Woolley & Co expands ‘virtual’ business model with SOS Connect™ and e-know.net managed services
Established in 1996 as a family law specialist and the first virtual law firm, Woolley & Co abandoned the high overheads of a bricks and mortar operation with its associated people, IT and running costs. A new virtual practice based upon direct client to lawyer communications and outsourcing all business services developed. In the ensuing years a single man operation has grown to a network of 17 remotely located fee earners and a headcount of around 30, but with no office premises. Even in these recessionary times, Woolley & Co is expanding and taking on more fee earners.
Technology to support the operation is key. Woolley & Co was breaking new ground to find a fully outsourced IT service in the early years and as founder and managing partner, Andrew Woolley admits: “To be honest we struggled with it for a few years and then decided to take advice and review the software market properly.”
That review led to the selection of SOS Connect™ as an integrated case and practice management system and as use of the system grew a move to managed service provider
e-know.net.
SOS Connect™ offers a flexible and highly integrated case, document and practice management solution enabling users to adhere to common business processes and best practices, even in a business as widely dispersed as Woolley’s.
All of the processes associated with opening a new case, conducting the case, including document management and workflow, automated recording of incoming and outgoing emails and tying them back to the case, automated time recording and automatic bill production have been streamlined. The ability to view files in SOS Connect™ at all times, also greatly assists with peer file reviews and more in-depth case examinations from quality of advice and client service perspectives as well as business performance monitoring and regulatory compliance.
Telford-based e-know.net specialises in dynamic managed services provision which is flexible to the demands of the business and provides Woolley’s with a one-stop shop for their complete IT needs. This includes server space and 24/7/365 technical support for the hosted desktop and all applications, including SOS Connect™. The service is charged on a per user, per month basis ensuring that IT spend is aligned to the business.
David Mcnamara, managing director of SOS said: “This is another example of the flexibility of SOS Connect™ to suit the needs of law firms whether they are set up in a highly distributed virtual model or a traditional one and to deliver real efficiency gains in readiness for the impact of the Legal Services Act.”
About Virtual Practices
Virtual practices is a division of SOS, one of the most progressive providers of software and services to the professions and one of the largest with 400 clients and a 20 year pedigree. SOS Connect™, the flagship application, is breaking new ground in practice and case management software, combining efficiency through high levels of process automation with flexibility for professional firms such as law firms, accountancy firms, IFAs and surveyors etc.
- ends -
Contacts:
Stephen Parry (Business Development Director, Virtual Practices) s.parry@virtualpractices.co.uk or
David Mcnamara (Managing Director, SOS)
d.mcnamara@soslegal.co.uk
Virtual Practices
2 Widcombe Parade, Bath, BA2 4JT Tel: +44(0)1225787710
DX 8045 Bath
Press enquiries:
Salli Roskilly Saffron Communications Limited Tel: +44 (0)1763 208708 salli@saffroncoms.com
Contact us
For more information
Virtual Practices deals with all my legal accounting headaches… this frees up valuable time so that I concentrate on developing my practice and devote my time to doing the job that I was trained to do.
Jane Levy, Lawyer
