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How Document Management Software Made Order Out of Chaos

By Paul Chancellor
June 28, 2012

Law firms generate an enormous amount of data and information that can bog down lawyers and prevent them from doing their jobs effectively. Most law firms now have some sort of digital data storage. But, transitioning to digital data storage, with or without parallel paper files, presents a new challenge: how to manage thousands of electronic documents saved on the firm's computers.

The fact that several software programs are used for different purposes further complicates this process. Microsoft Outlook could be used for e-mails and calendaring, for example, while Excel is used to track deadlines and manage case statuses. Information is often duplicated within different programs, making it tough to find the most recent information. The end result is that lawyers can't find documentation quickly, leading to more hours spent trying to find information and less time for getting substantive legal work done.

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