Comments on: Managing a Practice with Linux http://lawtech.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/managing-a-practice-with-linux/ Technology Ideas for Solos and Small Firms Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:06:42 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Steven Richardson http://lawtech.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/managing-a-practice-with-linux/#comment-1240 Steven Richardson Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:34:35 +0000 http://lawtech.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-1240 Thor: Thanks for your input on Best Case Solutions. I had been planning to see if it would run under WINE, so your comment was right on point. Bankruptcy is a big part of my practice, and I could not do it without good software. Using Windows and VMWare doesn't seem to me to be the best solution, but I suppose if you are already all Linux in your office, that is the only way to go. In all fairness, Best Case won't run on a Mac either. Hopefully, OSS developers will see this gap and fill it. Thor: Thanks for your input on Best Case Solutions. I had been planning to see if it would run under WINE, so your comment was right on point. Bankruptcy is a big part of my practice, and I could not do it without good software. Using Windows and VMWare doesn’t seem to me to be the best solution, but I suppose if you are already all Linux in your office, that is the only way to go. In all fairness, Best Case won’t run on a Mac either. Hopefully, OSS developers will see this gap and fill it.

]]> By: Thor http://lawtech.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/managing-a-practice-with-linux/#comment-1239 Thor Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:40:55 +0000 http://lawtech.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-1239 I've been running Linux at my father's practice (I maintain the computers) for about six years now. Having started way before most attorneys would have even considered it, I've had a few obstacles to overcome, but things are running smooth. I've learned a lot from some great Linux users over time. The one problem that I've never solved is a common one: U.S. bankruptcy software. I have gotten Best Case to install with no problems using Wine (v 1.0). Though it doesn't crash, neither does about half of the program work. It's unusable. I wonder if anyone has had any success with this program? I'm having to run it on a licensed version of Windows I run in a virtual machine, but obviously I'd prefer to run it through Wine. My preference would be an open source program, but that will clearly never happen and Best Case comes closest to running out of all the bankruptcy programs I've used. I’ve been running Linux at my father’s practice (I maintain the computers) for about six years now. Having started way before most attorneys would have even considered it, I’ve had a few obstacles to overcome, but things are running smooth. I’ve learned a lot from some great Linux users over time. The one problem that I’ve never solved is a common one: U.S. bankruptcy software. I have gotten Best Case to install with no problems using Wine (v 1.0). Though it doesn’t crash, neither does about half of the program work. It’s unusable.

I wonder if anyone has had any success with this program? I’m having to run it on a licensed version of Windows I run in a virtual machine, but obviously I’d prefer to run it through Wine. My preference would be an open source program, but that will clearly never happen and Best Case comes closest to running out of all the bankruptcy programs I’ve used.

]]> By: Steven Richardson http://lawtech.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/managing-a-practice-with-linux/#comment-1232 Steven Richardson Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:12:50 +0000 http://lawtech.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-1232 Seth: Thanks again for contributing with your comments. The point you raise is what has me shying away from Sam's approach; I like having everything related to a file in one place, and Time Matters does that for me. Using several different tools on one case may work for some, but not for others. I think that an all-Linux native apps approach is the best, were I to switch, but I would not jump in unless I could get the software I need. This would include bankruptcy software like Best Case Solutions, which, to my knowledge, does not have a Linux equivalent. So, for now, I am sticking with Windows. Seth: Thanks again for contributing with your comments. The point you raise is what has me shying away from Sam’s approach; I like having everything related to a file in one place, and Time Matters does that for me. Using several different tools on one case may work for some, but not for others. I think that an all-Linux native apps approach is the best, were I to switch, but I would not jump in unless I could get the software I need. This would include bankruptcy software like Best Case Solutions, which, to my knowledge, does not have a Linux equivalent. So, for now, I am sticking with Windows.

]]> By: Seth http://lawtech.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/managing-a-practice-with-linux/#comment-1231 Seth Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:45:02 +0000 http://lawtech.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-1231 Good luck to all of you trying to cobble together an all-Linux approach. The fact is that there is a reason the product like TimeMatters and their larger brethren exist. When faced with the decision between trying to figure out how to integrate a disparate collection of applications and tools to come up with a solution that meets the needs of their practice or just actually practicing law, they choose the latter. Tinkering with the toys is fun, but that's not what pays the bills. Also, if you are looking to control start-up costs take a look at some of the hosted application solutions. Using the SPLA licensing model you can pay on a monthly rate rather than everything up front. Or there is their way <a href="http://blog.protonassociates.com/2008/07/new-licensing-options-from-microsoft.html"<more affordable Microsoft Office licensing program called Equipt, that get you Office and OneCare at $70/year</a>. All things being equal that is a pretty fair price for what you're getting, and way better than the $500 up-front fee for buying the suite outright. Good luck! Good luck to all of you trying to cobble together an all-Linux approach. The fact is that there is a reason the product like TimeMatters and their larger brethren exist. When faced with the decision between trying to figure out how to integrate a disparate collection of applications and tools to come up with a solution that meets the needs of their practice or just actually practicing law, they choose the latter.

Tinkering with the toys is fun, but that’s not what pays the bills.

Also, if you are looking to control start-up costs take a look at some of the hosted application solutions. Using the SPLA licensing model you can pay on a monthly rate rather than everything up front. Or there is their way <a href=”http://blog.protonassociates.com/2008/07/new-licensing-options-from-microsoft.html”<more affordable Microsoft Office licensing program called Equipt, that get you Office and OneCare at $70/year. All things being equal that is a pretty fair price for what you’re getting, and way better than the $500 up-front fee for buying the suite outright.

Good luck!

]]> By: Sean Carrick http://lawtech.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/managing-a-practice-with-linux/#comment-1230 Sean Carrick Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:02:15 +0000 http://lawtech.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-1230 I've been working with Zale, when he has the time, and am trying to put together a package for law offices using Linux, with Java and MySQL. I am working on creating a drop-in, single-application solution to fill all of the roles currently supplied through Windows applications, such as Summation, Cassandra, Bankruptcy, Abacus, etc. However, my application is pretty slow-gowing, as Zale is working so hard to get his practice off the ground that he doesn't have the time to provide me with feedback and requested information to allow me to create this software package. I would love to hear from any and all attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals as to their requirements and feature requests of: A) A general law office application; and B) Practice-area specific modules that could be plugged into the general application. Further, I am always interested in development help from any of you who are both attorneys/paralegals and programmers. Alternatively, if you happen to know a programmer who like an opportunity to work on an Open Source program, I would love to have their help as well. Please, feel free to check out my website (which is just static information about my company) and/or email me with any questions, comments, feedback, suggestions or requests. All of the help that I can get will speed up my development process and get a "native" law office application out there for you all. Cheers, Sean I’ve been working with Zale, when he has the time, and am trying to put together a package for law offices using Linux, with Java and MySQL. I am working on creating a drop-in, single-application solution to fill all of the roles currently supplied through Windows applications, such as Summation, Cassandra, Bankruptcy, Abacus, etc.

However, my application is pretty slow-gowing, as Zale is working so hard to get his practice off the ground that he doesn’t have the time to provide me with feedback and requested information to allow me to create this software package. I would love to hear from any and all attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals as to their requirements and feature requests of:

A) A general law office application; and
B) Practice-area specific modules that could be plugged into the general application.

Further, I am always interested in development help from any of you who are both attorneys/paralegals and programmers. Alternatively, if you happen to know a programmer who like an opportunity to work on an Open Source program, I would love to have their help as well.

Please, feel free to check out my website (which is just static information about my company) and/or email me with any questions, comments, feedback, suggestions or requests. All of the help that I can get will speed up my development process and get a “native” law office application out there for you all.

Cheers,

Sean

]]> By: Zale http://lawtech.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/managing-a-practice-with-linux/#comment-1226 Zale Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:55:26 +0000 http://lawtech.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-1226 I'm exclusively using Linux in my law office (Ubuntu on the desktop and Mandriva on the laptop). It's nice not having to deal with malware, spyware, constant anti-virus updates and having to pay for the hassle of going through all of that. Similar to Sam, I keep track of clients with Evolution and manage my cases with a well organized, encrypted file system. I don't need office accounting yet, but may use GNUCash when that time comes. Linux and free & open source software sure helps me keep the overhead low while I get my practice off the ground. I’m exclusively using Linux in my law office (Ubuntu on the desktop and Mandriva on the laptop). It’s nice not having to deal with malware, spyware, constant anti-virus updates and having to pay for the hassle of going through all of that.

Similar to Sam, I keep track of clients with Evolution and manage my cases with a well organized, encrypted file system. I don’t need office accounting yet, but may use GNUCash when that time comes.

Linux and free & open source software sure helps me keep the overhead low while I get my practice off the ground.

]]> By: JohnMc http://lawtech.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/managing-a-practice-with-linux/#comment-1225 JohnMc Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:16:11 +0000 http://lawtech.wordpress.com/?p=62#comment-1225 For accounting you might try Phreebooks. www.phreebooks.com For accounting you might try Phreebooks. http://www.phreebooks.com

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