Attracting client's world-wide - that's a 'Smart Legal Move'

The days of having to visit your solicitor with each and every development during a legal matter is a thing of the past for Preuveneers. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with London South Bank University (LSBU) the Mitcham based solicitors have incorporated a web-based case management system into their operations, allowing clients to conduct their proceedings from anywhere in the world. "I see it as a premium service above that of any other business using e-conveyancing," said Lisa Preuveneers, Business Manager at Preuveneers.

Preuveneers had successfully identified a technology gap in the market to design and develop a case management software system that would allow law firms to share documents with clients in a secure environment on-line.  The company set out to move away from the more traditional law firm approach of conveyancing and to embrace new technology to create an online e-conveyancing service which offers a low-cost, highly automated web-based service. This new system, aptly named 'Smart Legal Move', offers an efficient and transparent service which successfully speeds up the whole conveyancing process, harnessing operational and technological efficiencies to deliver substantial cost benefits. This product is so contemporary that it can even provide a nation-wide focused service that will not only attract a new audience of "e-aware", time-poor clients who can conduct their business from a distance but also allow current clients to check the progress of their matter from any internet station world-wide. Preuveneers staff can now work from any of the UK Wide offices and gain access case notes from anywhere at any time.

In addition to this highly sophisticated online system, the KTP Project, lead by Rionne Preuveneers and supervised by LSBU Academic Shushma Patel, has resulted in a mobile phone text messaging service which generates texts messages informing clients of any immediate situations. "It's been a very positive addition to the system. I think it is quite impressive to be able to receive a text saying that your contract is ready to be signed. It's also great for those who don't have immediate access to the internet," explains Rionne. "I don't know of any other law firm using texting and online case tracking to communicate with clients, it's very innovative," added Shushma.

This live approach to traditional paper-based proceedings is challenging conventional methods within the legal system. With the integration of this centralised system Lisa hopes to see not only a centralised, efficient multi-site legal practice, but also a guaranteed future for Preuveeners. "There are so many possibilities, we're asking questions like, 'is if feasible to become entirely paperless?' We could open satellite offices and have the majority of information available online-immediately," reports Lisa.

The KTP has helped Preuveneers take a structured approach to the project through a clear set of deliverables. The company can now keep ahead of the game and can anticipate what the new e-generation will soon be demanding from their solicitor. Preuveneers are keeping a keen eye on the future!