How do you identify the best estate planning software for attorneys? This is one question that a lot of firms are asking as they navigate the maze of law firm marketing software options.
The right software can take your firm to the next level as you maximize efficiency across the board. Comprehensive features are key, and the first step is to identify the specific components that will mesh seamlessly to provide a turnkey, across-the-board solution.
Utmost Sophistication
Things move fast in the business world in the age of hyper-accelerated technological advancements. When you are looking for the best estate planning software for attorneys, it’s important to pinpoint a solution that sits on the cutting edge.
Elegant Simplicity
Balance is key here. Yes, you want to take full advantage of technology, but it has to be deployed in a user-friendly fashion. A high-quality legal software solution will be easy to use, with largely self-explanatory functions.
New team members should be able to get a grasp on the system without negotiating a challenging learning curve. This enhances productivity, and it is also good for morale.
Comprehensive Document Creation
Getting to the more specific details, document creation is at the core of the estate planning process. The software that you choose should be able to produce all the documents that your practice will require. We are living in times when every client has specific needs/requirements, therefore your software should be smart enough to allow you designing documents as per clients’ specific needs without having to do too manual work.
In the realm of estate planning, you will typically need wills, trusts, and powers of attorney for property, health care powers of attorney, and living wills. Your estate planning attorney software should cover all of these bases effectively. You should also be able to add on more sophisticated estate planning documents to your software as you enhance your practice. (for example Special Needs Trust, Business Documents like Limited Partnership agreement, Gun Trust etc.)
State-Specificity
The requirements for valid legal documents vary from state to state. In addition, different terminologies can be utilized to describe the same documents, roles, or functions. When it comes to legal documents, one size does not fit all.
Your software package should produce the documents you need that are compliant with your practicing state law. Taking this a step further, if you have offices in more than one state, an added level of versatility will be required.
There are highly intelligent solutions that can produce ironclad, legally binding documents for all jurisdictions in the United States. When you are conducting your comparisons, keep state specificity at the forefront of your thinking.
Cloud-Based Adaptability
When you are searching for the right estate planning law firm software, you should take cloud-based adaptability into account.
A system that is delivered in the cloud will be infinitely expandable and all appropriate updates will be applied as they become necessary. In the legal realm, Actionstep is a name that gets a lot of attention as a tried-and-true cloud-based solution that gets high praise from users. The Academy’s proprietary estate planning software, CounselPro™8©, is built on the Actionstep platform for this very reason.
Client Management
In addition to the creation of documents, your law firm’s software should give you the ability to manage your client throughout their lifecycle. There are state-of-the-art solutions that provide built-in workflows that facilitate peak productivity while maintaining rigid ethical standards for client protection.
New age clients like to have fast paced digital interactions; hence it is imperative that your software has client facing features for information exchange. At the same time, you should be cognizant of complexity that elderly clients may face with all digital platform, so best software should account for both type of clients and their needs.
Data Security Security Features
When you are handling sensitive information, security is a very big deal. Take a long look at the security features that are offered when you are looking at software solutions side-by-side. Make sure, it meets all compliance requirements for your practicing state, every state may have separate compliance requirements when it comes NPI data exchange.
Multi-factor authentication for all users is a must for maximum data security.
Trust Administration Services
Some estate planning law firms handle trust administration duties for clients. Others are interested in this type of offering, but they simply do not have the appropriate tools at their disposal.
There is no reason to accept limitations if you want to expand your firm into the trust administration area. You can use advanced legal office software that provides a trust administration workflow, and this can be a game changer.
Day-to-Day Practice Management
A 360-degree law firm software package will extend to the day-to-day practice management area as well. Task management can be included along with time entries, intraoffice and interoffice communication, email management, built-in reporting, and more.
Open-Ended Growth Potential
Estate planning firms operate within a unique legal niche because all adults need the service that they provide. Everyone is a potential client, so the climate is fertile if you have a completely scalable business structure.
With the currently available technology, you can set yourself up for unlimited growth in a very cost-efficient manner. Document creation, client management, and financial reporting can be streamlined, and systemic updates will be provided on an ongoing basis.
In the larger picture, advanced software solutions can make it easy to manage multiple offices in different locations. In a real sense, with the right law firm software serving as the foundation of your business, the growth potential is virtually unlimited.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, legal practice software has come a long way over the years. When you are weighing your options, look for these key features that can take your business to another level.
The Academy’s proprietary software, CounselPro™8 is designed by estate planning experts and maintained by the Academy’s education and technology departments. With this software, you can more easily plan your work and work your plan, ensuring you’re always providing the level of service your clients deserve. To learn more or book a software demo, click here.
Prakash Sharma
CounselPro™ Product Manager
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (858) 453-2128
www.aaepa.com
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