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<b><i>Product Review:</b></i> American LegalNet's eDockets
I have been CIO of three different large, multi-jurisdictional law firms, in addition to consulting with hundreds of firms in over 25 years in the legal technology industry across North America. I have found that every firm has docketing challenges, including policies, compliance and multi-jurisdiction requirements. Successful docketing system implementations combine a rigorous procedural methodology with change management techniques. They must also minimize the effort required by lawyers and secretaries to maintain the database. I have seen many instances when one or more of these requirements are overlooked, and the effort to correct the issues can easily surpass the initial implementation effort.
The docketing process can be highly risky. When a law firm's docketing and calendar workflow is undefined or loosely structured, the firm is left vulnerable ' vulnerable to missing deadlines, losing track of e-filings, or submitting out-of-date or unofficial forms. Further, time-consuming paper reporting, inconsistent database and deadline management and a lack of integration with other critical programs (such as time and billing systems, conflicts checking and document management systems) cannot only diminish a firm's workflow efficiency, but also increase its risk.
I have reviewed and implemented numerous docketing systems over the years. With eDockets, American LegalNet has tackled these challenges. eDockets was designed to automate docketing while accessing up-to-the-minute court rules and federal, state and agency forms. eDockets makes scheduling court dates and deadlines more foolproof while allowing attorneys to keep their work and personal calendars current. All of these tasks are executed through an easy-to-grasp user interface. eDockets can be part of a firm's Business Process Improvement (“BPI”) initiative. As clients look for greater efficiencies and cost management from their outside counsel, BPI efforts will be critical to a firm's financial success.
eDockets Features
Some of the key features of eDockets are:
- Docket and calendar tracking;
- Court rules sets;
- Multiple options for reporting and notification;
- Integration with Outlook Calendar and Forms WorkFlow;
- Web 2.0 format;
- Auto Docket e-filing notifications from Case Management/Electronic Case Files (“CM/ECF”); and
- Enhanced security features.
Part of its intuitive nature comes from the Web 2.0 format that allows users to work in eDockets from the office, courthouse or home, 24/7, through an Internet connection. Its flexibility is an enormous advantage not only from an access but also a training point of view. The program's extensive use of straightforward drop-downs and other user-friendly tools speeds training and adoption time for most firms.
eDockets features extensive rules ' the program currently has a date calculator and/or rule sets for 50 states. Federal and judges' rule sets are also available.
eDockets integrates fairly easily with other key law firm programs including American LegalNet's Forms WorkFlow (a library of U.S. federal, state and agency forms), Microsoft SharePoint, and in some states, American LegalNet's eFiling Portal.
Navigating eDockets
With its simple, logical tabs, navigating eDockets is easy for users and administrators. A guide to using eDockets follows.
The eDockets Home Page. From the eDockets Home page, users can open cases through the “History” box that lists the last 10 edited cases, open or create a case, open or create a client/matter, or access an event through the “Open an Event” field.
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