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= Issue 2/2007

5 December 2007

A Newsletter from LegalSuite Software

It's been a while since our last newsletter bu= t it is just as well because our programmers have been very busy during this time.= A lot of exciting new features have been added to the LegalSuite program and we hope you will enjoy some of the tips and tricks we have included in this issue.<= /span>

In this issue:
Tip of the day - Matter Mes= sage
Know your program - Even= ts
New Feature <= /span>= - LegalSuite Online
Newsflash - Conveyancing Dashboard
Thought for the day<= br> Bits and Pieces
Humour Dept
LegalSuite Call Centre

Tip of the day

Matter Message

We have added a feature= to the Address Book where you can specify a message that will pop up to re= mind the data capturer about some details regarding a specific client.

This is done by clickin= g on the "Miscellaneous" tab when inserting a new Party in the Add= ress Book.

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= The message will pop up every time you take on a Matter for that specific client:

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Know your program

Events - <= span style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>A new way= to automate LegalSuite

LegalSuite has the ability to automatically generate a number of “tasks” (e.g. billing the client, inserting File Notes and/or Reminders and notifying Parties). <= /span>

These tasks are defined in the Document screen (Fig 1) and were “triggered= 221; when the document was assembled.

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Fig 1: Automated tasks associa= ted with a Document

This system works well in most c= ases, but there are a number of situations which require tasks to be generated which have no relevance to a document. In these cases, LegalSuite fell short – there was no way to automate a task unless it was li= nked to the production of a document.

EVENTS

In Version 4.908 of LegalSuite, we have added a new feature = called “Events”. An Event is a totally user-defined occurrence whi= ch can trigger Tasks such as inserting Fee Notes, File Notes, Reminders as well as notifying Parties and Employees.

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Fig 2 : Events can trigger numerous Tasks

Events can be triggered by:

· &n= bsp; A System Event (e.g. New Matter created,)<= /o:p>

· &n= bsp; An Accounting Event (e.g. Receipt received)

· &n= bsp; Document Assembled

· &n= bsp; Stage Reached

· &n= bsp; Alerts

· &n= bsp; Reminder Completed

· &n= bsp; Manually (i.e. the user triggers and event)

When an Event is triggered, it s= imply executes the Tasks associated with it (See Fig 2).

Besides inserting Fee Notes, File Notes and Reminders one can also add Notifications to an Event (i.e. Employees and/or Parties can be emailed or SMS’ed when an “Event” is triggered).

Other Tasks can also be linked t= o an Event. For example, Matters can be re-allocated to other users. T= his is particularly useful to larger firms who use a “conveyor belt” approach to handling files (i.e. one person captures the da= ta, the next person assembles the documents, the next person handles the registration etc). In this case, once the data capturer (User A) is finished, he/she could insert a File Note with a Stage e.g. “Data capture completed”.

An Event could be linked = to this Stage which could re-allocate the Matter to the next user (User B)= and insert a Reminder for User B to take over the Matter.

CONDITIONAL EVENT EXECUTIO= N

You can define certain “conditions” when and if a certain Event should be triggere= d.

For example, if you want to be notified whenever a large Bond Instruction is received, you could creat= e an Event like the one below (Fig 3).

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Fig 3: Send a message to t= he Conveyancing Partner when a large Bond Instruction is received=

This Event will be triggered whe= never a Matter is inserted BUT ONLY if the Capital Amount of the bond is grea= ter than R1 million.

CONCLUSION<= /p>

The creation and implementation = of Events is left up to the user, but the possibilities are endless and limited purely by one’s imagination and specific needs.

If used correctly, Events could automate numerous tasks that previously were impossible to achieve and greatly assist a legal practitioner to manage a large number of Matters simultaneously.

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Newsflash

Conveyancing Dashboard

Due to the popularity of the Accounting Dashboard, we have also added one for Conveyancing!

A Dashboard is a facility where the Senior Partners or Managers of the fi= rm can see a quick read out at a glance of the firm or department's status= .

= To Access the Dashboards, click on the Dashboard button at the top of the screen:

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= You will now have the option of choosing which Dashboard you wish to access i.e. Accounting, Conveyancing or (Collections - currently under development).

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= In this case, I chose the Conveyancing Dashboard. An Excel spreadsheet will open with various tabs at the bottom that you can select to either view= the top 10 Instructions per Institution, Estate Agents or Employees.

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= This is an easy way for managers to keep track of what is happening in their departments.

By the way: We will be adding a Collections Dashboard in the near future. <= /span>

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New Feature

LegalSuite Online (LOL)

We have developed an online enqu= iry module, LegalSuite Online (LOL), which uses an Internet browser (IE or Firefox only) to connect to the attorney's SQL data and read the progre= ss information and display it in an easy to read format.

Although it was initially intended for Conveyancing enquiries, the syst= em has been developed to cater for any interested stakeholder on a Matter = to view progress information on any type of Matter.

Your client will be given login details i.e. a User Name and Passw= ord to log onto the site where their data can be accessed from.

Once the client have accessed the system, a screen similar to the= one below will be displayed containing only the Matter/s that they are invo= lved in.

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= From here they will be able to view a progress report on their Matter;<= /o:p>

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= or view a detailed summary of the Matter;

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= and even who the parties are that are involved in the Matter:

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= To view a demonstration version of this facility, click here.

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Thought for the day

"Before you judge someo= ne, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you judge them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes."

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Bits and Pieces

=	ATTORNEY CIRCULAR NO.14/2007

FURTHER LOANS: PRE-REGISTRATION PA= YOUTS - 1 October 2007

Currently pre-registration payouts on further loans= are actioned on a request basis (i.e.: the customer or attorney must reques= t a pre-registration payout). The request is then evaluated and paid out on= a case by case basis.

Due to the fact that there are so many requests for pre-registration payouts FNB Home Loans has considered the option of automatically paying out all further loans pro-actively prior to registration.

&n= bsp; = ; *For security reasons this attachment has been removed*

SBSA : KZN : Bulletin : Attorney Communication NCA

= Standard bank recently released their latest update on the NCA act regarding cha= nges to documentation and initiation fees as well as an easy aid guide to the home loans cost of credit.

= &n= bsp; = ; *For security reasons this attachment has been removed*

SBSA : KZN : 28/2007 Amended list of Acceptable Proof of Residence Documentation

Standard bank made some amendments to the list of acceptable documentation for Proof of Residence purposes. These documents can be u= sed in addition to what is already on the list.

Please be advised that these documents are acceptable for private individuals only.

Any one of t= he following documents reflecting the name and full residential address= of the customer.

Please note that printouts, emails and over the counter statemen= ts are not acceptable. The document must have been posted or delivered to the customer’s residential address.

*

A valid me= dical aid statement or official correspondence (less than three months old)= .

*

A valid agreement from a security company reflecting the residential address at which an alarm= is installed (less than one year old).

*

An official correspondence from a security company reflecting the residential address at which a= n alarm is installed (less than three months old).

*

A fine issued by the South African Metro Police Services (less than three months old).

*

A letter from a tribal chi= ef where the person lives (only for customers who have a net income of R5,000-00 or less per month.

Failing all = of the above, a visit to the customer may be undertaken by a member of Standard Bank Staff or an agent, being the Conveyancing Attorney. In this respec= t, the following information will need to be recorded by the staff member = or agent:

*

the name of the customer;<= /span>

*

the residential address of= the customer;

*

the date visited; and

*

the name of the staff memb= er or agent

= &n= bsp; = ; *For security reasons this attachment has been removed*

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Humour Departmen= t

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L= egalSuite Call Centre

Telephonic Support
Telephonic technical support is available Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:30 hours.

When dialling 0861 711150, within South Africa, you may ask to speak to on= e of the following support staff:

Division	Con= tact
Accounting Sup= port	Stacey Robinson and Laura StewartAccounting Manager	Cindy Kruger
Conveyancing/B= ank Links Support	Charmaine Fourie, Lauren Thurston and Bianca Bezuidenhout
Conveyancing Manager	Jenny Oliver
Collections/Li= tigation SupportCher O'leary
Collections/Litigation Manager	Jennifer Daly
Admin/Account Queries/Licensing	Deanne Scott, Bev Scott or Dale Button
Technical Supp= ort	Lance Claase or Shane Mame= t

= E-mail queries can be sent to: info@l= egalsuite.co.za

Yo= u can view back issues of our Newsletter and the Attorney circulars from the financi= al institutions on the website at ww= w.legalsuite.co.za.

If you have= any questions, queries or comments about this newsletter, please contact Susan Brown: = susan@legalsuite.co.za

To unsubscri= be from this newsletter click here

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