The production of a document remains the nucleus of a law firm's technology requirements. The amount of time spent drafting, typing, editing, printing and delivering documents is staggering. It is no longer enough for the "printed copy" of a document to be sound, easy to read, and error-free. A document must be "electronically healthy" as well. Documents must be ready for sharing and collaboration and/or redlining, e-mailing, rapid editing, and transformation to different formats. Law firms must be able to quickly edit and move document content from Microsoft Word to PDF or other final published copy formats. Research on the cost savings realized when documents are formatted using Styles is readily available, and tools to facilitate the editing process within Microsoft Word vastly improve productivity and document reliability.

To aid law firms in the document production process, BEC LegalBar provides tools for two equally critical aspects of document production: - document formatting and document assembly. Document formatting includes the automation of styles and numbering, table of contents, cleanup tools, file stamp updating, and more. Document Assembly includes the ability to organize content in automated clause libraries and templates, as well as the ability to save Client/Matter information to a centralized source for reports, information lookup, and automatic fill-in of documents. The ability to integrate to Contact Management, Document Management, and Billing systems while producing documents is the heart and soul of efficient practice group document production.

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The management of personal and firm calendars is critical to practice management. At best, a missed deadline can be embarrassing -- damaging a client relationship. At worst, missed dates can result in malpractice claims. Calendar management in today's law firm requires the reliable updating of personal and group calendars, as well as PDA's and hand helds. Ease of use and convenience is strongly desired by all firm users.

While there are many software applications available that manage personal and group calendars, very few address all the needs and requirements of managing critical details such as deadlines, dates, reminders along with Client/Matter information and specifics.

The Docket Administrator is a Microsoft add-in package that works with Microsoft Outlook and Exchange and provides the tools to organize both calendar activity and case information. It also provides client/matter integration, Outlook Web access and PDA synchronization. It is an Outlook based solution for firms who want to use Outlook to manage their calendars - both personally and in practice groups. In fact, if you can use Outlook, you already know how to use the Docket Administrator!

In addition to the development of the Docket Administrator, BEC has also supported PracticeMaster (by Software Technology) for practice management for over 10 years.

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Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows SharePoint services open up vast new possibilities for document interchange and data sharing. Change - at the cultural level - may be slow, but is sure to happen. The balance between individual needs and your firm's need for standardization, centralization and cost effectiveness continues to be the challenge.

To meet the constant growing administration and customization needs of today's firms and organizations, centralized access to Client/Matter information is critical. The BEC Core Library is an SQL database platform that allows your firm to personalize and customize shared Client/Matter data. This data can be used for reporting and for document assembly within Microsoft Word. Contacts related to a matter can be imported from Outlook folders or other sources to the Core Library and maintained centrally. Matter related notes can be shared by all. In addition, Core Library is designed from the ground up to become a key provider of information for Microsoft Office, LegalBar, Docket Administrator, the Internet/Web and SharePoint Portal Server. Core Library also provides key management of personnel data and tools for deployment in a network environment.

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The latest innovations in digital dictation technology from Philips and Olympus complement years of experience providing dictation and speech processing solutions to our legal clients.  BEC provides consultation and support covering a diverse selection of digital dictation solutions.  This includes "enterprise-wide dictation management solutions" for today's fast-paced document intensive law firms, dictation and transcription software for your PC and PDA device, a selection of digital portables, PC microphones, and phone dictation systems.

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Digital Dictation Brochure (PDF) 
Philips SpeechExec Enterprise Spec Sheet (PDF) 
BEC and Philips SpeechExec Case Study - Faruki Ireland & Cox, L.L.P. 

Document & Content Management is essential in providing the ability to easily track and organize documents, e-mail, attachments, PDF documents, images and even voice files. Solutions from companies such as Interwoven and Worldox remain a core component in the technology initiatives of both small and large law firms and organizations.

If you are considering a new document management installation, BEC consultants will help you define the benefits, analyze the competitive difference as well as budget for the anticipated software and implementation costs. If you are considering an upgrade, we can help you review your current system and determine how it can be improved.

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In addition to supporting integration to many Time & Billing solutions available for law firms, BEC is pleased to provide complete support services for two of the most widely used systems in the industry -- Juris (Juris, Inc.) and TAB 3 (Software Technology). Both of these systems have a long and established track record for providing quality software products in the industry.

In addition, BEC is skilled in the integration of Time and Billing systems with Microsoft Office Word and Outlook. LegalBar and Docket Administrator both utilize Client/Matter information from your firm's time and billing system.

Time and Billing Billing Questionnaire (PDF)
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BEC offers clients a full spectrum of hardware and software, specialty products and purchasing options when it comes to network and overall technology needs. We partner with the leading manufacturers and distributors to ensure we will provide the right product for the job, at the right price. Our consultants will work with you to help design, purchase, implement and deploy the computer hardware components.