Larry Port, Rocket Matter’s CEO and co-Founder, describes RocketCLE as a natural extension of the offerings by Rocket Matter through the years. He acknowledges the motivations behind RocketCLE being geared towards small and medium sized law firms, “…we’re beginning to offer small law firms even more quality resources to compete with larger organizations.”

The first five courses currently available on RocketCLE include an originally produced hour video, “Seven Ways To Make Your Law Firm More Effective”, which covers material from Larry Port’s Legal Productivity e-book. All courses are available for accreditation in Florida, while Illinois, California, Texas, and New York applications are pending and many more states honor reciprocal CLE credits.

“For the past few years, we’ve been conducting webinars, writing books, and participating in online discussion about ways to reduce risk of malpractice and boost profitability at law firms,” says Port. “RocketCLE is a natural extension of the resources we’ve been offering our customers.“

Customers using Rocket Matter’s legal practice management software enjoy 50% discounts off all online CLE content.

The following is the press-release issued this morning from Rocket Matter:

BOCA RATON, FL – January 31st, 2011 – Rocket Matter®, the leading web-based legal practice management and time and billing software for small to mid-sized law firms, today announces the launch of RocketCLE, an on-demand continuing legal education online store.

With RocketCLE, users can purchase and view entertaining and high-quality CLE courses over the Internet at anytime of the day. Initial content focuses on legal ethics and Rocket Matter’s core message of improved productivity and law firm efficiency.

“We’re excited to offer another high-quality service to the legal profession,” says Larry Port, the company’s CEO and Co-Founder. “We’ve always focused on providing excellent software, and now with online CLE we’re beginning to offer small law firms even more quality resources to compete with larger organizations.”

The first five courses include an originally produced hour video, “Seven Ways To Make Your Law Firm More Effective”, covering much of the material in the Legal Productivity e-book, published by Port in October 2009. All courses are available for accreditation in Florida, while Illinois, California, Texas, and New York applications are pending and many more states honor reciprocal CLE credits.

“For the past few years, we’ve been conducting webinars, writing books, and participating in online discussion about ways to reduce risk of malpractice and boost profitability at law firms,” says Port. “RocketCLE is a natural extension of the resources we’ve been offering our customers.“

Customers using Rocket Matter’s legal practice management software enjoy 50% discounts off all online CLE content.

About Rocket Matter, LLC
Rocket Matter, LLC (URL: http://www.rocketmatter.com) provides Rocket Matter®, an online legal practice management and time tracking application for small to mid-sized law firms. The benefits of Rocket Matter®, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application, include increased security, business continuity, decreased technology infrastructure and maintenance costs, and improved return on investment for information technology expenses. Launched in February 2008, Rocket Matter’s corporate headquarters is in Boca Raton, FL.

SaaS Case Management for the Small Firm

Case Management software is to lawyers as a point of sale system is to a retailer: it is the most integral part of their business. Since it is perhaps the most important piece of software used to manage a law practice, surprisingly I’ve often seen that once an attorney decides which software to use, he or she hardly ever re-evaluates the decision and looks at a replacement or upgrade. Attorneys rely on practice management software so completely — and it represents the very essence of their practice — that they cannot even fathom anything different.

ADVERSE TO CHANGE

One reason many are reluctant to change is because of the immense investment of time and resources already spent in installing the current software and the large amount of information entered into the current system. An attorney’s case management software is his or her lifeline; every case, every client and every transaction is stored in the current program. That being said, it is perplexing that such little effort is spent keeping up with advances in technology. All of these factors result in the usage of out-dated software, often times woefully inadequate to the firm’s needs, but nonetheless a required part of daily operations. Unfortunately new programs, such as Rocket Matter, are not seen as viable replacements when the real reason for not upgrading is the fear of something “new,” and the idea of transitioning data instills a fear of missing information and years of work lost.

SILVER LINING

What attorneys are missing is a brand new class of case management programs which, while they seek to replace older programs, also seek to solve many of the concerns law firms face when dealing with digital client data: security, mobile access and backup. As one of the newcomers to this market, Rocket Matter has embraced the new software-as-a-service model of delivering software from the Internet.

What this means is the application itself is not stored on an office computer (called client-side applications), but instead on servers hosted by Rocket Matter. This offloads the responsibility of having to maintain and upgrade a server, because the software is accessed on Rocket Matter’s servers from any computer with an Internet connection. All data between a user’s computer and Rocket Matter is encrypted with 128-bit secure SSL, the same encryption used by many major banks and financial institutions for online transactions. Another advantage of SaaS is that any upgrades to the software are handled by the software provider directly on its servers, thus negating the necessity for users to perform software updates and installations on each of the firm’s computers or servers.

As a SaaS application, Rocket Matter handles another major issue for law firms which store confidential and sensitive client data: security. Rocket Matter stores confidential client data not only at their physically and electronically secure offices, but in multiple offsite, secure and geographically diverse locations. As a result, Rocket Matter solves one of the inherent problems with client side case management programs: client data is only as secure as the law firm has made its office. Rocket Matter is also beginning to work with independent security specialist firms to conduct periodic audits of its system, something most law firms are incapable of doing on their own internal systems.

PRACTICAL USAGE

My legal practice focuses on personal injury and workers’ compensation claims. Handling approximately 50 cases, mine is a small plaintiff’s firm that has been using Rocket Matter exclusively since December 2008. Prior to this, we used Daylite for our case management needs. The transition between Daylite and Rocket Matter was a fairly painless one. We simply exported our Daylite data into a comma-separated file, and Rocket Matter had our data imported within 24 hours of the initiation of our service. Just as data can be imported into Rocket Matter, all of a firm’s data can easily be exported to an Excel Spreadsheet anytime, thus providing those with a desire to have a physical copy of their data at all times with a means of “holding” their information on their own systems.

The graphical interface of Rocket Matter is very reminiscent of the majority of modern Macintosh programs. It is readily apparent that a great deal of time was spent deciding which information will be on the “Dashboard,” the first screen one sees when logging into Rocket Matter. Only information most likely to be used is displayed on any given screen within Rocket Matter. This reduces the information overload that plagues many case management software programs. As my friend, colleague and fellow Rocket Matter user says: “One of the best things about RM is that it is so easy to learn and easy to use. There is virtually no learning curve, because it works the way you do. My staff was up to speed on RM almost immediately.”

Just like other modern client-side programs, search boxes are auto completing, a feature which is normally only provided in client-side applications. Part of the beauty of using Rocket Matter is that despite being dependent upon the Internet for access, the amount of actual broadband use is quite small. Even those users with a slow cable or data connection are capable of utilizing all of Rocket Matter’s features just as easily as those with high-speed DSL or T1 connections. As a result, accessing Rocket Matter from a mobile computer connected via cellular 3G access is still quite acceptable.

CLIENT MATTERS

In Rocket Matter, cases are referred to as “matters.” As with most case management programs, Rocket Matter allows each matter to be relationally connected to other attorneys working on the matter, as well as opposing counsel and user customized relationships. In a typical personal-injury case, we will have a matter that has relationships with a liability insurance adjuster, a medical insurance adjuster, opposing counsel, the judge presiding over the case, and any other attorneys or paralegals assigned to work on the matter. The calendaring system in Rocket Matter allows attorneys to delegate tasks to any of the staff working on a particular matter, as well as verify whether a particular staff member is available for an event during scheduling.

Though the feature is not used by my firm, Rocket Matter includes an extensive billing and expense tracking suite, with the usual compliments such as time capture for matters and profit reporting.

One of the most intriguing additions for Rocket Matter is document management. Released in the past few months, Rocket Matter now allows users to upload documents to a matter and add “tags” to each document for indexing purposes. These tags work much the same way Facebook tags work for pictures — users simply input a tag they want for a particular document and the document is then searchable by that tag.

MOBILE ACCESS

Perhaps the most helpful aspect of having a Web-based contact management program is the ability to access data from any computer, phone or device with Internet access. Unlike most client-side applications which require VPN setup, Web site setup and/or limited access to calendaring and/or contact information, Rocket Matter provides full access to the entire program no matter from where a user logs in with no further customization.

Due to its 128-bit SSL encryption, there is no worry about the security of the transmission of a firm’s data. Rocket Matter also offers a mobile portal to access only contact information if a user is on a particularly slow connection or he or she just needs contact information.

My entire firm has iPhones and we’ve never had a problem accessing Rocket Matter from out of the office, even at AT&T’s slower EDGE speeds when 3G was not available. Additionally, when our firm’s attorneys are traveling, they use Macbook Pro’s with AT&T Express Cards to access the Internet through AT&T’s 3G network and there is no perceptible difference when accessing Rocket Matter between the 3G network than when we are back in our offices accessing the Internet.

PRICING

Rocket Matter costs $59.99 per month for the first user, $49.99 for the second through sixth, and $39.99 for the seventh through 20th. A fully functioning case management and billing solution is available for a small firm of six attorneys and paralegals for a little over $300 per month, or $4,000 per year. While this may seem like a large sum, to properly compare Rocket Matter’s cost to comparable client-side software, one must factor in the cost of software updates (included in Rocket Matter’s price), server and desktop setup, configuration of Web-based access to servers, IT maintenance and training. Factoring in all of these hidden costs of standard client-side software results in Rocket Matter fitting much more nicely in today’s budget conscious balance sheet for law firms.

Regardless of whether your firm embraces it or not, Internet-based SaaS applications such as Rocket Matter are likely to replace standard client-side applications. Both Google and Microsoft are focusing the majority of their research and development monies to SaaS, and Microsoft has been experimenting with actually having Windows run in this manner in future versions. Rocket Matter is simply one of the first of these applications to make it into the legal software market, although it most certainly does not feel like a 1.0 version. If you have a small to medium-sized firm and are looking for reliable, secure, mobile and easily implemented case management software, you cannot do better than Rocket Matter. You can purchase Rocket Matter or get a free personal tour by Rocket Matter staff at www.RocketMatter.com.

Finis R. Price III is a practicing trial attorney in Louisville, KY, and Co-Founder of TechnoEsq Presentations, where he works with other attorneys in creating trial and other litigation presentations. He is a member of the Kentucky Justice Association’s Board of Governor’s and is a faculty member with Solo Practice University, a virtual university assisting attorneys in their practice.

Hot off the presses, Rocket Matter 1.0 has been released. Rocket Matter is a convenient, web-based product that is accessible anywhere internet access is available. Rocket Matter is now leaving their Beta period and moving into their 1.0 phase. Any attorney looking for an efficient and cost-effective means of managing their practice should look at Rocket Matter.

BOCA RATON, FL – January 6, 2009 - Rocket Matter, a leading web-based legal practice management and time and billing solution for small to mid-sized law firms, today announces the launch of their signature product – Rocket Matter 1.0. The product is a web-based SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) product that addresses legal practice management and time and billing needs of law firms.

The product was originally brought to the market in beta form in February 2008. Since this time, the product has matured and developed thanks to the feedback of legal technology experts and pilot customers located all over North America.

“Rocket Matter was designed to help attorneys have an easier way to bill for their hours,” says Larry Port, founding partner and chief software architect. “Our ‘Bill As You Work™’ technology captures user’s billable time throughout the day thereby eliminating the need to total hours at the end of a billing cycle.”

The features of Rocket Matter 1.0 include:

• Contact and Matter Management – makes current and past case and client information available immediately.
• Calendaring – lets users track important dates and deadlines in the context of matters.
• Mobile Access – enables customers to view an optimized version on a smart phone.
• Batch Billing – allows users to spend their time billing, not generating bills.
• Expense Tracking – captures costs, easily and quickly.
• Reporting – helps increase efficiency and profit with reporting functions available.
• Offline Access – maintains backup copies of firms’ data locally.
• Messages – provides a powerful message taking and inter-office communication tool.

Rocket Matter 1.0 also provides increased security and assists firms with their business continuity preparedness and disaster recovery. In the event a firm is damaged or has lost power, they are able to continue their business remotely. Rocket Matter has servers in secure locations that are backed up continuously to ensure data is always protected.

Attorney Keith Bruno, a Rocket Matter pilot user since March of 2008, says, “After testing virtually every practice management software program known to legal man, I found Rocket Matter to be the only one that works seamlessly, allowing me to capture time from anywhere in the world with ease. Rocket Matter more than pays for itself with the time that is captured, and the bills that are produced are professional, accurate, and easy. For a small firm, it is an essential practice tool.”

Instead of purchasing and installing software and expensive hardware, Rocket Matter requires no installation or upgrades. Users navigate Rocket Matter securely using an Internet browser and by simply logging in to use the application. Known as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Rocket Matter represents an evolutionary development in the typically non-innovative world of legal practice management software.

About Rocket Matter, LLC

Rocket Matter, LLC (URL: http://www.rocketmatter.com) provides a web-based legal practice management and time and billing solution for small to mid-sized law firms. Rocket Matter^TM is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application, providing increased security, business continuity, decreased technology infrastructure and maintenance, and improved return on investment for information technology expenses. Launched in February 2008, Rocket Matter’s corporate headquarters is in Boca Raton, FL.

Google, Microsoft and Adobe are all moving towards offering their main applications through SaaS (see Microsoft’s interest, Google Apps and Adobe Air). If the experts are right, one day you’ll simply have a computer which connects to the Internet, run Windows from Microsoft’s servers (with the most up-to-date patches, security and anti-virus automatically done) and use all of your applications and documents which are stored on a large server farm in Idaho.

In the legal market, there are many companies vying to gain the attention of lawyers such as VLOTech, RocketMatter and Clio. The problem these companies are running into, besides lawyers being unnecessarily squeamish about their data not being on their computers/servers, is the question of the ethics of such off-loading of confidential and sensitive client data.

Fortunately, several lawyers have queried progressive state bar associations in an attempt to push their respective state’s forward ahead of this growing trend. In a recent Proposed Ethics Opinion from the North Carolina State Bar, the concept of a web-based law firm mangement system was addressed:

The use of a web‑based management system that allows both the law firm and the client access to the client’s docketing information or other information in the client’s file is permissible provided the lawyer can fulfill his obligation to protect the confidential information of all clients. A lawyer must take steps to minimize the risk that confidential client information will be disclosed to other clients or to third parties. See RPC 133 and RPC 215. It is not acceptable for one client to have access to another client’s information absent client consent. This risk is not cured by an agreement from a client or a client’s in‑house counsel not to view the confidential information of another client. A security code access procedure that only allows a client to access its own confidential information would be an appropriate measure to protect confidential client information.

If the law firm will be contracting with a third party to maintain the web‑based management system, the law firm must ensure that the third party also employs measures which effectively minimize the risk that confidential information might be lost or disclosed. See RPC 133.