SOS Connect replaces Iris Mountain System 60+ users
Kirby Simcox, which operates from three offices in the Bristol area has replaced an IRIS Mountain system with SOS Connect from Bath-based, Solicitors Own Software (SOS) in a contract valued at approximately £100,000. The rapid roll-out of the integrated workflow, case and practice management to over 60 users, began in May 2008 and is scheduled for completion across all practice areas in late summer 2008.
Kirby Simcox was established in the 1960's as a family firm, offering a broad range of legal services and now has seven partners and 70 employees. Specialities include family and child law, personal injury, wills and probate, conveyancing, company law and employment. The firm has also been a franchised Legal Aid supplier since 1994 and holds a Legal Services Commission Civil Contract.
12 months ago, the firm carried out an in-depth evaluation of the software suppliers listed in the Law Society’s guide, as it was fast outgrowing the incumbent Mountain system. This led to a short list of SOS and AIM, the latter being subsequently acquired by IRIS with further development of the application being ceased.
However, the preference was for SOS. Partner Bill Willcocks commenting on the selection of SOS Connect said: “We particularly liked the user interface and close integration with Outlook, which enables staff to get to grips with the system quickly. The ability to create our own workflows and choose the level of automation we adopt not only for different practice areas but within those areas depending upon the preference of individual fee earners, were seen as unique advantages of SOS. Based in Bath, SOS’ physical proximity to our own locations and ability to provide rapid on-site support were also significant factors.”
Kirby Simcox is already live with SOS for practice and document management and makes use of SOS’ full support for the recent Legal Services Commission changes to civil contract procedures. SOS has assisted in customising the workflows for conveyancing and Kirby Simcox is tailoring the modules for family matters and creating a new application for probate using the powerful scripting tool within SOS Connect. Following training from SOS, Kirby Simcox is becoming more proficient in using this tool which enables the workflows to be customised to meet the firm’s exact needs or for new ones to be built, without relying on SOS.
“It is still work-in-progress on the workflows, but even where we are today, we see the potential for improving efficiency hugely especially in terms of retrieving documents and the history associated with each matter. Increasingly with the use of e-mail as the preferred method of communication, the ability of SOS to store e-mails very easily as part of the history of a matter is invaluable. These are benefits that will also improve our service and productivity to clients.”
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