Posts by Evan Benet

Paul Bridgewater Named Centerbase Chief Executive Officer and President; Appointed to Board of Directors
Centerbase, a leading provider of cloud-based legal technology for mid-sized law firms, announced today that Paul Bridgewater has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President. Bridgewater succeeds current CEO and founder, John Forbes who has led Centerbase since its inception in 2015. Forbes will remain an active member on Centerbase’s Board of Directors.

Legal Time Tracking 101
It’s time to take your timekeeping to the next level.
We know the process of getting the lawyers at your firm to bill in a timely and accurate manner can be a struggle. By getting the right legal practice management software in place, you’ll minimize friction in workflows, help lawyers enter time more regularly, and save the administrative staff at your firm time and headaches. Plus you’ll increase your firm’s profitability. It’s a win-win-win-win.

6 Items to Include in a New Client Welcome Kit to Promote Client Retention
80% of a law firm’s revenue comes from just 20% of its clients. By spending too much time trying to turn unsatisfied clients into repeat customers, law firms ignore the happy, easygoing clients who make them money. This doesn’t mean ignoring other clients and their needs but instead using thoughtful business practices that allocate resources to get the most bang for your buck.
One way to start the client experience off on the right foot is to offer a new client welcome kit. Read on for six crucial items to include in your firm’s client welcome packet:

Why Your Law Firm Needs a Client Portal
While modern technology has changed the way that many lawyers connect with their clients, it hasn’t changed the fact that confidentiality is key when it comes to the attorney-client relationship. So, how can you take advantage of the benefits of modern technology to optimize the client experience at your law practice and maintain your clients’ confidentiality at the same time?
There’s an easy answer: it’s called a client portal.

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Closing the Books for the 2021 Fiscal Year
Every law firm should start 2022 with accurately balanced accounting that is ready for all that the new year will bring. This year-end closing process comes together through reconciling bank accounts, adjusting entries, and preparing financial statements for analysis.
The following are some annual bookkeeping processes to help your law firm set the foundation for financial success in the coming year:

Webinar: Answers to Your 7 Biggest End of Year Compensation Questions
webinar recording Answers to Your 7 Biggest End of Year Compensation Questions The end of every year is nothing short of stressful for most law firms. From closing out the...

9 Tips for Setting Your Law Firm’s 2022 Budget
By thoughtfully creating a budget ahead of the coming fiscal year, you can better align anticipated revenue and expenses with your law firm’s goals. Successful budgeting involves critically thinking about your financial expectations so that strategies can be implemented to promote greater profitability and prevent financial pitfalls. These nine tips will help you build a solid budget for your law firm as you wind down this year and prepare for 2022:

The Evolving Dynamics of Recruiting and Retaining Law Firm Talent
The landscape of law firm recruitment is changing dramatically. Whether seeking to attract new attorneys out of law school, entice lateral hires, or retain current members, law firms are taking unprecedented steps away from tradition in hopes of engaging and keeping top legal talent.
Conventional considerations like compensation, promotion potential, and bonuses remain part of the equation, along with some new metrics of comparison. Let’s take a closer look:

How to Improve Your Client Onboarding Process
Last week we blogged about providing an outstanding client experience from intake through the end of representation, culminating in a successful attorney-client relationship. This relationship begins with the client intake process. Efficient client intake starts and ends with the systems and tools that law firms implement. The right legal practice management software can prove instrumental to handling this important start to legal representation. Let’s dig deeper.

The Mostly Legal Podcast Season 1 Finale
We don’t know what has gone by faster, this year or season 1 of this podcast. We were very fortunate to have so many great guests and as we gear up for season 2, we want to make sure we’re delivering content you want to hear! Check out this video and don’t be afraid to give us some feedback!!

Before, During, and After: Ensure Your Law Firm is Prepared to Address a Data Breach
Your law firm has fallen victim to a cyber attack. Now what? Ideally, your firm would already have a plan in place to minimize the impact of a data breach. If not, read on for a checklist of steps that firm attorneys and administrators alike can take to appropriately respond to a data breach – before, during, and after the attack.

How Legal Practice Management Software Lessens the Workload for Law Firm Billing Departments
Your law firm’s billing department is at its most efficient when equipped with the right comprehensive practice management software to improve billing and accounting processes. Read on to discover ways, that with the right tools, you can maximize billing department manpower, making the department a trusted resource for all things revenue related.

Why Real Estate Law Firms Need Customizable Practice Management Software
Real estate law includes a wide range of specialties, from residential sales to multi-million-dollar commercial transactions. To be consistently successful, real estate law firms need practice management tools that can be tailored to the specific needs of these complex undertakings. Learn why now.

Why Criminal Defense Law Firms Need a Comprehensive Law Practice Management
Law practice management software gives criminal defense firms the tools they need to navigate a case from intake to payment using a centralized hub. Comprehensive case management, combined with integrated billing and accounting tools, keeps law firms on top of their numerous responsibilities.

4 Reasons Why Law Firms Need Cloud-Based Legal Practice Management Software
Over the last 10 years, business leaders around the world have incorporated cloud-based technologies, recognizing their greater efficiency and cost savings potential. However, many law firms still rely on filing cabinets and in-office servers, but the disruption of service that has taken place over the last couple of years has made the drawbacks of this decision painfully clear.

3 Trends Currently Shaping Legal Operations
As in-house legal departments and large corporate law firms seek to meet the immediate needs of a changing legal environment, legal operations will continuously play a major role. Firm administrators will identify new methods and tools for streamlining firm operations, saving costs, and providing clients with top-notch service.

Introducing the Centerbase Client Community
After months of planning and building from the ground up, we are excited to announce the launch of a brand new exclusive community for our clients! Centerbase’s mission for the…

From Hesitancy to Acceptance: How to Encourage Seasoned Law Firm Members to Embrace New Technologies
As law firm administrators seek to introduce new technologies into their firms, they may find that some more seasoned members resist the changes. But the legal industry is quickly changing, and innovative technologies must be a part of that transition. By implementing these strategies, law firm administrators can encourage older members of the firm to embrace tech advances.

Attorney Bottlenecks and Legal Technology: Solving the Pain Points of Practicing Law
Bottlenecks commonly occur within the law firm environment, but certain pain points are specific to attorneys. At every stage of a matter lies an opportunity for obstacles, especially when lawyers lack the technology needed to handle their cases efficiently and effectively. Check out what these bottlenecks are and how you can solve them.

3 Steps to Building a Referral Partnership Network
Why are referrals so important? You already know that referred clients tend to be your highest quality clients, but they are also the most affordable to obtain. There is no question that referrals are gold for law firms and because of this, it makes sense to invest time and money into generating a process for creating and maintaining a referral partner network.

Do Law Firms Need a Software Consultant?
Should firms work directly with practice management vendors or should firms utilize practice management consultants? Ultimately, you will have to make the best decision for your firm and choose a direction that best aligns with your goals and processes, but we have some tips that can help you make that decision!

How to Begin Evaluating New Technology
Many firms, upon deciding it’s time to evaluate new technology, make the mistake of immediately sprinting toward a solution. Learn what important step you should be taking before you begin evaluating your legal technology options.

Mobile Security 101 for Attorneys
Because of our cellphones, we can now get our work done anywhere and at any time. But this comes with a price… Mobile security is a must, especially in the legal industry and if you’re not taking the appropriate steps to ensure your client’s information is safe, you could be opening yourself up to security breaches.

6 KPIs Your Firm Should Keep Track of
In, Accounting 101 for Law Firms we discussed how when firms are asked, “How do you want to define growth?” The leading response is always through revenue. That is great,…

Email Hacks: How to Manage Your Inbox in 2021
Everyone handles their email inbox differently, but one thing is for certain, our inboxes today are significantly more overwhelming than they were even just a few years ago. Because of this, three things are significantly impacted by our time spent on email: our mood, our focus, and our to-do list. Let’s take a look at how you can better manage your inbox and your time!

Don’t Make the Same Mistakes: What Makes a Great Law Firm in 2021?
On average, attorneys only bill 2.3 hours of their day, while they spend 30% of their time on business development. Intake process is critical, but without an effective process, you’re losing money. It’s as simple as that.

How to Increase Technology Adoption With Killer Training
How to Increase Technology Adoption With Killer Training Get the ebook Share your firm email and we'll send you the ebook to your inbox. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "5897604", formId: "3ed8fb6f-a766-43e5-9963-b3dfe9fcf585" });

Accounting Period Closing Procedures Checklist
Centerbase | Evan Benet Accounting Period Closing Procedures Checklist This Accounting Period Closing Procedures Checklist will assist you and your team in assigning and tracking our recommended year-end closing process....

Calendaring Part 2: Beating Missed Deadlines and Breaking Bad Habits
According to the American Bar Association, nearly a quarter of all legal malpractice claims are based on lawyers procrastinating or failing to calendar. Don’t let this be you! Learn what you can do to ensure your firm is staying efficient and meeting deadlines.

Data Security Risks of Third-Party Vendors
Cloud software is really enticing, but make sure you know where your third-party vendors are storing your data. Learn why it’s way more important than you may think.

How to Provide Exceptional Customer Experience
The core of conducting good business lies in placing customers at the forefront of everything you do. The world we live in today is vastly different than it was even a few years ago, but delivering the best client experiences is still possible, let us show you how.

Efficiency in the Digital Age: Best Communication Tools for Law Firms
Both internal and client communications have been changed forever. Moving forward, it’s time to take charge and find ways to use law firm communication tools that prioritize security and efficiency for everyone involved – including clients. Learn what legal communication tools could do for your firm.

Staying Ahead of the Curve: Bolstering Efficiency Through Automation
Constant developments in automation have made law firms considerably more profitable. Let’s discuss the ways legal automation tools help bolster efficiency in a way that benefits your firm, and doesn’t add unnecessary steps or complications.

Want A Competitive Edge? Invest in Your Training
Training is one of the leading factors that creates the largest gap between buying and utilizing technology. But training doesn’t have to be such a pain point. At its core, the key is to look at technology training as an investment rather than a cost.

[Webinar] How To Get the Most Out of Your Tech Investment
WEBINAR RECORDING How To Get the Most Out of Your Tech Investment In this special interview with Laura Kennedy, Co-Founder of Circle Management Group, we will share how proper training...

Legal Collaboration: Expectation vs. Reality
Matter collaboration opens up a treasure trove for lawyers to work across specialties, gain loyal clients, and charge more for their work in the long run.

4 Tips on How to Begin Using Legal Practice Management Software
Implementing legal practice management software can be challenging! Learn about the things you can do to make the transition smoother for your employees and increase your adoption rate.

Data Security for Law Firms: Everything You Need to Know
Law firms store a veritable treasure trove of data that any cyber-pirate would covet. Find our what data security meaures your firm should be taking.