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Legal Accounting Match-up: Tabs3 vs. PCLaw
By: Britt Knuttgen
As legal
consultants we are often asked about the pros and cons
of one of the products we represent over another. In
light of this consistent request we have prepared the
following comparison between Tabs3 and PCLaw. It is
important to note, however that the comparison of the
two products must be mitigated by the understanding that
the two products have different pricing structures and
features as well as distinctive support contracts.
Cost:
Depending upon which modules are selected, the Tabs3
accounting system can be a little more expensive than
PCLaw but it does allow you more flexibility to purchase
the pieces that you need and/or want. For smaller
firms, PCLaw can be a more cost effective all-in-one
solution, however once you have more than 19 or 20
users, the difference in cost becomes negligible.
Cost /
Support Contracts: Annual maintenance costs for the
Tabs3 system are more than PCLaw, however they include
free software updates (including new versions), as well
as unlimited technical support. PCLaw (under 10 users)
requires you to pay for all new version software
upgrades, however updates within the same version (also
known as “point releases”) are available free of charge
via web updates. Only technical support is included in
their annual support contract, until you get to the
PCLaw Pro level (10 or more users).
Practice
Management features/options: The makers of Tabs3
also have a practice management module called
PracticeMaster, which is available for an additional
cost. It is a full featured program that is highly
customizable and flawlessly integrates with the Tabs3
system (as well as Worldox). Tabs3 is also compatible
with most 3rd party practice management systems, such as
Amicus Attorney, Time Matters, etc., which are also full
featured practice management systems. While Version 7
of PCLaw has added a number of practice management
features, it is not yet considered a full featured
practice management program. It is also much less
customizable than PracticeMaster.
Software
Executable: Each module in the Tabs3 system has its
own executable, but once you have logged into one, you
do not need to re-enter your password for each one.
PCLaw is one executable and all features are accessible
from the central menu.
Overall
Functionality: Tabs3 offers extremely versatile
billing options, including split fee, flat fee,
contingency fee, progress billing, task based billing,
etc. Most accounting features are relatively similar to
those of PCLaw (very minor differences, most of which
involve how one enters something and the look of it,
rather than a difference in functionality). PCLaw
offers flexible billing, including task based billing,
split billing, etc., but is less flexible in giving true
profitability and productivity on flat fee and
contingency cases, though it will process them.
Progress billing is not supported. Rate structures are
much more limited (no fee rate table or by timekeeper
level – only Rate Groups). Both systems have conflict
checking.
Reporting: Tabs3 has extremely versatile reporting
options, and has a full range of fonts to select from.
It does not however allow you to control the layout of
reports that much without the purchase of the additional
report writer modules. PCLaw allows you good
versatility in a wide selection of reports, but options
are not quite as streamlined as Tabs3. PCLaw does
however let you customize the layouts of the reports
without any additional add-on purchases, but there is
limited font versatility. There are also limitations
with regard to adding custom fields to the reports. The
look of the reports is also a bit less readable.
Document
Assembly: PCLaw’s QuickDocs feature is not as
robust as the Word Document Assembly or HotDocs
integration available in PracticeMaster, however you can
bring billing and financial fields into QuickDocs.
QuickDocs is currently only available for Word, whereas
PracticeMaster supports document assembly for
WordPerfect as well, using HotDocs.
Document
Management: PCLaw has done a nice job introducing
Document Management into Version 7, with a Document
Indexer and a built-in toolbar for Word and
WordPerfect. PracticeMaster has neither at this point,
but does have basic document management.
Payroll:
Tabs3 does not make Payroll, but it will integrate with
several very good payroll software programs already on
the market. We typically recommend Pensoft Payroll out
of Newport News, VA, as it is an all encompassing
program that posts flawlessly to the Tabs3 General
Ledger, and has excellent reporting. PCLaw makes its
own payroll module. It is an add-on cost of $125 for
less than 10 users, but is included in the system of 10+
users (PCLaw Pro). The system is good, but not nearly
as robust as Pensoft and not as easy to navigate or
setup.
Overall
Rating: Tabs3 has been a leader in legal accounting
and time & billing software since 1979 and consistently
wins awards in Law Technology News, Technolawyer, Law
Office Computing, etc. It is a family owned business
located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Alumni Computer Group (PCLaw)
has been in business since 1982 and was privately owned
until the April, 2005 purchase by LexisNexis. They are
located in Toronto, Ontario. It is not yet known what
effect the Lexis purchase will have on the company, but
they have assured all users that it will continue to be
supported and tighter integration with Time Matters is
coming.
As a legal
technology consulting group we strive to know what the
best features are of any software program that we
represent. We are proud to represent both of these
products and have an excellent track record of
recommending the right program for our clients based on
both their current and future needs and goals. Contact
us if you would like any additional information
pertaining to either of these products.
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Britt
Knuttgen is the President and Director of Legal
Technology for Automated Horizons, a firm specializing
in information technology, legal technology, web design
and marketing.
Copyright © 2005 by Automated Horizons, Inc. All rights
reserved under U.S. and international law.
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