Legal Precedent creation software

I recently spoke with Dave Humphreys from CompuWork Pacific Inc. regarding software they developed for a Vancouver BC Law Firm.  One of his client's realized what a pain it was for his staff to manually create and fill out new legal precedent documents for every file he was working on. So he created a set of precedent templates akin to merge documents. He then commissioned CompuWork to create a Database Management System to store his data and populate any of these documents on demand. He currently has a library of close to 1000 precedents.

"It is not an off-the-shelf product" Dave explained. "This system was custom-made to spec, but all of the functionality and methods could be adapted into a new custom package, should any legal office be interested. It's primary purpose is to populate legal precedent documents with valid data, although it's abilities have been extended quite a bit over time."

 

 The benefits that give his customer a competitive advantage include:

• fewer errors as all data resides in one system and is validated when input or modified
• staff are restricted to lists of values in many cases, eliminating the typos etc that come with entering data as free-form text
• huge savings in time and staff costs as data can be entered once, extracted many times
• easy to use, intuitive system requires little training - most paralegals are up and running within a day

Major features include (and more added every year)

• ability to sort and filter file data in tabular format
• statistical reports
• bring-forward tasks and diary for all staff
• generation of custom reports to clients in Word or Excel
• email creation and logging, with comments
• ability to print formatted file labels, envelopes, pdf documents
• data is used by the firm to provide reports to their clients on the Web
• ability to search and replace data in all precedents at once
• ability to "clone" similar precedents, eliminating the need to create documents from scratch
• ability to create document packages containing multiple precedents
• auto lookup of postal code info, based on street address and city, via web service

The caveat Dave's client offers is that the lawyer or firm must be willing to create the precedents. CompuWork can provide a how-to guide, but it does take some time to set up. Dave suggested that the best strategy is to start with that 10% of your documents that you use 75% of the time, then add or copy more precedents as time allows.

 

For any Law Firm with an interest, Dave has offered to demo the system.

 

Dave Humphreys

CompuWork Pacific Inc.

Phone (604) 684-8211  Fax (604) 684-8210

http://www.CompuWork.net

 

And if you are looking for an easy way to lower your I.T. support costs while practically eliminating computer problems, glitches, and downtime, then give us a call.  Or visit us at www.ComputerSupportForLawFirms.com.

 

Chris Miles

Insight Information Technology (or Insight I.T. for short)

 

P.S.  The last bulleted point, the postal code lookup, is another service CompuWork provides - near instantaneous population of postal codes via a web service. They use the current Canada Post database. This is a subscription service that can be used stand-alone or it can be integrated into existing software systems. www.postalcodeservices.net

 

 

 

 

Chris Miles
Insight Information Technology
cmiles@insightit.ca
604-484-4218 Direct

604-484-5141 Lower Mainland
604-864-0465 Abbotsford
604-357-1471 Fax

"Let Us Manage IT"
  www.InsightIT.ca

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New Canadian Tax Break on Computer Hardware

Budget 2009 proposes a temporary 100-per-cent CCA rate for computer hardware and systems software acquired after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2011. In addition, the rule that restricts CCA deductions to one-half of the CCA write-off otherwise available in the first year will not apply to these computers.

This temporary measure will allow taxpayers to fully expense their investment in computers in one year. The measure will provide stimulus by assisting businesses to increase or accelerate investment in computers. It will also contribute to boosting Canada's productivity through the faster adoption of newer technology. Businesses in all sectors of the economy, including the service sector, will benefit from this incentive.

It is estimated that this measure will cost $340 million in 2009-10 and $355 million in 2010-11.

Click here for more information.

Chris Miles
cmiles@insightit.ca
604-484-4218 Direct
                                                      Follow me on Twitter
Insight Information Technology
604-484-5141 Lower Mainland
604-864-0465 Abbotsford
604-357-1471 Fax

Let Us Manage IT
www.InsightIT.ca

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Free Software for your Windows Small Business Server

Over the next few weeks I will be writing a series of Blogs that highlight feature rich business applications that fit perfectly into any organization running Windows Small Business Server. As a representative of an I.T. company that support small and medium sized business throughout the Vancouver Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, many of our customers run Small Business Server and are looking for ways to add value.

I'm sure you noticed I used the term Free in the title of this piece, although I really wanted to say "Open Source Software for your Windows Small Business Server". My fear was most readers may not know the term Open Source, plus I felt safe knowing that all the Software I will be featuring all include a Free version.
So with that out of the way, the software that I will be writing about include Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Document Management, Data Backup, Instant Messaging and even Voice over IP. And all of the software featured all include a number of similarities.

• All have a FREE version, giving business owners an opportunity to introduce the application into their business process before investing in the software.
• All integrate into popular Microsoft applications, like Outlook, Word, Quickbooks, etc. Some can even integrate with your telephone system.
• All can run on a Windows or Linux Server. This is an important point. Many businesses today are running Small Business Server 2003, which only allows 1 Server on your network. If you have a robust Server, the software we will be featuring can be added to your existing machine. But if your Server is running all the bundled applications that come with Small Business Server (File, Print, Exchange and SharePoint Services), adding another application may NOT be the best course of action. And since adding a second Windows Server is not an option, adding a Linux Server is a viable option.

          Please note, businesses running Windows Small Business 2008 can add a 2^nd Windows Server to their network.

For Information or Support of Windows Small Business Server, contact us anytime. We offer Computer Network Support and Repair for business customers throughout Vancouver BC, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley.

Chris Miles
Insight Information Technology
cmiles@insightit.ca
604-484-4218 Direct

604-484-5141 Lower Mainland
604-864-0465 Abbotsford
604-357-1471 Fax

"Let Us Manage IT"
www.InsightIT.ca

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Microsoft SharePoint Connects with Novell GroupWise

Vancouver BC Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley business owners that use Novell GroupWise, can now integrate Microsoft's SharePoint Portal Server or Microsoft Office SharePoint 2007. Users can take advantage of transparent, server-side synchronization of GroupWise and SharePoint appointments, tasks, address books and issues.

 

"The key business drivers behind the deployment of SharePoint and other enterprise information portals, such as Novell's Teaming and Conferencing, work to satisfy the need to centralize and secure business-critical information and create a comprehensive framework for team collaboration, communication and information-sharing."

 

Click here for more information.

 

For on-going Windows, Novell and Linux support or to help with a Project, contact us anytime.  

 

 

Chris Miles                                                       Follow me on Twitter

604-484-4218 direct

cmiles@insightit.ca

 

Insight Information Technology

604-484-5141 Lower Mainland

604-864-0465 Fraser Valley

www.insightit.ca

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VoIP Voice Quality and your Computer Network

I recently moved my home office to a different area of our house, and the experience proved how important your Computer Network is when implementing Voice over IP (VoIP).

 

I often work from home and I connect to our corporate IP phone system using VoIP. The voice quality has always been crystal clear, due mostly to the fact that I have a Managed ADSL service that I use only for VoIP and Shaw Cable for my business and family web surfing, email etc. There is also a Dual-WAN router, allowing me to connect both the ADSL and Cable connections into my network, with an automatic fail-over if ever one of the services is unavailable. So for one guy with only one IP phone, I was pretty well set up.

 

My new office did not have any data cabling, so I installed a PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter (DHP-300) device from Dlink. Using the power outlet, the Dlink DHP-300 gives me a 100 Mbps connection to my network. More than enough speed for one person, yet there was an immediate drop in the quality of my VoIP.

 

Lesson Number 1:  Read the Manual

 

The Dlink software included with the DHP-300 gave me the tools to check the quality of the power outlet, so by simply moving the adapter to a different power outlet my connection improved considerably. As well, the Dlink DHP-300 had built in QoS (Quality of Service), allowing me to set my VoIP traffic as a priority over regular data (like web surfing). And like magic, the voice quality of my VoIP was crystal clear again.

 

Lesson Number 2: Never Underestimate the Value of a Good Network!

 

Business owner that have not had a good experience with Voice over IP, often blame the VoIP provider or the Equipment they have purchased. Yet many times, you find a $20 hub, instead of a proper LAN switch or very poor cabling as the culprit. To take full advantage of VoIP technology I recommend your Computer Technician ensure the following.

• A good LAN switch with QoS
• A good (Managed) Dedicated Internet Connection for VoIP. This need not be expensive, as a good business-class ADSL service can be as little as $69 per month. Due to latency issues, I generally prefer ADSL over Wireless or Cable for VoIP.
• A separate Internet Connection for other traffic, like Web Surfing, Email, etc. I prefer using 2 different ISP's, each using a different technology. For example ADSL for VoIP and Cable or Wireless for other traffic (like Web Surfing, email, etc.).
• A robust Dual-WAN router is also recommended allowing you to connect both Internet connections to your LAN. However be aware that most inexpensive Dual-WAN routers simply load-balance between the 2 connections. VoIP does not perform well with this configuration therefore a router that "aggregates" the traffic is best. In other words, VoIP traffic over the ADSL and other traffic over Cable. Most Dual-WAN routers also offer an automatic backup, in case one of your connections fails. The router should also be powerful enough to support the traffic over your 2 connections. I like the FortiGate line of routers from FortiNet.

If you are implementing an IP phone system or trying to connect remote users to your business, give us a call. We support small and medium sized business throughout the Vancouver BC Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.

 

Chris Miles                                                       Follow me on Twitter

604-484-4218 direct

cmiles@insightit.ca

 

Insight Information Technology

604-484-5141 Lower Mainland

604-864-0465 Fraser Valley

www.insightit.ca

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What goes on (that you cannot see) on your Computer Network

We recently found a corrupt print job on a customer's computer network that was using 50% of the CPU by the Print Spooler.  The Print Spooler, also called the Queuing System, manages printer use on computer systems that have more than one printer, and a 50% usage causes a much slower computer network. 

 

The corrupt print job occurred months ago, but wasn't found until our customer took advantage of our "5 to 50" Computer Network Support Service.  Part of this service is 24/7 Network Monitoring, allowing us to foresee and diagnose problems much faster, and in some cases, remedy the situation immediately without having to go on-site. 

 

If this was an existing customer why wasn't this problem found earlier?

 

Typically, Computer Support is based on what we call a "Break & Fix" model.  Unless there is a problem or a project, we are NOT involved in the day-to-day management of our customer's network.  However our "5 to 50" service is a Pro-active Support model, which delivers computer support at a flat monthly fee that our customers can budget for just like rent.  And part of this service is the 24/7 Monitoring, which is constantly scanning the network looking for problem that might not be seen by an end-user.  In the case of the high CPU usage on the Server, our customer really didn't notice anything until after the problem was fixed, and they noticed everything running faster.

 

If your business has 5 or more workstations, and is located in the Vancouver Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley, we'd welcome the opportunity to manage your Computer Network.  Contact us anytime at 604-484-5141 in Vancouver or 604-864-0465 in Abbotsford.

 

Chris Miles                                                       Follow me on Twitter

604-484-4218 direct

cmiles@insightit.ca

 

Insight Information Technology

604-484-5141 Lower Mainland

604-864-0465 Fraser Valley

 

www.insightit.ca

 

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An Inexpensive Way To Help Ensure Business Continuity

There was a great article in the February Business In Vancouver newspaper, written by Alan Zisman.  In the High Tech Office section, the headline reads "Lessons from another malware meltdown".  The article explains how by mid-January of this year millions of Windows systems had been successfully attacked by malware, even though Microsoft had released a patch in October.  It goes on to explain how easily one infected machine can spread throughout a network, even a network that is behind a firewall.  "Infected systems are hooked into botnets, serving up mass amounts of spam e-mail messages. An estimated 90% of all spam comes from such botnets."

 

For business owners, the lesson learned is to ensure all your machines, including Desktops, Laptops and Servers have Virus Protection and they have been regularly updated and are always current.  I'd argue that your Virus Protection be updated automatically, without you thinking about it, or without your staff or IT guy needing to update manually.  Now here's the Sales Pitch.  Insight IT customers, who take advantage of our "5 to 50" Computer Support Service have the option of our Virus Protection service that is always current 24/7.  Nothing for your staff to do, and each machine is monitored around the clock, 365 days per year.

 

Click here, to read Alan Zisman's Business In Vancouver article.

 

And if you are interested in an inexpensive way to ensure your Computer Network is safe, contact us anytime.  Insight Information Technology or Insight IT for short delivers Enterprise Computer Support at a Small Business price, for organizations throughout Vancouver BC Lower Mainland, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley.

 

Chris Miles                       Follow me on Twitter

604-484-4218 direct

cmiles@insightit.ca

 

 

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