This is a worked example of how a firm of this type uses Advoca. Names and figures are fictitious.
The situation
A firm with four lawyers, one secretariat staff member and an external accountant. Each lawyer had their own way of working; the partners only saw how much time had gone into a matter when it was invoiced.
How the firm uses Advoca
- Roles: the administrator invites everyone as a team member; the partners are administrators. Only an administrator can invite people.
- Restricted matters: a sensitive matter gets entitled users; then only they and the administrators see it.
- Conflict checks for the whole firm: if a colleague takes on a new client who is the opposing party in another lawyer's matter, Advoca shows that matter immediately.
- Review of time entries: team members' time entries go for review to the lawyer responsible for the matter, who approves them for invoicing.
- Checking invoices: new invoices are marked to review; a partner approves them before they are sent.
- Reports: time entries per fee earner and work in progress (WIP), exportable to CSV for the accountant.
What the firm gains
- Everyone works the same way: the same matter numbers, task codes and invoice flow.
- The partners see work in progress per matter before invoicing, not afterwards.
- A conflict with a colleague's matter is spotted when the case is taken on, not later.
- New team members are up and running quickly: invite by email, choose a role, done.
Which plan?
Advanced. You pay per user; you can add a team member at any time and the subscription adjusts automatically.
Get started in fifteen minutes
- Create your firm at secure.advoca.io: 30 days free, without a payment card.
- Fill in the Firm details: address, VAT number, IBAN. Your invoices can then go out straight away.
- Invite your colleagues with the right role (Team).
- Create the contacts and ongoing matters; the conflict check works from the very first party.
- Enter the key deadlines in each matter and upload the documents you need.
- Record your first time entries with a timer, and create your first invoices at the end of the month.