The SmartAdvocate Story

large plaintiff’s personal injury law firm was searching for a legal practice management software program that was able to answer their day-to-day questions about the firm’s operations and help them operate the firm in an efficient and profitable manner. They assumed there was an existing program that would meet their needs. After extensive research they found that they were wrong. They realized their firm – and those of their colleagues – was operating in spite of archaic case management systems. Moreover, these systems harbored breeding grounds for potential problems no lawyer wants to think about.

While several law firm case management systems were on the market, none of them was reliable and comprehensive enough to provide meaningful information in a user-friendly format on every aspect of a large number of cases. Nor were they able to enter and retrieve key information at the breadth and depth required to run their practice.

Over a five-year period, they developed a comprehensive list of features they wanted in a state-of-the-art case management program for their own office. Such a program would provide an all-inclusive profile of the people, in- and out-of-court activity, potential value, injuries, critical dates, status, insurance, and other vital information for every case, at any time, in a simple and user-friendly format that did not confuse or intimidate their staff.

This ideal legal practice management software would also present as much information as possible on one screen to avoid frustrating and time-consuming searches, digging, clicking, and misunderstandings. Shortcuts and other navigational tools would be a must. Special pop-up screens would ensure the user and the office that no critical information would ever be forgotten or overlooked. The final – and one of the most important - requirement would be the fullest integration and compatibility possible with Windows®, the World Wide Web, and Microsoft’s Word® and Outlook®.

Their 'wish list' for a legal practice management software started the ball rolling on a project that brought together expert technicians and programmers, experienced personal injury and trial lawyers, and management consultants. The final product is what we believe to be simply the best case and document management tool available anywhere, at any price.

Thus began the multi-year process that led to the creation of SmartAdvocate®, a fully integrated case management system. In daily use by that firm for over fifteen years, and firms across the United States for over five years, it was originally designed exclusively for personal injury and mass tort litigation practices. It is now in widespread use by litigation firms of all sizes and types, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Contact us at 1-877-GET-SMART (1.877.438.7627) so we can discuss putting the power of SmartAdvocate® to work for you and your firm.