Looking for a program to use for a Law Office to help keep track of clients.?

Question

My boyfriend has decided to start up his own office and so far is doing good. I'm trying to plan ahead and am looking for a program to help him (he isn't to organized) keep track of his clients. He use to work at a firm that had a very good program but I don't know what it was called. The program was hooked up on all computers (they were linked together since it was a large firm) and it had all the client's information including the other attorney's information (personal injury firm) and had a section where you could type notes which allowed everyone to write down any information while talking on the phone. Whenever someone called up wanting info they were able to type in a name and the information would pop up that they could add to it. I'm looking for something similar to this so he can easily talk with clients without having to dig through their files.

We need a program we can trust since it will have SS#'s and other important information and one that doesn't require internet connection to use. One of the computers we plan to put a program on isn't connected to the internet and is at another location but we can update it when we use it. Also the internet service around here is very bad and half the time it doesn't work. The program doesn't have to be linked to other computers.

Answer 1

Try using Google to find available softwares.

Or you can hire someone like myself to custom design the software to fit your needs.

Or you can setup something simple using Microsoft Access -- its pretty straightforward and will allow multiple user access.

Answer 2

What you need is some sort of database. The easiest to work with is probably MS Access, which has templates you can use to create the database. As long as it's on a stand-alone computer and not networked then it should be secure enough, although you can always encrypt the file or hard drive for extra security.

I'd recommend advertising for a database specialist to help you create a custom database and then train you. It may cost a few hundred dollars, but this is something that's going to be critical, especially over time. A specialist will be able to help you figure out what software is best for you (some scales better than others) and the best way to set it up.

Answer 3

What you've described is a software program that was networked between computers. That's fine as long as the server doesn't crash or if there aren't problems with the database. But there's something even better - Sharepoint!

It's web based, so you don't have to worry about maintaining the file on any workstation - it'd also be accessbile to whomever he gives the permission to. Not to mention that he can pretty much set it up however he wants - in other words, he can upload files to share with others, he can have a database of information (contacts, clients, other info., etc.)...yadda, yadda. You get the idea.

Yeah; it's pricey - but it's so worth it.