a brand new look and feel - sporting 'flat design' to provide an enhanced user experience.  Users will benefit from even clearer signposting of 'next actions', in addition to a cleaner working space and even the choice of a range of colour schemes.  The feature-rich nature of Proclaim has been further enhanced, with new functionalities including:

• 'Infinite additions'; enabling system designers to easily create additional data fields 'on the fly', resulting in rapid bespoke screen building across the Proclaim desktop
• Multi-user access; empowering legal teams to work on the same matter at the same time
• 'Paragraphs'; a document building tool that provides fee earners with the option to pick context sensitive paragraphs from a pre-defined library of text, when creating bespoke or complicated documents (for example, commercial contracts)
• Enhanced desktop billing; including the ability to electronically draft bills, all within a user-friendly and intuitive 'bills guide' interface

Steve Ough, Chief Software Architect at Eclipse, comments:

"This latest version of Proclaim represents a significant step forward in our product roadmap, providing the kind of fluidity and accessibility that our clients - and the market in general - has come to expect from Eclipse."

The next level

Charlotte Parkinson, of Modern Law Magazine, spoke to Darren Gower, Marketing Director of Eclipse Legal Systems, about the need for a joined-up IT strategy.

The scope of change in the legal services market is far from slowing down and the market is still witnessing a number of new entrants into the market, as well as a sustained level of exits. In light of such fundamental change, many firms are looking to new ways of running their businesses, whether as Alternative Business Structures (ABSs) or through new, pan-sector partnerships and alliances. Though the initial uptake of applications for ABS licensing was slower than anticipated, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) have hinted that they anticipate the pace of applications to pick up now that the new process has had a chance to bed-in to the legal sector. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) have also recently been granted approval to license these new business structures. The ICAEW anticipates swathes of applications following official licensing approval and this decision could certainly change the shape of legal services on a scale which has not yet been seen in the sector to date.

But whether your firm is an ABS, traditional partnership or anything in between, the increasing reliance on a full spectrum, joined up technology offering is a key component in the chain of your firms offering and it’s certainly not going to go away. Whilst some firms remain set in their ways, resisting the need to accept that continual review and often fundamental operational changes are now a necessary factor in the daily running of modern law firms, others are beginning to wake up to opportunities born through times of such significant change. Effectively utilising your firms Practice Management Software (PMS), as part of a strategic business or operational shift, can assist in overcoming a whole range of issues that would be encountered if the firm was operating across a number of varying systems. Ranging from secure file opening and flexible CRM systems through to ongoing matter management and the ability to visualise key practice performance indicators, a joined-up software offering is of paramount importance to the future success of your firm.

Not only can a coherent, full spectrum software offering pay dividends for those who work within the firm, saving time and money, the likelihood is that if the inner-workings of your firm are well run and coherent, your clients will also reap the dividends. Technology can drive your firm’s competitiveness and in light of the flux in the market, could be the enabler you have been looking for to propel your firm to the next level.

Darren Gower, Eclipse Legal Systems, comments:

“One of the biggest issues we see – when being engaged by law firms of all sizes – is a piecemeal approach to software. Different departments using different software systems often creates chaos – there is no central pool of data or history to analyse, making your data – what should be gold dust! – nigh on impossible to utilise. By implementing a single solution across the practice, firms are assured of consistent data, a standardised quality approach, and access to meaningful – and usable – information for cross- and up-selling purposes.”

The Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Awards 2014 - the winners!

Congratulations to all who took part in the Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Awards on the 15th October at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane in London, headline sponsored by Eclipse Legal Systems.

The awards, which celebrate innovative business and legal service providers, were hosted by Gyles Brandreth and were attended by over 500 guests.

The full list of winners as chosen by a cross-industry panel of high profile judges can be seen below:

• ABS of the year up to 25 employees
  Winner: Richard Chambers
  Highly Commended: Crabtree Law LLP

• ABS of the year 26-100 employees
  Winner: Schillings
  Highly Commended: Convey Law

• ABS of the year over 100 employees
  Winner: Myhomemove
  Highly Commended: Just Costs

• Lawyer of the year
  Winner: Emma Pearmaine – Simpson Millar LLP
  Highly Commended: Christine Thornley – Gorvins Solicitors

• Non lawyer of the year
  Winner: Christopher Mills – Schillings
  Highly Commended: Gladys Swaim-Rutter – Roberts Jackson Solicitors

• Team of the year
  Winner: TUI Travel Plc
  Highly Commended: Kent Legal Services
  Highly Commended: Colemans-ctts

• Rising star of the year
  Winner: Joanna Parkinson – Michael W Halsalls
  Highly Commended: Hendrik Puschmann – Kenneth More Theatre – White & Case

• Innovation of the year
  Winner: Emsleys Solicitors
  Highly Commended: Berwin Leighton Paisner

• Entrepreneur of the year
  Winner: Zoe Holland – Zebra Legal Consulting
  Highly Commended: Geoff Wild – Kent Legal Services

• Client care initiative of the year
  Winner: Bott & Co Solicitors
  Highly Commended: Browne Jacobson

• Compliance office of the year
  Winner: Shirley Rothel – Just Costs
  Highly Commended: Gareth Richards – Convey Law

• Law firm of the year
  Winner: Schillings
  Highly Commended: Winn Solicitors
  Highly Commended: New Bold Solicitors

• Deal of the year
  Winner: Winn Solicitors
  Highly Commended: BLM

• New entrant of the year
  Winner: Burcher Jennings
  Highly Commended: Richmond Chambers

• Best use of technology
  Winner: SmartCredit Ltd T/As SmartSearch
  Highly Commended: Aequitas Legal

• Best marketing campaign of the year
  Winner: Bott & Co Solicitors
  Highly Commended: National Accident Helpline

• Chambers of the year
  Winner: Matrix Chambers
  Highly Commended: Zenith Chambers

• Supporting the industry award
  Winner: Baker Tilly
  Highly Commended: SearchFlow

• Outstanding achievement
  Winner: Martyn Day, Leigh Day Solicitors

• Lifetime achievement
  Winner: Diane Burleigh OBE, Cilex

Bartletts Solicitors implements Proclaim

National law firm to roll out the Proclaim Case Management Software Solution

Liverpool-based law firm, Bartletts Solicitors, is implementing the Proclaim Case Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems.

Established in 1860, Bartletts Solicitors employs over 60 staff at 8 offices across the North West region. Boasting a nationwide reputation for providing trusted legal assistance and superb client care, the firm provides a full range of legal services to both corporate and private clients. To further strengthen this position, and as part of a strategy to continually invest in the latest technologies, Bartletts Solicitors has implemented Proclaim throughout its Personal Injury team.

Proclaim will provide a central secure platform across all 8 offices ensuring a consistent approach to each Personal Injury case. As part of the solution, the Personal Injury team at Bartletts Solicitors will have instant desktop access to Proclaim's A2A (Application-to-Application) tools for processing Portal claims for both RTA (Road Traffic Accident) and EL / PL (Employer Liability / Public Liability).

The firm will monitor and analyse ongoing performance using Proclaim’s integrated reporting toolkit. Its inbuilt functionality will facilitate the easy creation of custom automated management reports - allowing trends to be spotted and empowering the management team to quickly make informed operational and growth decisions.

Mike Craven, Practice Manager at Bartletts Solicitors, comments:

“Client care is our highest priority; it’s at the forefront of everything we do. Proclaim will enable us to meet clients’ expectations, automatically keeping them up to date with the progress of their case. This seamless client journey, combined with the increased efficiencies from the streamlining of time-sapping administration, will be crucial for staying ahead of the competition in this increasingly competitive sector.”

Wakefield and District Housing chooses Proclaim

Property specialist to implement Eclipse’s Proclaim Case Management Solution 

Award winning social landlord, Wakefield and District Housing (WDH), is implementing the Proclaim Case Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems.

Established in 2005, WDH provides affordable housing and related services for tenants in over 31,000 homes. The firm employs 1,400 staff at nine offices across the Wakefield district and owns one in every four homes in the area.

The Proclaim Case Management Software solution will be rolled out across the legal services team, covering conveyancing and litigation. The single Proclaim database will ensure a secure and consistent approach for all users. Eclipse will conduct a full data migration from the incumbent system. WDH will take advantage of Proclaim’s inbuilt adaptability - producing tailored workflows to suit the firm’s bespoke processes and file management practises.

The legal services team at WDH will also be utilising Eclipse’s FileView online matter tracking solution - maintaining transparency by automatically keeping stakeholders up to date with selected data via a secure password system.

Paul Neal, Head of Legal at WDH, comments:

"We are committed to delivering excellent services and seek to improve even further by using technology to maximum effect. The Proclaim solution is a superb fit for our organisation - its automated streamlining of non-value adding administrative tasks will play an essential role in delivering our value for money promise to tenants.”

The shortlist for the Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards 2014

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards 2014 which takes place on 12th November at The Grange St. Paul’s, London.

Due to the large number of high calibre nominations received, the panel of judges were faced with many tough decisions to make when whittling down all the entries to create the final shortlist of firms and individuals.

The shortlist for the 17 awards can be seen below:

• Claimant Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year

David Greenwood – Switalskis
Ben Posford – Osbornes Solicitors
Craig Budsworth

• Defendant Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year

Fiona Murphy – Keoghs
Sean McGahan – McKinty & Wright
Rod Evans – Greenwoods

• Claimant Personal Injury Team of the Year

Osbornes Solicitors
Roberts Jackson Solicitors
Switalksis

• Defendant Personal Injury Team of the Year

Geldards
Keoghs
McKinty & Wright

• Barristers’ Chambers of the Year

7BR
Parklane Plowden
Clerksroom

• Mediation Achiever of the Year

Quentin Smith
Tim Wallis – Trust Mediation

• Rehab Provider of the Year

Papworth Trust Rehabilitation
Bush & Company Rehabilitation
Argent Rehabilitation

• Claims Management Company of the Year

First4Lawyers
Atrium Legal
Winn Assist
Rollins UK

• Medicolegal Provider of the Year

Bush & Company Rehabilitation
TLA Medicolegal
Medical Records

• Insurance Provider of the Year

ARAG
DAC Beachcroft
Financial & Legal

• Associated Industries Award

mmadigital
Frenkel Topping
Premex
Trevor Gilbert & Associates

• Young Achiever of the Year

Michael Wolstencroft – Roberts Jackson Solicitors
Katie Rose – Keoghs
Thomas Blackburn – Compass Costs
Jennifer Corris– Roberts Jackson Solicitors

• Practice/Operations Manager of the Year

Krissi Gillingham – Photofile
Gladys Swaim-Rutter – Roberts Jackson Solictors

• Marketing Campaign

Emsleys Solicitors – Review My Claim
Hilary Meredith
First4Lawyers
Media Agency Group for the ‘Claims Through Us’ campaign

• Outstanding Case of the Year

Jane Woodcock – Neil Hudgell Solicitors
Neil Southern – Keoghs
Switalskis

• Outstanding Achievement Award

To be announced on the night

• Lifetime Achievement Award

To be announced on the night

For more details, visit the official Barker Brooks Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards website.

Client Case Study: Advantage Property Lawyers

Award winning conveyancer sees 200% growth since implementing Proclaim

“Working with Proclaim will enable us to achieve ‘Top 25 Status’ in 2014”
Stephen Coupland, Head of Sales & Marketing at APL

In 2013 Advantage Property Lawyers (APL), with the assistance of a Proclaim Practice Management Solution, won 3 major awards:
- Large Conveyancer of the Year (silver) - Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year
- Yorkshire & North East Conveyancing Firm of the Year (gold) and
- Conveyancing Firm of the Year (silver) - LFS conveyancing Awards

The Challenge
In 2009, as a new start-up, APL needed a Practice Management solution that focused specifically on residential conveyancing. Software was needed that would allow the firm to offer its clients and introducers an outstanding level of service and customer care, whilst maintaining best practice at all times. The solution would also have to be reliable and offer easy scalability in line with APL’s aspirations to become one of the UK’s biggest and best conveyancers.

The Solution
Eclipse’s Proclaim Practice Management solution was implemented at APL’s inception as it provided a centralised, secure desktop toolkit for every property transaction - utilised by all staff. Proclaim was also chosen for its out-of-the box conveyancing focus and ease of integration with third party complementary software - as most work came from large corporates and major estate agents.

The Results
Proclaim has proved to be an essential ‘enabler’ for providing a superb client experience and reducing turnaround times. Proclaim facilitated APL to achieve over 4,000 completions and increase turnover by 40% in 2013. The financial and reporting toolset is used to provide instant data retrieval with on-going monitoring and analysis of KPIs assisting with the management of systems, processes and risk calculations.

APL is using Proclaim to automate a vast number of administrative processes including document production and hopes to move towards a paperless office soon.

Since implementing Proclaim, APL has grown rapidly requiring an increase in staff numbers by over 200% from 15 to over 50. The firm is now represented on the management board of The Conveyancing Association and was the first conveyancing firm to receive the ‘Legal Eye’ quality standard.

Mullis & Peake LLP implements Proclaim

Eclipse's Proclaim Practice Management solution selected in 6-figure deal

Leading Essex law firm, Mullis & Peake LLP, has implemented the Proclaim Practice Management Software Solution from Eclipse Legal Systems.

Established in Romford, Essex, over 100 years ago Mullis & Peake LLP has grown into one of the area’s largest and most respected law firms employing over 50 staff. Providing a full range of legal services to both private and corporate clients, the firm boasts an enviable reputation for high quality legal advice at cost effective rates. To further strengthen this position, Mullis & Peake LLP is implementing the Proclaim Practice Management Solution firm-wide for all users.

The Proclaim Solution will be utilised across all work areas including Commercial, Property, Elderly Client, Family, Court of Protection and Employment. The Personal Injury team will adopt Proclaim's direct integration with the RTA (Road Traffic Accident) Portal.

As an integral part of the core Proclaim solution, Mullis & Peake LLP will also be taking the Proclaim New Business Enquiries and Compliance toolsets to provide seamless marketing, file opening, and ongoing adherence to SRA regulations. Prior to implementation of the Proclaim Credit Control Centre, Eclipse will conduct a data conversion from the firm’s incumbent financial management system. Mullis & Peake LLP is also to benefit from seamless digital dictation functionality courtesy of Proclaim’s BigHand integration tool.

Nick Sims, IT Manager at Mullis & Peake LLP, comments:

“With the legal services sector becoming increasingly competitive, it is essential for us to stay ahead of the game and cement our proud reputation for superb client service by investing in technology. Proclaim, with its array of integrated client-centric toolsets, is the perfect platform for us to achieve this.”

Eclipse Case Study: Wrekin Housing Trust

Progressive social landlord ensures efficiency by implementing Proclaim Case Management for in-house legal team

“Key for us was a system that was easy to use and to configure without specialised skills. Proclaim is plug and play, not play and break.”
Chris Horton, Company Secretary

Wrekin Housing Trust is a non-profit making housing association that provides affordable housing and related services for tenants across Shropshire and Staffordshire. The Trust was established in 1999 when over 13,000 homes were transferred from Telford & Wrekin Council – the country’s largest ever transfer of homes at that time.

The Challenge
Wrekin Housing Trust needed to simplify the processes for legal services and make it easier for colleagues to work on cases. A dedicated in-house legal Case Management System was required that would replace the existing manual filing solutions and spreadsheet based record keeping.

The Solution
Eclipse’s Proclaim Case Management solution has been implemented progressively in the legal services team, covering litigation, tenancy and conveyancing work areas. Proclaim was chosen for its ability to provide a secure, centralised desktop solution for easy information sharing and collaboration within the team. The system also enables the automation of routine tasks, document production, email integration and offers the flexibility of bespoke workflows and file management.

The Results
Proclaim ensures a consistent approach to legal services, replacing the ‘each to their own’ filing and process methodology. The team boasts improved efficiencies at every stage of file management - the hours saved on administrative tasks allow more time to be spent on providing quality service for clients and stakeholders.

Time sapping manual document production has been eliminated, with documents such as County Court applications, contracts and S21 notices being created automatically. This ensures fast processing and the removal of the risk of human error. All files are managed centrally allowing for super-fast recall of data using Proclaim’s easy search function - eliminating time spent hunting for information.


The team is getting closer to the ideal of being an almost entirely paperless office by making use of Proclaim’s easy integration of document scanning solutions. Wrekin Housing Trust continually develops and purchases new properties, the scalability built into Proclaim will be essential during future growth.

The shortlist for the Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Awards 2014

We are delighted to announce this year’s shortlist for the Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Awards 2014 which take place on Wednesday 15th October at The Hilton on Park Lane in London.

The Judges were extremely impressed with the high calibre of the nominations for the 18 award categories and had an overwhelming number of individual entries to consider. After much deliberation the panel of expert judges have whittled down all the entries to the final shortlist of firms and individuals below:

• ABS of the Year – Up to 25 employeesCastle Park Solicitors
  Crabtree Law LLP
  Ferguson Financial
  Natalie Gamble Associates
  Richmond Chambers 

• ABS of the Year – 26 – 100 employees
  Convey Law
  Jigsaw Law
  The Partnership
  Schillings

• ABS of the Year – Over 100 employees
  Just Costs Solicitors
  myhomemove
  Knights Solicitors
  Riverview Law
  Winn Solicitors

• Lawyer of the Year
  Ghazala Bashey – Winn Solicitors
  Emma Pearmaine – Simpson Millar LLP
  Christine Thornley – Gorvins Solicitors
  Paul Shenton – Just Costs Solicitors
  Greg Stewart – GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates

• Non Lawyer of the Year
  Deborah Atkins – Brethertons Solicitors
  Thomas Blackburn – Compass Law
  Robert Collington – Asons Solicitors
  Christopher Mills – Schillings
  Gladys Swaim-Rutter – Roberts Jackson Solicitors

• Team of the Year
  Blackstone Solicitors
  Colemans-ctts
  Collaborative Resolution
  TUI Travel PLC
  Gorvins Solicitors
  Kent Legal Services

• Rising Star of the Year
  Jenine Abdo – Simpson Millar LLP
  Peter Ambrose – The Partnership
  Jennifer Jacquiot – Crabtree Law LLP
  Joanna Parkinson – Asons Solicitors
  Hendrik Puschmann – Kenneth More Theatre – White & Case

• Innovation of the Year
  Berwin Leighton Paisner
  Burcher Jennings
  CBT ClinicsEmsleys Solicitors
  Quindell
  SmartCredit Ltd T/As SmartSearch

• Entrepreneur of the Year
  Imran Akram – Asons Solicitors
  Zoe Holland – Zebra Legal Consulting
  Karen Jackson – Roberts Jackson Solicitors
  Chris White – Aspiring Solicitors
  Geoff Wild – Kent Legal Services

• Client Care Initiative of the Year
  Bott & Co Solicitors
  Browne Jacobson LLP
  Countrywide Conveyancing Services
  Emsleys Solicitors
  Stephens Scown LLP

• Compliance Officer of the Year
  Sean Gordon – Neil Hudgell Solicitors
  Gareth Richards – Convey Law
  Shirley Rothel – Just Costs Solicitors

• Law Firm of the Year
  GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates
  New Bold Solicitors
  Schillings
  Stephens Scown LLP
  Winn Solicitors

• Deal of the Year
  BLM
  Smedvig Capital- Kings Court Trust
  Speed Medical
  Winn Solicitors

• New Entrant of the Year
  Aspiring Solicitors
  Burcher Jennings
  Castle Park Solicitors
  Legalmatters
  Richmond Chambers

• Best Use of Technology
  Aequitas Legal
  Convey Law
  Fidler & Pepper
  myhomemove
  Selachii LLP
  SmartCredit Ltd T/As SmartSearch

• Best Marketing Campaign of the Year
  Aaron & Partners
  Bott & Co Solicitors
  Quality Solicitors
  National Accident Helpline
  Schillings
  
• Chambers of the Year
  KBW Chambers
  Matrix Chambers
  Zenith Chambers

• Supporting the Industry Award
  Augusta Ventures LLP
  Baker Tilly
  ETSOS
  Frenkel Topping
  SearchFlow

A new set of challenges

Charlotte Parkinson, of Modern Law Magazine spoke to Darren Gower (pictured), Marketing Director at Eclipse Legal Systems, to find out how the right type of support is fundamental to the success of any firm looking to diversify their service offering in a more competitive market.

Lord Justice Jackson’s reforms to civil litigation in 2012 may not have impacted the medical negligence sector as deeply as they affected the personal injury market but it has still felt the brunt of change, particularly for low value cases. Right across the claims sector, in areas such as catastrophic injury, clinical and medical negligence and commercial litigation, firms are beginning to become more reliant on high value, low volume claims – but high value cases are not without their own challenges.

A suitable alternative?

Many clinical negligence firms were, until recently, working through the backlog of cases which had been issued prior to the new rules coming into force but these have now largely subsided in the sector, leaving many firms questioning where their next move in the market should be. As the changes to civil litigation funding and costs affected lower value claims (particularly low value RTA claims in the case of personal injury), various potential revenue streams are being considered to replenish dwindling cash flow. Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) claims are an area which some firms are beginning to look to as a potential replacement for RTA claims, although these types of case are not without their own potential indemnity risks.

For those firms who are looking to expand into other areas of litigation, new departments within firms are cropping up to take on high value, low volume claims but for some, this transition is not an easy one. High value claims often require a huge outlay of time for more experienced Partners and could also lead to a potential increase in Work In Progress (WIP) lock-up for the firm. Another factor to bear in mind when considering branching out into high value claims should be the removal of legal aid for clinical negligence claims, which has increased competition within the sector as more and more personal injury firms begin to take on clinical negligence and other high value claims.

Prepared for change…

Bearing in mind the newly reformed sector and the ever-changing costs landscape, firms should ensure emphasis is placed on concluding cases quickly, in order to avoid adverse costs; however, this should not be to the detriment of fully understanding undeniably more complex cases. As firms begin to explore potential new work streams, they must also consider how they will support a potential hike in work load across the firm. By implementing new or extending existing systems, which could assist with streamlining the support process, the conundrum many firms are facing could become a lot clearer.

Darren Gower of Eclipse Legal Systems comments:

“In refocusing on more complex work areas, the reliance on effective matter management software solutions becomes even greater. Such software systems enable the practice to budget each matter effectively, to ensure compliance, and to reduce administrative overhead as much as possible. In a nutshell, use of the right matter management software lets the lawyers get on with doing the lawyering – and provides a solid framework for process efficiencies.”

Capita acquires case management software and services specialist, Eclipse Legal Systems

Capita plc announces that it has acquired Eclipse Hardware Ltd (known as Eclipse Legal Systems) for an undisclosed sum. Eclipse provides case management software and services to over 20,000 legal professionals in law firms, Alternative Business Structures, claims departments and commercial organisations.

Eclipse's core software integrates file management, document management, workflow, reporting, accounting, time recording, task and diary functions into a single desktop tool. Clients benefit from more efficient, automated processes and more effective risk and compliance procedures.

Sean Massey, managing director at Capita Justice and Technology Solutions, said:

“The acquisition of Eclipse, the second acquisition of a private sector software provider in the last four months, will further enhance our range of solutions for the professional services market. Capita is looking forward to working with the experienced and dedicated team in Bradford, supporting Eclipse's continued growth and developing innovative software and solutions that will meet the challenges its customers face.”

Steve Ough, founder and Chief Software Architect at Eclipse, said:

"By joining the Capita family we are putting in place the next stage of growth plans, building on our success and enabling us to further our expansion in the most effective way. We are delighted to be entering this new phase of growth."

Eclipse has over 150 employees based in Bradford.

Ringrose Law to implement Eclipse's Proclaim PMS

Eclipse's Proclaim Practice Management Software solution chosen for leading law firm

Full service law firm, Ringrose Law, is implementing the Proclaim Practice Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems.

Ringrose Law operates from 7 offices providing a broad portfolio of services to private individuals and businesses across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.  Lexcel accredited for ten years, the practice employs over 130 staff and has been at the forefront of local legal services for over 100 years.  With a history of successfully reshaping as markets and legislation have changed, Ringrose Law entered a rigorous and lengthy selection process to replace the incumbent Matter Management and financial accounting systems.

Ringrose Law is rolling out the integrated Proclaim Practice Management solution across the entire firm, providing instant desktop access to productivity, financial and client management toolsets.  Proclaim Process Management solutions will be introduced for the Conveyancing and Personal Injury departments, while for less prescriptive work areas (including Court of Protection, Employment, Family, Probate and Crime), Proclaim Matter Management solutions will be utilised.

As part of the practice-wide integrated solution, Ringrose Law will be utilising Proclaim client inception and CRM tools, to manage the 'new enquiry' process and introduce business on-stream in a consistent manner. Taking this further, the practice will also benefit from Eclipse's client self-service toolsets - TouchPoint, SecureDocs and FileView - enabling clients to agree documents online, monitor file progress, and communicate with the firm through the full life of a matter.

As an integral part of the system rollout, Eclipse will be carrying out a conversion of both client and financial data from Ringrose Law's incumbent software systems.

Andrew Watson (pictured), Finance Director at Ringrose Law, comments:

"When we first met Eclipse in 2013, at the Legal IT exhibition in London, we were taken both by the approachability of the Eclipse team and the power of the Proclaim solution.  As part of our ongoing growth strategy we were investigating software solutions that could further improve our internal processes and provide consistency across how teams perform and are measured.”

"What we found in Proclaim was that the system could not only improve internal efficiencies, financial management and compliance, but it could also provide direct client-facing systems to enable online self-service for the people and businesses we help every day.  The fact that Proclaim provides this broad business benefit for us made the system our number one choice by a fair margin."

How important a part does technology have to play?

Charlotte Parkinson of Modern Law Magazine spoke to Russell Thomson (pictured), Chief Business Executive at Eclipse Legal Systems, about which latest technology is the best in the claims sector at the moment and how technology is benefitting not only the client but also insurers and lawyers in the claims arena in 2014. 

The focus in the claims sector is increasingly based upon speed, transparency and accessibility.

Insurers and lawyers have had access to great internal IT systems for a fair while – software that automates processes, provides consistent decision making, and trims the fat from the claims process. The missing cog has always been at the other end – the customer end. The external face. How can IT help the customer to engage fully in the process, be kept informed, and feel less like an outsider?

Smarter claims organisations are increasingly looking at this – engaging the customer – as a key differentiator, a way to sell their service and raise the competitive bar. So how can this be done? The customer journey, the experience, has to be mapped out and integrated with current internal processes. It’s all well and good having smart and efficient internal systems, but if the customer experience is not up to scratch then that’s a big issue.

Self-service technology (Eclipse’s TouchPoint system) is now available that ties the internal claims process in with a customer-facing tool. Ideally claims firms want the customer to be able to maintain contact all the way through a claim, feeling very much part of the process, but in a low-cost way for the claims firm itself.

It’s now possible for insurers and lawyers to provide claimants with access to live claim statuses, give them the ability to sign documents, engage in two-way conversations, and upsell additional claims services – all through the iPad the customer uses while sitting on the sofa.

This type of self-service is the key to uniting back-end efficiencies and front-end experience, and is set to become the norm for the claims sector as a whole.

Eclipse Proclaim VIDEO Case Study: Michael Lewin Solicitors

“Proclaim is 10 times better than what we had before”

Rob Crompton of this rapidly expanding Leeds based practice talks about how Proclaim enables service excellence and rapid file progression.

About Michael Lewin Solicitors:

• Employing 150 staff
• Specialising in litigation work including injury claims and debt recovery
• Experienced 700% growth since implementing Proclaim

Brisbane law firm, Davis Lawyers, chooses Eclipse

Eclipse further expands Australian presence with Proclaim Cloud solution

Brisbane law firm, Davis Lawyers, is implementing the Proclaim Conveyancing Case Management solution from Eclipse Legal Systems.

As part of a strong multi-disciplinary offering, niche practice Davis Lawyers provides property services for both commercial and private clients.  To cater for a prolonged upturn - and positive forecasts - in conveyancing transactions, Davis Lawyers conducted research into available process management software solutions.  The practice adopted a global search, not restricted to Australian vendors, and following in-depth analysis selected Eclipse's Proclaim system.

Eclipse is implementing the Proclaim Cloud solution for Davis Lawyers - providing browser-based access to the full suite of Proclaim functionality regardless of physical location.  In addition, Davis Lawyers will be provided with Proclaim's configuration toolset, to enable the practice to build the Queensland Conveyancing Protocol into the Proclaim workflow.

James Ford at Davis Lawyers comments:

"As a practice we are keen to adopt the best technologies to enable us to streamline activities and improve the all-important client experience.  Eclipse's Proclaim solution stood out to us as offering a core flexibility that would allow us to shape our services around ever-changing client and business partner requirements."

Darren Gower, Marketing Director at Eclipse, comments:

"We are delighted to welcome Davis Lawyers onboard.  Our presence outside of the UK is gathering pace and we are cementing the ethos that geography is no barrier to using the very best legal software solutions."

Eclipse VIDEO Case Study: Thorneycroft Solicitors

“Proclaim is definitely the one for the industry”

Rachel Stow of Thorneycroft Solicitors talks about Proclaim’s ability to enhance the client experience and provide case-focused quality monitoring.

About Thorneycroft Solicitors:

• Full service law firm
• 150 staff utilising Proclaim
• Reputation for high levels of customer service

Unlock the potential

Charlotte Parkinson of Modern Law Magazine spoke to Tracy Blencowe (pictured), Business Solutions Director at Eclipse Legal Systems to find out how law firms can use big data to change their practice.

As the face of the legal industry continues to develop, many law firms are beginning to explore new drivers of efficiency. Big data is data that exceeds the processing capacity of conventional database systems. Either the data is too big, moves too fast, or doesn't fit within the confines of a basic system. While the possibilities that surround effectively managing big data may be on the radar for some law firms, the question is how these law firms and others in the sector can best go about not only extracting information from data but how they can use it effectively for business development and marketing purposes.

So, how can and should successfully using this data help streamline legal practices and ultimately, drive efficiency? Harnessing and exploiting the data law firms already possesses could unlock a myriad of previously undiscovered opportunities. Utilising historic data, in particular, could help firms predict current case outcomes and map specific patterns for future case work. In order to set about doing this, it is vital that a fully integrated case management system is implemented. Software solutions which automate and streamline day to day processes are invaluable, as the time of highly-trained and costly lawyers can be freed. This type of software could also reduce the amount of time wasted by the whole firm, as they do not have to trawl through raw data.

Whilst the legal industry may be slow in realising how embracing data capture and consolidation methods could benefit their firms, the sector is beginning to awaken to possible benefits. Not only could effectively managing and consolidating data help save the precious time of lawyers, it can also provide new opportunities for IT-literate lawyers and technical professionals to take up new positions within practices. Big data is also creating new business channels for law firms and new practice areas, which focus on how the firms can best apply and make use of this data within the firm, making day to day operations easier for all aspects of the firm. Marketing could also be made easier and, with the correct practice management system, marketing can be targeted towards specific demographics, based on solid and factual evidence.

Ultimately, the potential savings (in terms of time and money) from full and proper understanding of big data are huge and those firms who don’t recognise this will eventually fall behind. The data is there, now is the time to unlock the opportunity.

Tracy Blencowe, Business Solutions Director at Eclipse Legal Systems comments:

"In capturing client and matter data in their case and practice management systems, many law firms are sitting on a huge and untapped business development tool.  I've lost count of the number of law firms I see that are investing in disparate CRM software and effectively going about duplicating the volumes of data already held in their CMS and PMS systems.  Smarter firms are stepping back, taking a look at the incredibly valuable information already held, and implementing ways to leverage this for business development and marketing needs.  The investment in the software has already been made, and the data is already there… now just focus on how to use it!"

Eclipse Case Study: Total Medical Solutions

"We are great believers in superb client service and strive to achieve the highest standards. Without investing in Proclaim we could not have achieved our goal of providing second-to-none client service."
Yasin Aslam, Operations Director

Established in 2013, Bolton based Total Medical Solutions is a growing provider of medical  reports and services to the legal profession and insurance industry, with a national network of medical experts.

The Challenge
As a new start-up committed to continuous improvement, TMS needed a solution that was future-proof and scalable. The solution needed to grow with the firm and efficiently handle large volumes of work, whilst being flexible enough to accommodate newly introduced services in the future. TMS also required the new system to be a hosted, cloud-based platform with the ability to offer a paperless working environment.

The Solution
A hosted Proclaim Medico-legal Case Management Software solution was chosen providing an efficient and consistent approach to each case. The Proclaim system stood out with a solid track record of helping new businesses to grow and could be easily tailored to suit the firm’s bespoke workflows and file management practises.

The Results
Proclaim has delivered a high level of automation throughout the whole medical reporting process, from initial instruction to the sending of the final report, saving hours of manual administrative tasks per case. Consistent personalised documents are sent directly from Proclaim to medical experts and law firm clients. All correspondence is digitally stored in the correct case on the secure, centralised solution for easy information sharing within the team.


All appointments are booked centrally in the Proclaim diary, making selecting an available medical expert simple. Automated reminders and updates sent to all parties via both email and text message result in a fast and accurate service.

Eclipse is first to market with new ID & AML check

Market-leading legal software solutions provider, Eclipse Legal Systems, has announced integration with a new-to-market ID and Anti Money Laundering (AML) service.

Eclipse is the very first software vendor to have partnered with CRIF Decision Solutions Ltd and its new online ID Check and AML Check services.  CRIF is well known for its work in the insurance industry, with a long pedigree of providing decision making and fraud prevention solutions.  Projects with the UK insurance industry such as integration with the Claims and Underwriting Exchange Register (CUE) and the Injury Claims Portals (RTA and EL / PL) have positioned CRIF as the leading developer in its field.

This new integration between Eclipse's Proclaim Case, Matter, Practice and Process Management systems will enable users to request 'one click' ID and AML checks, directly from the Proclaim user desktop.  Users select the type of search required (ID or AML) and upon entering details of the subject on a single screen, search results are returned directly to Proclaim - embedded within relevant client fields and the file history.

Tracy Blencowe (pictured), Business Solutions Director at Eclipse, comments:

"Compliance, risk management and diligence are top of the list for the legal sector at the moment.  As part of any client inception process, reliable and accurate ID and AML checking must be carried out.  But for busy lawyers to accept this into their processes, the activity needs to be simple, reliable and user-friendly.  By integrating seamless ID and AML checks directly into the Proclaim desktop - and any inception workflow procedures - we are providing our lawyer clients with an excellent solution to the 'Know Your Client' problem."

Sara Costantini, Director at CRIF Decision Solutions Ltd., adds:

“We have partnered with Eclipse Legal Systems to bring together a diverse set of skills and to implement end-to-end integration of our verification services in order to take on some of the most pressing market challenges.  By leveraging Eclipse’s solid experience in the legal sector and its ability to quickly and effectively integrate external data sources, we have successfully created a fast optimised mechanism to generate smart desktop-integrated reports.”

Eclipse Proclaim VIDEO Case Study: QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden

"Our chargeable hours have definitely gone up - with less effort - since we introduced Proclaim"

Peter Garsden of QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden talks about how Proclaim assists with compliance and creates a paperless working environment.

About QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden:

• Specialist law firm and the UK’s largest child abuse compensation team in the UK
• Award winning practice
• Committed to the highest quality service

The Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards 2014 – nominations now open!

The Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards 2014 takes place on the 12th November at The Grange St. Paul’s, London. Once again, Eclipse is proud to be headline sponsor of this market-leading event, celebrating excellence in the PI sector.

The Eclipse Proclaim Personal Injury Awards, now in their seventh year, provide a unique opportunity to highlight and celebrate the excellence of individuals and organisations across the personal injury sector.

They bridge the partisan ‘claimant/defendant divide’ by encompassing all professionals and key service providers working in this field. The objectives of the Awards are to identify high standards of practice and to inspire others to emulate the achievements demonstrated by those who have been shortlisted.

Click here for a full list of the awards and to make your nominations. And yes you can nominate yourself!

For further information regarding the Awards please contact darren.gower@eclipselegal.co.uk

Ahead of the curve

The recent upturn in the conveyancing market has meant that many conveyancers are beginning to reap the benefits of change. Charlotte Parkinson of Modern Law Magazine spoke to Dolores Evelyn (pictured), Sales Director at Eclipse Legal Systems, about how conveyancers should be managing growth in a thriving market.

Despite the recent changes to swathes of the legal sector, one area of the market that is certainly experiencing an upturn in work is the conveyancing sector.

So, for conveyancers who are now beginning to enjoy the benefits of the upturn, the question now is how they can manage growth and how they can be prepared to best take advantages of new opportunities in the market.

As well as a general upturn in what has been a tough period of economic downturn, government schemes, such as ‘Help to Buy’ and the offer of 95% mortgages for first-time-buyers, are also beginning to contribute to the sector’s success. While some predict that these new schemes will offer those who have previously struggled to make it on to the property ladder that all important ‘leg-up’, cynics predict they will add fuel to the fire that will ultimately create a new housing bubble, that will, ultimately, burst once again. Whatever happens in the market, conveyancing firms need to be aware and up to date with latest technology that can help them stay ahead of the curve of change.

In the wake of change, for better or worse, conveyancers must always bear their clients in mind and one way for firms to do this is by utilising the best technology. This can enable current and potential clients to easily contact and interface with their solicitor through a variety of channels, including, e-mail, telephone and via skype, as well as enabling them to track the progress of their conveyance, making the overall process smoother and more enjoyable for the client. Another area in which technology can assist is during the recruitment process, as connveyancing firms looking to bring in new staff to growing departments can ensure they remain compliant with SRA regulations.

The real question now for conveyancers is how they can be best prepared and make sure they implement the right systems and processes, to make the most of the growing market and avoid the pitfalls of a potential downfall in the market in future. The sector must now modernise and keep ahead of change and learn how it can become more efficient and make the most of the new legal era.

Dolores Evelyn of Eclipse Legal Systems, comments:

"It has been fascinating to see which conveyancing firms have been able to not only survive the downturn, but come through the other end with ambitious growth plans.  There seems to be a real pattern - the successful ones are the firms that have carefully implemented case management technology to keep processes tight, and service levels up.  Conveyancing is reasonably low margin, so it is always vital to use systems that cut the fat from processes as well as enable end-clients to feel engaged and part of the whole process."