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Frustrated by the Software Jungle?
Frustrated by the software jungle and programs
that won’t work as advertised? As vendor-authorized consultants with
years of experience across many different firms, we can assist you in
finding a solution, negotiating with vendors, or providing acceptable
workarounds. Our general approaches to consulting and specific areas of
expertise are set forth below. See below for software we support and
other information about legal technology problems
Business Automation
It often seems almost
impossible to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change. No
sooner do you buy a brand-spanking-new computer than it is outdated. How
does a firm decide what it really needs to keep it competitive and
profitable and what is merely marketing hype? Heckman Consulting can
assist you by examining the state of your firm
'
s technology and your requirements.
Dima Kachkov Global Consulting
draws on over 5 years of experience advising law firms and other
companies on how to use computers to automate business processes and
improve productivity. Key to the success of business automation is
customizing the software in use at a firm so that different programs
integrate seamlessly with each other and so that users will actually use the technology available to them. Dima Kachkov Global
Consulting will analyze your site and your needs and help you get the
most out of what you already have or, where desirable, upgrade
intelligently. Based on a needs analysis, we will suggest options and
alternatives to enable your firm to move forward.
In a legal market that is
increasingly competitive, the selective adoption of key technologies can
help a firm stay ahead of the pack. Firms that do not keep pace will, in
the relatively near term, not be able to stay competitive in the
services they offer clients.
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Does One Size Fit All?
Vendors are increasingly attempting to provide
"one size fits all" solutions: "Buy our program and you
won
'
t need anything else." However, as vendors move away from their
core areas of expertise, the "add-on" modules are frequently
not really up to par (or at the very least not ready for prime time). Is
a "good enough" solution right for your firm or can "best
of breed" be integrated for a better solution? Buying software is
like many other purchases. Something that seems "good enough"
why you buy it becomes frustratingly inadequate six months later. We can
assist your firm in making these decisions.
Technology Transfer
A basic ingredient of
Dima Kachkov Global Consulting
'
s approach is Technology Transfer. We firmly believe that an essential
part of a system integrator
'
s job is helping the client become independent by transferring the
knowledge necessary to perform routine administrative tasks. If at the
end of a project the client cannot administer the installed programs on
a day to day basis, then we have not fully done our job.
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E-Mail / Internet
For many companies,
e-mail has been a driving force for expanding the use of computers. The
need for a single location to receive e-mail, faxes, voice mail,
integrated with the Internet, is becoming increasingly urgent. Dima
Kachkov Global Consulting can enable you to get Internet mail through
your e-mail system without worrying about firewalls, security, viruses
or employees wasting time "surfing the net." We can integrate
your e-mail with faxing and voice mail, as well as your word processor
by using a centralized electronic rolodex.
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Backup/Data Storage
Maintaining appropriate backups is a key to both
protection of your data on a day-to-day basis and data recovery in the
event of some disaster. For example, if a single user leaves their
computer on with Amicus, Time Matters, PC Law or similar programs
running, your "backup" may not function properly and can be
useless if you need to recover data. Like many computer areas, this has
been changing very rapidly, and a wide range of new options are
available: backup to DVDs, removable hard disks, even USB flash drives.
These can provide you with instant "off-site storage" by
taking home a backup on something smaller in size than your cell phone.
Let us review your present backup system and see whether options have
become available that better fit your needs.
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Word Processing
Word processing is a core
product for law firms -- or any company for which intensive document
production is at the heart of business processes. But neither Word nor
WordPerfect are optimized for legal use "out of the box." We
will review and customize your installation so it best meets your needs.
Our custom macros and templates act as "wizards" tailored to
your specific site to walk you through common tasks, thus reducing the
time necessary to perform routine, repetitive jobs. They can provide an
essential element in making your system work the way your people
actually work and communicate. Custom macros and templates can be the
key to a truly integrated and effective system.
If your firm is planning
to convert from WordPerfect to Word, Dima Kachkov Global Consulting can
assist you in identifying pitfalls, planning the conversion (including
document conversion) and making sure your training is customized for
legal needs. Dima Kachkov’s years of WordPerfect consulting experience
mean he can address the felt concerns of your users and point out the
"gotchas" in working with Word. Our class on "Surviving
Word" has been very well received.
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Document & Practice Management
Document and Practice
Management are two areas of automation that can bring substantial
productivity increases but have been widely neglected by smaller and
mid-size firms. Do you never want to "lose" a document again?
Would you like to have all the elements of your paper file available to
you electronically and never again have to put a client on hold for
several minutes when someone asks you what your schedule is? These
programs can help you provide better client service and faster
turnaround times.
Dima Kachkov Global Consulting
has substantial experience with Worldox and other document management
products, which automate the way you store documents and reduce the
amount of time it takes to find any given document to mere seconds. Lost
files or lost disks can be a thing of the past! Practice Management
programs such as Amicus Attorney or Time Matters can integrate your file
structure, time keeping, contact lists and calendar and link your
practice management to time and billing systems such as PC Law to
further increase productivity. Assiduous use of such a system can
increase the capture of billable hours by 10 to 20% per year.
The savings in time gained by
implementing these programs can free up staff to focus on more
productive tasks, and can help increase a firm
'
s attorney-to-secretary ratio so that it more approximates the 3-1 ratio
common today in larger firms. The combination of time savings and
capturing additional hours for the same amount of work will easily
translate to a Return on Investment of over $10,000 per year per
attorney!
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Time, Billing and Accounting
Many firms use separate software for Time and
Billing and for accounting. However, this is quite inefficient since it
involves double entry. In addition, some software is hardly customized
for legal practice, in particular handling Trust Accounts. In most cases
we are able to provide you with a single solution.
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Litigation Support
Even the smallest firms
involved in litigation on a regular basis can benefit from Litigation
Support software. Dima Kachkov Global Consulting can help you implement
and customize leading litigation support products which can help
organize and analyze court and deposition transcripts.
High
Speed Document Reproduction, FAST Turnaround Time on:
-
Transcripts
and File Copies
-
Discovery
Documents
-
HIPPA
Compliant Medical/Procedural Records
-
All
Opposing Counsel Documents
-
Foam
Board Mounted Exhibits
-
Black
and White or Full Color ANY Size
-
Bates
Stamping/Numbering & Subject Tabbing
-
X-Ray
Exhibits - Standard and Large Size
-
Image
Cropping for Detailed Reference
-
Black
& White/Color Transparencies
-
Enlarged
Deposition Sheets for Presentation
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Digital
CD Archiving for Travel or Distribution
-
Wide
Selection of Binding & Finishing
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Electronic Letterhead
Our design specialists
can help you find ways to take your desktop publishing in-house, improve
the appearance of your documents and save substantial sums on outside
printers by reproducing your existing letterhead electronically for
faxing and other cases where engraved letterhead is not necessary.
Research & Development
Dima Kachkov Global
Consulting devotes substantial time to R&D. With software and
hardware changing ever more rapidly, our goal is to be able to answer
your questions concerning new products while the products are still in
beta. We focus on legal-specific and Internet-oriented products. In many
cases, we can point you to new or different programs that will meet your
needs as a result of our investment in keeping abreast of the state of
technology for law firms.
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Marketing
All marketing plans are custom designed to suit
each client
'
s unique needs. Whether it
'
s image enhancement or marketing efforts that will drive clients in the
door, Smart Marketing will develop a plan that will super-charge your
practice.
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