Eclipse and hr inspire work together to develop a bespoke HR Case Management system

Buckinghamshire firm, hr inspire works with SMEs providing HR Outsourced Services and is currently implementing the Proclaim Software solution to deliver a bespoke HR Case Management system to better support its customers, provided by Eclipse Legal Systems, the UK’s leading legal software provider.

Working with customers across a range of sectors, from public and private businesses, through to not-for-profit organisations, the team at hr inspire offers reassuring, practical and expert advice in HR and Employment practices, recruitment and management training. The firm is passionate about building lasting partnerships with its customers and prides itself on its ability to enable customers to develop and grow their businesses.

hr inspire has chosen to replace its current systems with the Proclaim Case Management Software solution to provide a consolidated and efficient services for its customers and team of HR consultants.

Due to the specific nature of work carried out by hr inspire, Eclipse will work in conjunction with the team to configure a bespoke HR Management system and will conduct a phased roll-out. As a result, the team will benefit from Proclaim’s market-leading range of toolsets, suitably customised to hr inspire’s work and the HR industry practice, ensuring matters are being driven forward in a cost-effective and personalised manner.

To further complement the system, hr inspire is implementing Eclipse’s Task Server ‘robot’ tool, which will minimise manual processes and automate as much of the workflow as possible.

Sandra McLellan (pictured), hr inspire’s Director, comments:

“Due to the nature of our business, not only do we need a dynamic HR Management system, but also a provider that can meet our specific business prerequisites and integrate a powerful solution. Eclipse and Proclaim are exactly that, and will provide us with a fluid, cost-effective and time-effective way of working, enabling us to enhance our expert and dedicated approach to client service.” 

Phoenix Legal benefits from smoother case progression with Eclipse Compact, the legal software solution for small law firms

New start-up firm, Phoenix Legal, is implementing the Eclipse Compact solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider.

Phoenix Legal is an ambitious boutique firm, providing specialist knowledge and expertise within the personal injury sector. Recovering compensation for a range of claims, including road traffic accidents, slips, trips and falls, and accidents at work, the team is quickly gaining a reputation of excellence for its client-focused service.

As a new start-up, Phoenix Legal needed a robust case management system that would enable the team to manage its caseloads efficiently, but with an accessible payment model to suit the financial demands of a new business. After an initial demonstration, the firm selected Compact, Eclipse's new legal software solution for small law firms and new start-ups.

A personal injury Compact solution will be rolled out across the boutique firm, enabling the team to hit the ground running and manage matters in an organised and centralised fashion. Taking the core functions of Eclipse's Law Society Endorsed Proclaim Case Management system, Compact will enable Phoenix Legal to benefit from fast and effortless document production, high level automation and smoother case progression.

Alisha Butler, director of Phoenix Legal (pictured), comments:

"Having used Proclaim extensively at other firms throughout the course of my career, I knew it would be the system of choice when starting my own practice. The release of Compact however, means I can benefit from a selected suite of Proclaim toolsets that are relevant to the size and requirements of my firm, and that are available on a suitable pricing model.

"This new release demonstrates Eclipse's ability to recognise the requirements of boutique firms, and as such develop a solution to specifically cater for the smaller market, further cementing its reputation as the go-to legal software supplier."

Harnessing the power of social media

Eclipse Legal Systems spoke to Modern Law Magazine on the advantages of social media, and how law firms can use it as a tool to stand out.

Social media isn't a flash in the pan, it's here to stay and these days it plays an important role in the daily lives of virtually everyone, and it's changing the way clients and businesses interact.

A strong social media campaign is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach thousands of potential clients, and with that comes the ability to increase revenue at a much lower cost than traditional marketing methods. As an added benefit, it also increases a firm's visibility, and the chance to establish a reputation as an industry leader.

Savvier law firms are using some of the below techniques to harness the power of social media and effectively handle the risks, simultaneously building an online presence of expertise and approachability:

• To improve client service -  as a starting point, social media can be used to 'listen', that is, to see what clients and prospective clients are saying about the services on offer; the solicitors at the firm; client care; and the overall client experience.
  
  Armed with an understanding of how a firm is portrayed online will provide in-house marketing teams and/or senior management with insights as to how the client service and experience can be enhanced (whether this discussions taking place are positive or negative), and from here can set realistic benchmarks and integrate these into the wider marketing strategy. 

• To build authority - one of the major perks to using social media is that it allows firms to demonstrate their industry knowledge, whether that's sector-specific information, or general advice for those experiencing legal issues. The use of online platforms means that firms are in control of what they post and when, and this can include helpful resources and thought-leadership articles on trending topics, or even to simply demonstrate a more 'human' side to the firm using its culture and social engagement.
  
  
• To gain a competitive advantage - the increasing use of social media within the legal profession means it's easier for firms to gain competitive intelligence, and keeps tabs on competitors. This information can then be leveraged, enabling firms to provide differing insights and new perspectives on particular topics, and contributing to a reputation of authority. 

For many firms the perceived risks of social media can outweigh the benefits, however missing out on a social media marketing strategy means missing out on an untapped resource of potential business that most firms simply cannot afford to ignore.

Harvey Howell Solicitors selects Eclipse's Proclaim Practice Management system to aid with a rapidly expanding client base

Young North West firm, Harvey Howell Solicitors, is implementing the Law Society Endorsed Proclaim Practice Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the UK's leading legal software provider.

Harvey Howell Solicitors is a modern and professional law firm based in Liverpool. Specialising in Private Client and Family work, the team of qualified solicitors boasts extensive experience and provides a dedicated service to a range of clients, from police federations and hospitals through to local and national charities and palliative care teams.

Eclipse will implement its Proclaim Case Management Software solution firm-wide, serving to eliminate duplicate data entry and enhance case progression.

Much of the work carried out at Harvey Howell Solicitors is administrative, painstaking in character and necessitates heavy document production. Where previously these processes were handled manually, staff will now benefit from Proclaim's fast and effortless document production, meaning at the start of a case all relevant letters and forms will be generated automatically via a single mouse click, saving the team hours of administrative work.

Additionally, Proclaim's feature-rich financial accounting and practice management toolset will provide an overview of the firm's operations, as well as a comprehensive set of reports, ranging from fee earner analysis to monthly budgets.

Gareth Howell, Chief Executive at Harvey Howell Solicitors, comments:

"We pride ourselves on providing a dedicated and professional service and as our client base is continually expanding, it became apparent our manual system was no longer fit for purpose.

"We want to spend our time giving closely trusted specialist advice to our clients at the best possible value, and once implemented, Proclaim will allow us to concentrate on these important aspects, whilst keeping our administrative costs to a minimum."

Eclipse's Proclaim solution selected by Scottish firm, DJ Alexander Legal, to support expansion

Scottish firm, DJ Alexander Legal, is implementing the Law Society Endorsed Proclaim Practice Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the UK's leading legal software provider.

With over 30 years' experience of Lettings and Estate Agency services in Edinburgh and Glasgow, providing clients with a range of legal services, particularly conveyancing, was the next logical step in order to offer a tailored and seamless service for property clients across the UK.

Due to rapid expansion, DJ Alexander Legal has chosen to replace its incumbent system with the Proclaim Practice Management Software solution, serving to provide a consolidated and efficient upgrade for its team.

The pre-configured Proclaim conveyancing case management module will offer the team a core centralised productivity suite and market-leading toolsets to ensure cases are being driven forward in a cost-effective, yet personalised manner.

As part of the installation process, Eclipse's in-house consultancy team will work with DJ Alexander Legal to ensure that workflows and documents fully cater for the legislative requirements in Scottish law.

David Court, partner at DJ Alexander Legal, comments:

"Due to our rapid expansion - and anticipated future growth - we need a case management system that can meet our specific business prerequisites and a provider that can integrate a powerful, robust solution.

"Following a rigorous selection process, we are more than confident in Eclipse's ability to understand the implementation of work involved, and Proclaim's ability to provide our team with a comprehensive, yet unified legal software system. Essentially, Eclipse's Proclaim system will result in a fully centralised practice management solution that will enable our team to complete processes seamlessly."

Eclipse Compact transforms efficiency at Anything Legal

Anything Legal, a legal services support business, is implementing the new Compact solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider.

Anything Legal provides the legal profession with a comprehensive range of streamlined and cost-effective services, from medico-legal reports and expert witnesses, through to litigation funding and interpreters. Established to increase profitability for those in the legal sector, Anything Legal serves to reduce administration time in securing third party services, and as such has developed an exceptional reputation for delivery.

Prior to implementing Compact, the incumbent software solution at Anything Legal was outdated and unsupported. Due to the continuous growth in new clients, the firm decided to implement Eclipse's Compact system, an easy-to-use case management suite aimed specifically at boutique businesses.

Rolling out a medico-legal module, Anything Legal will utilise Compact's built-in workflow to carry out a number of routine steps at the click of a mouse, enabling the firm to benefit from elements of high level automation throughout the entire medical reporting process, and save hours of manual administrative duties.

Further, Compact will transform the firm's overall efficiency - and as a result increase turnover - by managing all cases with speed, reliability and accuracy, and allowing the team at Anything Legal to concentrate solely on providing the highest quality client service.

Ben Gardner (pictured), Director of Anything Legal, comments:

"We'd been researching the market for some time and hadn't found a system that could effectively manage our caseload volume without requiring bespoke work or excessive costs. Compact suits our needs perfectly, offering a simple-to-use case management system and market-leading toolsets to effectively streamline case progression and enhance client service - and without prohibitive setup costs!"

Guy Williams Layton selects Eclipse's Proclaim Practice Management system to enhance client service and provide a seamless client journey

Highly renowned North West firm, Guy Williams Layton, is implementing the Proclaim Practice Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider.

Guy Williams Layton is the successful union of several highly respected firms that have been providing legal services throughout the North West for many years. Currently based in Liverpool and Heswall, the firm prides itself on its ability to adapt to the changing needs of the legal market, whilst preserving the best aspects of true personal service. The firm attributes this to its substantial investment in its effective use of technology.

Eclipse will implement its Proclaim Case Management system throughout the offices and across a number of departments - including Debt Recovery, Conveyancing, Employment and Probate - serving to standardise working practices and enable teams to work from a centralised system. As part of the implementation, Eclipse will also conduct a full accounts conversion from Guy Williams Layton's incumbent system, providing a fully integrated Proclaim Practice Management Software solution.

To further drive client service and streamline efficiencies within the Conveyancing department, Guy Williams Layton is opting for Proclaim's integration with the Land Registry Business Gateway (LRBG), serving to automate a number of stages within the Conveyancing process, as well as provide fee earners with access to Land Registry services - entirely through the Proclaim desktop.

Additionally, in a bid to enhance client inception procedures, the firm will benefit from Eclipse's New Business Enquiries toolset, providing end-to-end management of all incoming enquiries. Staff will be able to nurture on-going prospect relationships and target them with relevant marketing materials, and when the time is right, create a live client file to include all pre-existing data.

Jonathan Hogg (pictured), Partner at Guy Williams Layton, comments:

"Eclipse's expertise in the legal industry, its Law Society Endorsement, and Proclaim's comprehensive toolsets, mean it was our first choice in terms of software providers. Proclaim will deliver a sophisticated, innovative and flexible legal software solution, and will truly enable us to effortlessly streamline our processes and introduce high levels of automation.

"We pride ourselves on our reputation for providing exceptional client care, and utilising Proclaim will enable us to enhance our service offering even further, allowing us to provide a seamless client journey from instruction through to completion."

Increasing customer loyalty across the insurance industry

Eclipse Legal Systems spoke to Modern Claims Magazine around how insurers can better present information to customers, and how this can help to increase their understanding and engagement. 

The insurance industry is renowned for struggling when it comes to customer engagement and forging long-term, meaningful relationships.

Traditionally, insurers have far fewer opportunities to interact with their customers than for example, banks or retailers, therefore putting them at a disadvantage, which is further strained by the fact that many people only require communication from their insurance company at stressful times, ultimately eliminating the opportunity to build a strong customer relationship.

Additionally, following the rise of comparison sites, interactions are dwindling even further, and so as a result, it's crucial that these opportunities for interaction are valued and managed as efficiently as possible.

The most effective step to engaging customers is providing personalised communication. Rather than sending out blanket statements, renewals or cover letters, insurers should utilise the reams of data available to them and input this into customer-specific documents. Similarly, insurers can use the data to provide appropriate special offers - such as free reviews of a pension plan in advance of a forthcoming retirement date. Data can also be used for preventative measures by reaching out to those customers who have perhaps enquired or searched the company website for information on cancelling a policy - and such pro-activeness may save a policyholder who is leaning towards switching providers.

Prior to sending out this personalised information however, insurers first need to make use of the data they hold on customers and ensure it's integrated into one centralised claims management system, serving to provide a holistic view of the customer. Implementing a comprehensive software platform with the ability to cleanse, validate and eliminate duplicate data entry will increase the quality of service to customers by streamlining processes and providing intelligent, contextually sensitive documentation.

Further, drilling down into this data to gain deeper analysis and insights into customers will enable insurers to identify trends that can then be turned into product development or tailored services, as well as analysing individual customers in order to create new opportunities to build meaningful relationships.

Taking into account the above, the key is to have the data, systems and cultural commitment across all levels of an organisation. By taking advantage of readily available case management software solutions and integrated analytical capabilities, insurers have the chance to identify what their customers want, and use this to share meaningful, engaging content, serving to increase loyalty, and start the process of building richer and more focused consumer-centric relationships.

Eclipse secures deal with international loss adjuster, Spotlite Claims

Specialist loss adjuster, Spotlite Claims, is implementing the Proclaim Case Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the Law Society Endorsed legal software provider.

Based in Hertfordshire, Spotlite Claims specialises in providing loss adjusting services to the entertainment industry internationally. Its core services cover film and television claims, contingency, adverse weather, advertising, and cancellations of musical, sporting and leisure events. With over 35 years' experience, the team combines strong, technical industry and adjusting skills with consistent and efficient customer service.

Due to the nature of work carried out at the firm, it required a configurable case management system to ensure all files, claims and documents could be dealt with consistently and in keeping with Spotlite Claims' standards.

The company has selected Eclipse's Proclaim Case Management Software solution thanks to its inherent flexibility and user-friendliness. Utilising Proclaim's wide range of market-leading toolsets, the management team will be able to tailor any element of the system to fit in line with requirements - including screens, data fields, reports, workflows and documents.

In addition, Proclaim's Task Server tool will provide the firm with a solution to administrative hurdles, automating regular tasks and carrying out labour-intensive duties such as creating and distributing reports.

Steven Jones, Spotlite Claims' Operations Director (pictured), comments:

"With such specific requirements, the search for a robust yet flexible case management system has been somewhat challenging. After meeting with Eclipse however, it became clear that its Proclaim solution could - and will - provide complete customisation, ensuring my team can progress cases efficiently, and in the manner our clients have become accustomed to."

The role of branding in law

Eclipse Legal Systems speaks to Modern Law Magazine around how law firms differentiate themselves in today's market, and whether the role of branding is significant in the legal sector.

New players, new business models, new generations and cutting-edge technology means law is becoming an extremely fast-paced industry. Despite this, the reality for many law firms across nearly every sector is a shrinking marketplace, and fierce competition to stand out from the crowd.

As consumer benefits to instructing a law firm are fundamentally the same - expert teams, client-focus and efficient service to name a few - it has become increasingly necessary for firms to actively distinguish themselves from competitors based upon their true USPs.

Some firms focus relentlessly on becoming recognised for certain practice areas, and developing their experience in dealing with specific, niche or complex matters. Similarly, other firms focus on a particular client base - for example, corporate law firms often promote their high value deals and household name clients, therefore illustrating the expertise of their fee earners, and the trust of big-name companies.

Another tried and tested method is to add value to clients by providing a genuinely tailored service offering, which requires high level industry experience. Those firms getting it right are making proactive and anticipatory suggestions for achieving the required outcome, should the client be unhappy with the initial resolution. Essentially, they've built upon one size does not fit all when it comes to law.

Of course the above can't be achieved without the role of branding, and the savvier law firms are starting to understand that a brand is in itself a differentiator.

In a market which is now completely consumer driven, it has never been more important for organisations within the legal sector to present themselves in a relevant way; whether that's through client-facing actions such as engagement, service and interaction, or internal firm behaviours including the management of teams and staff. The fundamental aspect of brand management is that it's an all-encompassing effort, and refers to all areas of the practice. Firms with a strong brand are the ones to gain credibility, and as a result, attract more clients and receive more instructions.

The legal industry is by nature extremely competitive and constantly evolving, which can be daunting for any firm. The key to a successful brand, and ultimately true differentiation, is an in-depth understanding of client requirements, an effective message and of course, a strong marketing strategy, all of which should be neatly aligned around the values of the firm.

Eclipse's Proclaim Case Management system enhances speed and transparency at Bellegrove Business Insurance

Insurance and Risk Management firm, Bellegrove Business Insurance, is implementing the Proclaim Case Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the UK's leading legal software provider.

Operating from offices in London, Bellegrove offers a full range of business insurance services and has specialist bespoke insurance products for Chauffer fleet operators, Motor Traders, the construction industry and residential/commercial property owners and developers.

In addition, Bellegrove is able to offer a comprehensive suite of risk management solutions including the writing of Health and Safety policies and Fire Risk Assessments.

With a nationwide service to over 3,000 clients, the firm prides itself on its high level of customer care and market-leading products.

Eclipse's Law Society Endorsed Proclaim Case Management solution was recommended to Bellegrove by a member of staff that had previously worked with the system. After an in-depth demonstration, the firm decided to implement Eclipse's Proclaim claims management software to increase productivity and cope with an expanding volume of cases.

The desktop application will provide a consistent platform for staff throughout every stage of the claims process, and its high level automation will save hours of administration time by providing staff with all the necessary documents, produced at the click of a button. Further, Proclaim's market-leading range of toolsets will mean Bellegrove can ensure claims are driven forward in a cost-effective, yet personalised manner.

Matthew West, Managing Director of Bellegrove Business Insurance, comments:

"In such a competitive market, it's crucial that we continue to stay ahead of the competition in terms of the service we offer our clients. Proclaim will be fundamental to our success, providing us with a system that has a natural fit for high volume work, and our clients will now benefit from even greater speed and transparency."

Client Case Study: Walker Foster

Walker Foster eliminates paper usage across its offices thanks to the Proclaim Practice Management system 

Walker Foster operates from offices across West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Lancashire, and prides itself on its reputation as a leading, local firm of expert solicitors. With an objective to provide clients with high quality and value-for-money legal services, fee earners strive to achieve pragmatic solutions to all client requirements.

The firm recently replaced its incumbent system with Eclipse's Proclaim Practice Management Software solution, and rolled it out to 50 staff across its Conveyancing and Probate departments.

Walker Foster's Managing Partner, Keith Hardington (pictured), spoke to Eclipse about the firm's choice in legal software, the implementation process, and how staff are benefiting from a fully centralised system.

What was the reasoning behind replacing your previous practice management system?

Having looked at our practice as a whole and our plans for the future, it became clear to us that our demands had changed since our initial decision to implement a practice management system.

The law - and as a result, our firm - is constantly evolving, so we needed a reliable and robust legal software solution that would scale with us, and one that possessed the capabilities to streamline our processes to allow us to gain efficiency and reduce costs.

Why was Eclipse your chosen provider?

We had always been aware of Eclipse via its presence within the legal market, so we knew it would be included in our selection process.

As expected for an established firm, we were quite rigorous within our initial research period, and as part of this, spoke to a number of other firms - many of which referred us to Eclipse, which reinforced what we already knew.

Interestingly, it was our staff that chose Proclaim. Our management team wanted to form a working group of fee earners and support staff, as they would be the ones to use the system on a daily basis, and therefore were best placed to make the decision.

After looking at a number of providers - including the system we were using at the time - Proclaim was chosen for a range of factors, namely for its flexibility across the board but specifically in regards to amending documents; its ability to improve our processes firm-wide; and the fact that it would enable us to digitise everything possible!

How do you find our Support and Relationship Management services?

We've built a good relationship with the Support team over the last few months - mainly because, as with anything new, we've been getting used to the system and finding out the full scope of what it can do! Our experience with the team has been great, and we're happy in the knowledge that we have them on the other end of the phone should we need anything.

In addition to the Support team, we've found our dedicated Relationship Manager to be absolutely excellent. She's visited our offices at request and ensures we are getting the best from our system, in addition to answering any queries we might have - that personal service is a fantastic addition to Eclipse's support portfolio.

What are some of the benefits to using Proclaim?

The overriding benefit for us is the elimination of paper usage. Prior to Proclaim we were a very paper-heavy practice which necessitated numerous files and filing cabinets by way of organisation. Following the implementation of Proclaim, we're seeing significant savings on paper, postage, ink and printing, and we're now able to offer our clients a greatly reduced turnaround time!

Proclaim is also helping us to enhance our risk management strategy throughout the firm. In our line of work, more often than not mistakes made by law firms come from a process going wrong somewhere down the line, as a result of incorrectly set up case management software. Thanks to Proclaim's extremely capable workflows and high-level automation, it means steps are taken to reduce risks, but with minimal input from our staff.

Essentially, we couldn't work the way we do now without Proclaim!

How are you benefiting from the KPI toolset?

It's great - we initially took Eclipse's off-the-shelf package, but thanks to the configurable dashboard, we were able to develop it to display KPIs bespoke to Walker Foster.

Unusually for a law firm, we didn't actually set targets until recently, but the staff absolutely love it.

The KPI toolset itself is proving to be a fantastic visual aid and a great motivational tool for our fee earners, who now know what they're trying to achieve month by month, and what they need to do to get there.

It's also great for management as it provides us with an overview of practice performance. The viewing options allow us to drill down into any statistic, and for specific fee earners, teams, or all staff, which in turn enables complete transparency. Taking this further, we can also view the values for a particular month, week or day, as well as make comparisons against previous targets, serving to boost efficiency across all of our practices.

How well does Proclaim suit your on-going requirements?

Very well!

The scope of data and range of capabilities available to us is incredible - so much so that we are still discovering just how powerful the system is, and how much more we can gain from it.

Obviously our key purpose is to operate as efficiently as we can, not only to ensure streamlined processes internally, but to pass on these efficiencies to our clients. With Proclaim we now have the opportunity to do this - and it's something we could not have achieved using our incumbent software solution.

It's still early days with Proclaim, but we're thoroughly impressed with the scope of it, and as a result of Eclipse's competency, professionalism and expertise, we have the confidence to know that, when we're ready, we can seamlessly integrate some of the complementary toolsets and that they will enhance our processes and service offering even further.

Eclipse launches new application to help law firms mitigate risk of GDPR fines

Eclipse Legal Systems - the UK's leading legal software provider - has announced the launch of a new application to assist law firms in attaining compliance with the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

As of May 2018, all organisations will be required to comply with GDPR, the new legal framework which seeks to strengthen and unify data protection for all individuals within the EU. More wide-reaching and onerous than the existing Data Protection Act, GDPR also carries the threat of severe financial penalties for firms found to be in breach, with maximum fines being 20 million Euros, or 4% of the firm's global turnover - whichever is higher.

Created using Eclipse's suite of rapid development tools, the new application is an 'Information Asset Register' - a software tool that provides firms with a 'map' of what type of data they hold, if consent has been agreed, where the data was obtained, why the data is being used, and if it has an expiry date. These data 'reasons' are all key elements of the GDPR and it is widely accepted that all organisations must have an Information Asset Register as a default requirement.

Eclipse's Information Asset Register has been created as a standalone application - accessible outside of the firm's Law Society Endorsed 'Proclaim' case and practice management solution in order for all organisations to benefit - not just current Eclipse clients. The system can be delivered on-premise or in a hosted environment.

Eclipse's business solutions director, Tracy Blencowe (pictured), explains further:

"GDPR will have a huge impact on how organisations collect and manage the data of their staff, clients, and prospective clients. All businesses will need an Information Asset Register to track what data they hold and why - this is a minimum requirement, and businesses without a solution are automatically exposed to the 'lower' level of fines of the higher of 10 million Euros, or 2% of global turnover.

"Our Information Asset Register system provides an accessible and low-cost platform to enable law firms to implement best-practise processes and mitigate the risk of the severe financial penalties that a breach of GDPR will bring."

Eclipse's Proclaim Practice Management system enables ACSL Solicitors to offer added value to client service

Established Liverpool firm, ACSL Solicitors, has selected the Proclaim Practice Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider.

Founded in 2009, ACSL Solicitors specialises in a range of legal areas - including Conveyancing and Dispute Resolution - and the firm's expansive client base is comprised of both corporate and private clients. ACSL Solicitors prides itself on its ability to provide clients with professional legal advice and a personal service tailored to specific requirements.

After experiencing substantial growth in terms of both staff and clients, ACSL Solicitors required a robust, yet scalable practice management system. Following an in-depth demonstration with Eclipse, the practice has decided to roll out the Proclaim Practice Management Software solution across its Dispute Resolution and Conveyancing departments.

Proclaim will provide the teams with a high level of automation, enabling them to concentrate on value-added activities rather than administration. In particular, the Dispute Resolution department will benefit from Proclaim's integration with the MoJ portal, enabling staff to efficiently process volume caseloads without leaving the Proclaim application, and simultaneously eliminating duplicate data entry.

ACSL Solicitors has also purchased Eclipse's client self-service portal, TouchPoint+, which will enable the team to brand it in line with the firm's visual identity, as well as offer clients a range of Eclipse's online communication toolsets, including FileView, an online matter tracking solution, and SecureDocs, an online document delivery and acceptance tool.

Joseph Mulrooney, Director of ACSL Solicitors (pictured), comments:

"Eclipse was our preferred supplier from the outset for a number of reasons, including its position as the market-leader of legal software, and its range of additional efficiency-enhancing products.

"Utilising Proclaim will enable us to provide a seamless client journey, removing the time-sapping tasks of our teams' daily workload, and allowing them to focus on adding value, providing an efficient service, and eliminating the stress and hassle for our clients."

Eclipse Legal Systems announces 'Capture' - a new way to manage leads and improve the client onboarding process

Eclipse Legal Systems - the UK's leading legal software provider - has announced the launch of Eclipse Capture, a new solution enabling law firms to drive efficiencies in the prospect capture and onboarding process.

Created using the very latest Microsoft software stack, Capture integrates seamlessly with Eclipse's Law Society Endorsed 'Proclaim' case and practice management system - but is also available standalone for firms using other technologies. Capture can be implemented as a browser-based tool or located on-premise, and provides a suite of inception tools including:

• Controlled data capture of initial client enquiries, either via automated import from a third party or manually by case handlers 

• Conflict checking and historical searching to rapidly view past behaviours and contacts 

• Management of ongoing communications and information gathering during the 'prospect' stage 

• Final collation of relevant data, enabling the creation of a 'live' case by a one-click process 

Eclipse's technical director, Mick Thompson (pictured), explains further: 

"The way law firms are engaging with their clients is changing - and there is a growing realisation that how initial enquiries are handled is of utmost importance. Given increasing competitive pressures, every new enquiry must be managed carefully and with proper processes, to maximise the chance of converting every prospect into a paying client. 

"Capture provides a dedicated platform to manage enquiry data capture and onboarding, ensuring that potential clients do not slip through the net." 

Optimising the claims process and the need for human interaction

Eclipse Legal Systems spoke to Modern Claims Magazine to discuss how the claims process can be optimised for customers to provide them with the best possible experience. 

In recent times, it's become increasingly difficult for insurers and claims companies to streamline operational efficiencies whilst simultaneously improving customer experience, and the stakes today are noticeably higher than they were a decade ago. 

As the market is becoming ever more saturated, it's no longer enough for companies to just say they're different. Instead, they need to develop personal and meaningful relationships, not only to resolve some of the most frustrating aspects of making claims, but to increase customer engagement, and therefore to gain trust and loyalty. 

Digitisation is the first port of call when it comes to improving processes, however the insurance sector has been somewhat slower to embrace new technologies - and that's in part down to the restrictions of legacy systems. Although replacing and upgrading said systems are often seen as an unnecessary expense, a strong case management solution will certainly earn a significant ROI through automation alone! And by automating low-value work and generally managing the claims process end-to-end, it allows insurers to focus on solving problems and building relationships, whilst customers benefit from contained costs and increased productivity. 

Technological advancements also mean it's possible to gain 'insider' knowledge on customers and their lifestyles, allowing for a deeper analysis of data and insights, which can ultimately be turned into action. The key to optimising the claims process is to use the data captured, and turn this into improved products and services that are tailored to customers. 

Nevertheless, implementing effective support technology is an important step in the right direction of optimising claims, but it's only one component. 

Perhaps most important is the 'people' element, which can be easily forgotten in this era of innovation, where companies are striving to implement top-of-the-range technology to provide customers with top-of-the-range services. Although stating the obvious, submitting a claim is generally a stressful time for customers, and providing a consistent service delivery across multiple channels - including the more traditional methods - goes a long way to relieve the stress and ultimately create a loyal customer. 

Essentially, whilst technology and new digital capabilities will continue to play a pivotal role within the claims industry, enabling smarter decision making, reduced premiums and increased loyalty, it can't - and shouldn't - diminish the need for human interaction. 

Eclipse’s Proclaim Practice Management system provides the ability to expand at Deo Volente Solicitors

Established multi-disciplinary firm, Deo Volente Solicitors, has selected the Proclaim Practice Management Software solution from Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider.

Founded in 2007, Deo Volente Solicitors has recently celebrated a decade in business, which it attributes to its reputation of a community focused law firm. Situated in Bedford, the firm’s ethos is dedicated to delivering unmatched and unique client care, offering a bespoke service to all clients. The expert team covers a variety of work areas, including immigration, family, criminal, property, litigation and Islamic law.

Deo Volente Solicitors is implementing the Proclaim Practice Management system firm-wide to cater for all aspects of its service offering consistently. The case management module will reduce the time spent processing each matter, and maintain the high level of client service Deo Volente Solicitors is known for, whilst the integrated accounting toolset will offer the team an enhanced overview of the firm’s day-to-day operations.

Furthermore, Proclaim’s in-built workflow will ensure that all cases are handled in line with the standards adopted by Deo Volente Solicitors. Fast and effortless document production will enable staff to generate all relevant documentation automatically at case creation, and the adaptability of the system will enable the firm to effortlessly expand as and when required.

Dilly Hussain (pictured), Business Marketing Director of Deo Volente Solicitors, comments:

“We required a simple, yet robust practice management system with the ability to effortlessly scale – on a departmental level, but also across offices, and potentially outside of the UK.

“Previous experience of Proclaim led us straight to Eclipse, and after thorough demonstrations to our senior team, we found it to be a fantastic solution – for a centralised practice management system, and also for the flexibility and scalability it offers, to us and our clients.”

Eclipse announces 'Compact' - the new case and practice management software solution for small law firms

Eclipse Legal Systems – the UK’s leading legal software provider – has announced the launch of Eclipse Compact, a new solution designed to cater for the needs of small law firms.

Built using Eclipse’s existing Law Society Endorsed ‘Proclaim’ case and practice management platform, Compact streamlines the overall functionality suite to provide a core set of tools enabling smaller organisations to benefit from many of those contained in the market-leading system.

Compact is a securely hosted solution aimed at law firms of between 1 and 10 users. Featuring no up-front costs, Compact can be rapidly rolled out for a standard ‘per user, per month’ price. To ensure consistency and zero IT disruption as law firms grow, a pre-defined upgrade path to the full Proclaim product is available for firms beyond 10 users or whose requirements dictate enhanced functionality.

Eclipse Compact is available immediately and can be taken as a pure case management solution for specific work areas, or an integrated practice management system with SAR-compliant finance tools.

Eclipse’s marketing director, Darren Gower (pictured), explains further:

“Our Proclaim solution has always been extremely popular with small law firms, new startups, and sole practitioners – and we are proud of our position as the go-to supplier for this market. We are acutely aware though of a number of firms that require a different pricing model and do not yet need a full suite of workflow, administrative, and customer contact tools.

“Rather than those practices adopting technologies which are unproven, contain hidden service costs, and provide no upgrade path, we wanted to open up the Proclaim world. Our new Compact solution allows an even broader range of law firms to experience a selected set of Proclaim’s market-leading functionality.”

Eclipse Legal Systems turns 30 as Proclaim's user base soars to 25,000

Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider, today announced that the user base for its Proclaim software has hit 25,000 individuals, in the same year as its 30th birthday.

The company was founded in May 1987 and has gone on to become the market's leading legal software vendor. Eclipse initially started life as a specialist in high volume case management systems, and its expertise has expanded to encompass the full range of legal services and matter management. The last 30 years have seen a host of successes including constant innovations; expansion outside of the UK; industry award wins; acquisition by Capita; and most recently, Law Society Endorsement.

Specifically, over the last 12 months the firm has seen a continued surge of new client wins, with the total number of end users for its Proclaim Case and Practice Management system increasing by over 2,000, taking the total number of individual system users to 25,000.

In this time, Eclipse has also expanded its global coverage; including to Canada, implementing its Proclaim solution at leading personal injury firm, Litwiniuk and Company; and most recently to Scotland, working in conjunction with heavyweight Scottish firm, Drummond Miller, to create a system that can accommodate the legislative requirements of Scottish law.

Darren Gower (pictured), Eclipse's Marketing Director, comments:

"It's a fantastic achievement to be celebrating two substantial milestones in one year, and an incredibly proud time for all of us at Eclipse. One of the key drivers behind our success has been the sheer flexibility of Proclaim, and this has played a crucial role in winning and retaining clients. Whether it's firm-wide implementations, departmental rollouts, or boutique start-ups, Proclaim effortlessly meets the ongoing requirements of the legal sector.

"To have 25,000 individuals using our solution - which is an integrated product on a single technology platform - is unmatched in the UK legal technology marketplace. Here's to 25,000 more!"

Eclipse Legal Systems selected as an Approved G-Cloud supplier

Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider, today announced it has been approved as a supplier on the latest version of the Crown Commercial Services' (CCS) procurement framework, G-Cloud 9.

G-Cloud 9 is a Government initiative targeted at easing procurement for public sector organisations and departments across the UK, enabling them to seamlessly search for businesses that offer infrastructure, software and cloud services, via a secure online store, the Digital Marketplace.

As an approved supplier, Eclipse now has the opportunity to promote its Proclaim Case and Practice Management Software solutions within the Digital Marketplace, directly to organisations within the public sector, facilitating a more streamlined procurement process.

Eclipse's Marketing Director, Darren Gower (pictured), comments:

"We are thrilled to have been selected as an approved supplier, and to be supporting the Government's initiative to further drive online services via its Digital Marketplace.

"This opportunity will not only serve to enhance Proclaim's reputation as the market-leading software solution of its type, but will also provide public sector bodies with more immediate access to an unequalled set of efficiency and productivity tools."

Protecting against fraud in the legal sector

Following the high profile Mishcon de Reya case, Eclipse spoke to Modern Law Magazine to discuss how law firms can protect themselves against fraud. 

The Mishcon de Reya case has major implications for the legal profession as a whole, proving not only relevant to solicitors that deal with property transactions, but to any matters where funds are held in a client account for an intended transaction.

Regrettably fraud - and in particular property fraud - is on the rise within the legal sector. According to the NatWest 2017 Legal Benchmarking Report, of 269 firms surveyed 24% have been hit by cyber-crime or fraud within the last year, which could be a result of an increased pressure to reduce due diligence activities in order to cater for higher volumes of work.

Although fraud is a rapidly growing trend within the industry, there are a few fundamental steps to mitigate the risks:

• Workflow technology Unfortunately, and perhaps unfairly, solicitor negligence is often blamed for being the biggest fraud risk by lenders. Using the right legal software will provide the control required over working processes and practices - with minimal manual input from the team, and therefore a reduced risk of human error.

• ID, AML and KYC checks As part of any client inception process, reliable and accurate ID/AML checking needs to be carried out.
  
  Despite increased pressures, it's important that this isn't looked at as a 'tick-box' exercise - good case management software, such as Proclaim, will have the required integration with ID checking software, enabling buy solicitors to seamlessly conduct checks and receive instant verification of documents. 

• Lawyer Checker Following the above, verifying details of the law firm on the other side of the transaction - particularly when purchasing a property for a client - is a crucial step.
  
  This can be done via a number of databases, but perhaps the most thorough method is through Lawyer Checker. The online service allows a purchase conveyancer to gather information on the seller's conveyancer - specifically whether the bank details provided have a track record of use in conveyancing.
  
  Seamlessly integrated within Eclipse's Proclaim legal software solution, it enables searches at the click of a button.

• Educate your clients
  Clients don't always realise their actions aren't secure, yet it's law firms that are at risk of blame if clients' details are exposed. Firms therefore need to thoroughly 'train' clients on methods of communication and how best to use them. 

Unfortunately, the sophistication of fraud is ever-evolving and the repercussions to law firms are often disastrous. The greatest risks, however, can usually be eradicated by taking straightforward preventative measures and exercising extreme vigilance.

Carrot Insurance enhances productivity with Eclipse's Proclaim Debt Recovery Case Management system

Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider, is implementing its Proclaim Case Management Software solution at Cheshire-based insurance company, Carrot Insurance.

Based in Crewe, Carrot Insurance was founded in 2012 with two aims - to make the experience of car insurance more rewarding for its customers, and to make the roads a safer place for young drivers. Using the latest telematics technology, Carrot Insurance has designed a range of products, and delivers an award-winning service from its committed team of experts.

Carrot Insurance has selected Eclipse's Proclaim Debt Recovery Case Management system to automate case progression for collections against customers that haven't paid their car insurance.

Proclaim's ability to automatically produce and send emails, letters and text messages at the click of a button will significantly reduce the amount of time staff spend entering information, enabling them to instead focus on providing enhanced client service. Additionally, the flexibility of Proclaim's in-built reporting suite will mean management can not only monitor internal KPIs, but also report upon the stage of a case, and as a result, compare a range of aspects on case progression and case outcome.

To ensure high standards of effective recovery are achieved, Eclipse's Consultancy team will work in conjunction with Carrot Insurance to create bespoke documents that will react to the status of a debt, and workflows to export data to a third party debt recovery specialist when necessary.

Alex Jones, Collections Manager at Carrot Insurance, comments:

"Although we had a number of specific requirements, the off-the-shelf Proclaim Case Management system met the majority of these seamlessly, and for those minor tweaks, we're more than confident that the expertise of Eclipse's Consultancy team will enable us to hit the ground running.

"In such a competitive market, it's imperative for us that we have a system with the ability to improve operational efficiencies without our team needing to constantly make amendments. This is exactly what we'll have with Proclaim. It will be fundamental to our future success, providing an excellent fit for high volume work such as ours, and allowing us to offer even greater transparency - both internally and externally."

Scottish firm, Drummond Miller, selects Eclipse's Proclaim Practice Management system in a substantial investment

Heavyweight Scottish firm, Drummond Miller, has selected the Proclaim Practice Management system from Eclipse Legal Systems, the sole Law Society Endorsed legal software provider.

With offices in 6 locations throughout Scotland, and over 100 staff, Drummond Miller has a long-standing reputation of excellence in various areas of law. The firm recognises the level of importance its clients place on their cases, and is committed to providing a high standard of service - delivering common sense legal advice and practical solutions to all client requirements.

In the 6-figure deal, Drummond Miller will replace its incumbent legal software system with Eclipse's Proclaim Practice Management Software solution. In order to cater for the variety of work areas within the practice, preconfigured case management modules will be rolled out firm-wide for the conveyancing, private client, medical negligence, family law and probate teams, serving to provide a core centralised productivity suite throughout.

As part of the installation process, Eclipse will also conduct a complete data migration, allowing the integrated Proclaim practice accounting and financial toolset to be implemented, resulting in increased efficiency and an 'at-a-glance' view of operational effectiveness.

Ian Hartley (pictured), Chief Operations Officer at Drummond Miller, comments:

"We undertook a thorough selection process. I was impressed from the very first time I saw Eclipse's Proclaim system as it's much more intuitive than its rivals. This is an investment for the long term for us and it was the fact that is it so easy to use, as well as the future-proofing that made it a natural choice."

To accommodate the legislative requirements in Scottish law, Eclipse's experienced in-house consultancy team will work closely with Drummond Miller to ensure that workflows and documents fully cater for all bespoke requirements.

Ian continues:

"The fact that Eclipse has an experienced in-house team with the ability to truly bespoke the system - and in line with Scottish law - goes to show why it's the market-leader. Once implemented, Proclaim will provide us with a comprehensive solution to improve internal efficiencies and seamlessly enhance client service. This is an integral part of our growth strategy."

Eclipse's Sales Director, Chris Buckle, adds:

"As a leading and thoroughly reputable practice, Drummond Miller was quite rightly extremely rigorous in its selection process for a firm-wide solution. The fact that we can provide the practice with what it requires now - and what it aims for moving forward - is a testament to the strength and adaptability of our Proclaim solution and its position in the legal sector market."