Javelan Brings Large Firm Practice Management Functionality To Small and Mid Sized Firms

Our steady growth and expanding client roster have lead to increased use of Javelan features such as flexible billing rates, client e-billing, complex billing arrangements, and executive inquiries. The open nature of the system's SQL Server database has allowed us to expand the software's utility to include interfaces to other key applications in our firm, such as records management, collections and cost recovery devices.

From the outset, our Javelan supplier, Solution 6, has been very client-focused, communicating with us frequently and offering regular Web-based training sessions, client meetings, and Idea Exchanges, bi-monthly client discussion sessions, with other firms. We have a strong say in Javelan product development as well and have had many of our recommendations incorporated into the software. For example, a timekeeper production report, customized specifically for our firm, has changed the way our attorneys report time entries and track client billings. The monthly management reports provide time, billing and collection details on various levels including intricate productivity reports. We now react faster to billing and cash flow changes and are proactive in making necessary adjustments because of this one Javelan report.

Since upgrading our time & billing system over 5 years ago, we have realized real time savings from using Javelan. The integration between Javelan's financial, practice and client management modules has virtually eliminated redundant entry of data, giving us a single, smooth process that translates across all applications. For example, a vendor invoice, from a single entry into the payables module, creates an unbilled expense entry on the matter and updates the General Ledger when paid. No additional entries are required to record the cost to the client or journal transactions in the Ledger.

Software support, an area of great importance to our firm, has been exceptional since moving to Javelan as well. The Buffalo-based support team as well as Solution 6's Javelan training resources have partnered with us to resolve issues and provide answers to tough questions. For example, Javelan's support team has guided us through a restructuring of our entire client numbering scheme to integrate Javelan with our records package, customized our screens to show old and new IDs, initiated the capture of interest on receivables, and supported us through the implementation of complex multi-party billing requirements. The client numbering restructure was accomplished in a few hours, compared to the months it would have taken us to do it ourselves.

The business benefits that we have accrued since first using Javelan include improved firm performance, better control over billing and receivable management, increased collections, and overall productivity efficiencies.

For more information about Javelan call 877-267-6736, or visit www.solution6.com.

The publisher of this newsletter is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, financial, investment advisory or other professional services, and this publication is not meant to constitute legal, accounting, financial, investment advisory or other professional advice. If legal, financial, investment advisory or other professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

For our mid-sized law firm, having a comprehensive and powerful practice management system is critical to day-to-day operations and continued business success. At Hopkins & Carley, a 45-attorney firm located in San Jose, Javelan is the practice management system we put in place for managing client accounts and firm accounting and finance work. Besides managing our financials, the software also allows us to provide our professionals with the information and reporting details they need to manage our firm and client business effectively and efficiently.

Since making the move to Javelan in 1997, we have utilized a combination of core financial modules such as accounts payable and general ledger integrated with essential client management and billing features. By implementing Javelan, we have gained the large firm functionality we were looking for at a reasonable small firm price. Javelan has become our core technology. We use it for everything; check runs, cash receipts, invoicing, collections, general ledger, and reporting. We are currently on Javelan's latest release, 3.13, and use most of the available modules including Client Management, Accounts Payable, General Ledger, Collections Interface to ARCS, Task Based Billing, Executive Inquiry System/Data Warehouse, and the Records Management Interface to Accutrac.

We track attorney time and monitor billing and key performance indicators such as realization and profitability. The on-demand availability of attorney and client performance activity, and the speed at which Javelan delivers it to our management team, has improved overall decision-making and allowed our firm to react much quicker to changes and trends.

Our steady growth and expanding client roster have lead to increased use of Javelan features such as flexible billing rates, client e-billing, complex billing arrangements, and executive inquiries. The open nature of the system's SQL Server database has allowed us to expand the software's utility to include interfaces to other key applications in our firm, such as records management, collections and cost recovery devices.

From the outset, our Javelan supplier, Solution 6, has been very client-focused, communicating with us frequently and offering regular Web-based training sessions, client meetings, and Idea Exchanges, bi-monthly client discussion sessions, with other firms. We have a strong say in Javelan product development as well and have had many of our recommendations incorporated into the software. For example, a timekeeper production report, customized specifically for our firm, has changed the way our attorneys report time entries and track client billings. The monthly management reports provide time, billing and collection details on various levels including intricate productivity reports. We now react faster to billing and cash flow changes and are proactive in making necessary adjustments because of this one Javelan report.

Since upgrading our time & billing system over 5 years ago, we have realized real time savings from using Javelan. The integration between Javelan's financial, practice and client management modules has virtually eliminated redundant entry of data, giving us a single, smooth process that translates across all applications. For example, a vendor invoice, from a single entry into the payables module, creates an unbilled expense entry on the matter and updates the General Ledger when paid. No additional entries are required to record the cost to the client or journal transactions in the Ledger.

Software support, an area of great importance to our firm, has been exceptional since moving to Javelan as well. The Buffalo-based support team as well as Solution 6's Javelan training resources have partnered with us to resolve issues and provide answers to tough questions. For example, Javelan's support team has guided us through a restructuring of our entire client numbering scheme to integrate Javelan with our records package, customized our screens to show old and new IDs, initiated the capture of interest on receivables, and supported us through the implementation of complex multi-party billing requirements. The client numbering restructure was accomplished in a few hours, compared to the months it would have taken us to do it ourselves.

The business benefits that we have accrued since first using Javelan include improved firm performance, better control over billing and receivable management, increased collections, and overall productivity efficiencies.

For more information about Javelan call 877-267-6736, or visit www.solution6.com.

The publisher of this newsletter is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, financial, investment advisory or other professional services, and this publication is not meant to constitute legal, accounting, financial, investment advisory or other professional advice. If legal, financial, investment advisory or other professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.