ByLawyers News and Updates

Automated wills – All states

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As part of By Lawyers continual commitment to enhancement, the By Lawyers Wills publications in each state now feature more automated wills, particularly for LEAP users. There is improved automation in all wills precedents – Individual wills, Wills for couples and Wills creating testamentary discretionary trusts.

The wills precedents are available in folder ‘C. The Will’ on the matter plans in By Lawyers Wills publications in each state.

Fields have been added to the bequest clauses in all wills. This allows users to populate the precedents with any information they have  completed in the ‘Bequest’ table type in a LEAP wills matter. This applies for each beneficiary added to a LEAP matter:

The bequest clause in all automated wills now provides for up to four beneficiaries. The clauses will now automatically include information based on whether a sum, a gift, or a sum AND a gift, have been completed in the table type for the LEAP matter:

LEAP users can select ‘Is primary beneficiary’, which will add the beneficiary to the residue clause:

Introduction of the LEAP for Word add-in allows LEAP users to also complete additional information in a will. This functionality prompts the will-drafter for such input as the person to whom the testator wishes to bequeath their residuary estate:

For further information on using the LEAP for Word add-in, see the helpful article ‘Working with By Lawyers precedents’ available in Folder A. Getting the matter underway, on the matter plans in all By Lawyers publications.

Please do not hesitate to contact By Lawyers with any questions of feedback on these enhancements: askus@bylawyers.com.au

Vendor statement now automated in By Lawyers Contract – VIC

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Vendor statement now automated!

We are excited to announce that the By Lawyers Contract of sale of land (VIC), which makes things easier by incorporating the vendor statement, has now been updated to include intuitive automation, to assist users when they are creating the vendor statement.

Upon opening the precedent document, the user is prompted to make a series of elections by the use of check boxes – and text boxes are also included where a description is required.

Users simply select and input the relevant information to be included, which is then automatically generated in the document, showing only relevant disclosure information.

This process reduces the time required to complete a vendor statement, reduces the risk of a disclosure being defective due to error and results in a statement that is much more readable.

Just another way that By Lawyers is making the practice of law a little more enjoyable.

 

Time management

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By Guy Dawson, CEO

 

 

Time is finite.
We all have the same quantity.
It cannot be enlarged or extended.
It is set and settled.

 

 

 

So the use of our time, effectively or clumsily, productively or wastefully, differentiates between good outcomes and modest ones. Many of us say: How can we do more when we work all day already? This fails to appreciate that it is the effective use of time, not just time spent, that counts.

So, the question is how to use time effectively?

Not surprisingly it starts with spending no time at all on work through automation.

Interactive data bases populating pre-written letters and documents with automatic entry of accounts to client ledgers. Sublime – concentrate on the law not the production. Introducing such a system is astonishingly time saving to those who have not experienced it before.

It progresses to introducing a system that provides direct access to information that may be needed to find an answer to a legal question or to a practice or procedural issue without any time spent looking for it. Information retrieval can be a major, time-consuming activity in all but the rote work in a practice, and even then there are occasions you need to look something up.

Having established a sewing machine system for handling matters, attention needs to be given to the time spent in communications with staff members, particularly in dealing with the many questions that arise each day such as customer complaints, wage increases and holiday rosters. By having in place a management system that deals with the various office policies and procedures, and that is accessible, and readily understood, by all staff is a major time saver. It also empowers staff members by providing them some independence.

The nature of legal practice is such that no one has the time to devote to administration unless it is critical. Despite good intentions the only consideration given to time usage is at best occasional, when forced on the principal, usually in situations such as a failure to meet a time constraint.

In a truly contradictory fashion time spent on the practice, which is largely seen as the most non-productive expenditure of time is in fact the most productive time saving activity of all!

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