Law Firm

Many times offices want to know which Law Firm has taken the largest number of cases. It is also possible that a law firm handles the referral of the case internally, deciding which associate is assigned the case.

Basic Information

a) Law Firm allows you to input law firms, addresses, specialties, etc.

b) If you put the law firm number on the PBI Lawyer intake, all the lawyers who belong to the firm will automatically show up on the Law Firm intake, as well as all of the cases that they’ve handled.

c) Sometimes you can get a database listing of the law firms that practice in your area from the local bar association and import it. This can save you time. To enter a Law Firm, go to Add PBI Law Firm.

d) This is the Law Firm Search Screen.

e) This is the input form for the Law Firm.

Firm Intake 1 tab

Gives you an overview of the firm and it’s assigned cases

1) Required fields are marked with an (*)

2) Like lawyer, the Firm # must be entered manually. It can be any combination of numbers and letters up to 15 characters. Use the pull down to find the next available number. This is easiest when sorted in descending order

3) On Panel – This check box should always be checked unless the firm has stopped accepting referrals from your organization

4) Volunteer Panel and Lawyer Referral Panel – Described in Lawyers

5) Contact – The name of the contact person at the firm. It can be an attorney, secretary, etc.

6) Enter the phone, fax, and address of the firm. If the associated lawyers use the firm’s address, updating it here can update all the individual lawyer’s addresses

7) Position of the contact person

8) Website – If the firm has a website, make sure to enter their web address.

9) Cases owed – Can be used to indicate how many cases and/or what type of cases they have agreed to accept per year. Sometimes the local bar association mandates this or there are contests between firms.

10) Will Handle – These check boxes can be used to track and find those firms whose attorneys handle particular types of cases.

11) Reduced Fee Panel, Date on Panel, and How Recruited – Described in Lawyers

12) The bottom portion of this screen shows information about the cases that are being handled by attorneys from this firm. This section is automatically updated with the number of cases handled, and cases taken in the last year.

13) The Form Letters button pops up the Print Forms box, which allows you to choose letters and envelopes to send the law firm.

Firm Intake 2 tab

1) Use this table to enter notes about the firm. Click Date Notes to start your new note.

2) Speak On and Panels – Described in Lawyers

3) Miscellaneous fields are user-assigned fields for tracking information not gathered elsewhere.

4) VFirmUser is a user-defined field you can use for any purpose.

Lawyers in Firm tab

Shows which attorneys are linked to the firm and displays information about them. NOTE: As you add the individual attorneys and assign them to a Law Firm, they will automatically appear on this tab as will their cases on the first tab.

Buttons across the top

1) Save/Stay – Saves the information and lets you stay on the same record.

2) Add – Saves the information and opens a new, blank Law Firm intake

3) Print – Allows you to get a printable copy of the law firm screen, showing the law firm contact information and associated lawyers

4) Time – Enter a Time slip

5) Edit/New – Jump to another Law Firm from here

6) Close – Save and Exit the Law Firm form