Issue 4/2006

20 April 2006

A Newsletter from LegalSuite Software

We have noticed that many of our clients do not have secure backups of their data and sometimes no backups at all. If your server crashes or your equipment gets stolen, you will have no data to restore which means that you would have to recapture all your data.

It is therefore important to make sure that your backups are 100% in order and that you keep an off-site copy as well. We will gladly replace your LegalSuite program files, but we cannot replace lost data!

We therefore implemented a “data security” service to our clients, which will hopefully reduce the risk of total data loss.

In this issue:
Know your program - ACB Codes lookup list
LegalSuite's Trademarks Module
Important notice - Amendments to Postage rates
Bug Fix - MT65 - Lookup List
Thought for the day
Bits and Pieces
Humour Dept
Employee Profile - Stacey Robinson

Know your program

ACB Code lookup list for Conveyancing

We have added a new lookup facility for ACB codes in the Debit Order and Guarantees screens in the Conveyancing database. The list that is displayed was supplied by the financial institutions and all relevant bank branches are being displayed on the list.

To use these codes, click on the lookup list button next to the ACB tab:

The following list will appear:

You can now search for the relevant ACB Code by: Code, name or description. Once you have selected the code you wish to use, click on "Select" and the code and it's descriptions will appear on your Debit Order or Guarantee.
 

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Trademarks
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LegalSuite Trademarks Module

Attorneys who manage the commercial and intellectual property of their clients have special requirements. They need to be vigilant and protect their clients marks against applications which may conflict. They also need to be reminded of critical registration and re-registration dates. Furthermore, they need to report back to their clients on a regular basis.  

This requires a searchable database and sophisticated reporting mechanism that, traditionally, only the bigger firms could afford. LegalSuite now offers these features as an add-on module which makes this lucrative area of law accessible and manageable to a wide range of attorney. 

Detailed information about each mark is stored in a database – including a picture if appropriate – and linked to each client to build up a comprehensive record of the of the trademark. 

All the relevant dates regarding the registration process are kept enabling the program to remind the user when a mark is due for re-registration. 

Keywords can also be inserted which aids the sophisticated search process. The database can be searched to identify conflicting registrations or applications enabling the attorney to protect the intellectual assets of the client. 

Reports can be generated on a regular basis to give the client an updated inventory of their intellectual property and keep them up to date with the registration process.

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Important Notice

Amendments to Postage rates


 Effective 1 April 2006 the postage rates have increased from R1.77 for a standard letter to R1.85 and registered letters have increased from R12.57 to R13.05.

If your LegalSuite program does not reflect the new rates, please run a "Live Update" on your program to download the necessary changes.

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Bug Fix
 

MT65 - Description field - Lookup list
Problem: You may currently be experiencing a problem when trying to lookup the Bond Types for Message Type 65 (MT65), the wrong list is displayed.
Solution: This has been resolved in Version 3.985.758 which is available to you via the Live Update.

Kindly contact the LegalSuite Support Centre on 0861 711150 if you have any additional queries in this regard.

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Thought for the day


 

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Bits and Pieces


 

 

Off-site data security

LegalSuite prides itself in providing the best possible after-sales service. With over 750 firms of attorneys as our clients, we are kept fairly busy on a daily basis. We can usually solve most of our clients’ problems, but there is one instance where there is nothing we can do: Where there has been a major hardware malfunction or data corruption and the client has no viable backup of their data. It is disconcerting how often this occurs. 

Despite our best efforts to remind users of the importance of performing regular backups, of checking that the backup process actually works and to keep at least one copy off the premises (in case of fire, flood or theft), we are regularly faced with the situation where some (even large) firms have had to re-capture there data from scratch. The consequences of total, or partial, data loss can be catastrophic and the cost to a legal firm can be severe, sometimes crippling.  

As a result, we have decided to offer our clients a “data security” service which will hopefully reduce the risk of total data loss. If you subscribe to this service, our technical support staff will dial into your server on a monthly basis to ensure your backups are up to date, you will also receive a monthly statement setting out your "risk status" and any recommendations.

With this system in place, we are confident that your firm will be well protected from catastrophic data loss and provide you with the peace of mind and assurance that your most important asset, your data,  is well taken care of.

For more information regarding this service please contact our Support call centre at: 0861 711150.
 

 

Bridging Finance on Sale of Existing Properties and Switched Home Loans

 

Absa Home Loans launched a full residential property based Bridging Finance product on 27 March 2006.

 Bridging finance is normally required during the sales process of an existing property or in the case of a loan being switched from another institution to Absa, where a higher bond has been granted. This allows a customer the opportunity to access funds while the bond is in the process of being registered / cancelled, a process which can take up to 3 months. Where equity exists in a property that has been sold, bridging funds are often required prior to the actual cancellation of the bond in the Deeds Office.

 When bridging finance is required, customers normally approach their respective banks to arrange for such finance, normally through a cheque account using an overdraft facility. Alternatively, customers go to non-financial institutions who offer similar types of finance.

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The application forms for new Bridging Finance from ABSA / Regibond are now available for you to download from our website (www.legalsuite.co.za) in pdf. format. These forms will also be included in the MacPac, but it could be useful to have electronic copies handy in case you need them.

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Rates -Durban Attorneys - With effect from Monday 13 March 2006, the Municipality will be asking for Provisional Rates for sixty two (62) days i.e. until the end of August 2006.

Please direct all queries / calls directly to the Rates Department.

 

 

 FNB - New document

 

FirstRand Bank have added a new Addendum document to the list of documents which MUST be signed and attached to all bond documents SIGNED after the 13th Feb 2006.

This document have been added to LegalSuite Version 3.x.737 on 8 February 2006. If you are not currently on this version or on a newer one, the document will not display on the list and you should run a Live Update on your system.

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Humour Department

LegalSuite Support staff cubicle upgrade.


We recently upgraded the support staff workstations to make them more "comfortable" and user-friendly.

The result is amazing! Productivity has gone up by at least 15% and their paperwork has improved.

If you hear the odd flushing sound in the background while talking to our staff in future, please do not be alarmed - they are merely doing their job!

 
 

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Employee Profile

Stacey Robinson

Stacey is another new addition to our LegalSuite Training Team. She joined us in February 2006. She accompanies Lauren and Cindy in our training department and will soon be doing the Accounting Training around the country. Stacey is 20 years old. She is a very down to earth and vibrant person. She enjoys interaction with people.

Favourite food: "Seafood"
Favourite movie: "Grease"
Hobbies: "Dancing, Hiking, Cycling and Singing"
Favourite saying: "Be determined to handle any challenge in a way it will make you grow."

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We are constantly updating our website with the latest news in the Legal industry so please visit it from time to time. You can also view back issues of our Newsletter and the Attorney circulars from the financial institutions on the website at www.legalsuite.co.za. 

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

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