All systems change as Everys selects SOS Connect in half million pound IT investment

Global News

10
Jul
2009

West Country-based Everys Solicitors has selected SOS Connect from Bath-based Solicitors Own Software (SOS) for integrated case and practice management. The six figure contract is part of a significant £500,000 investment in completely new IT, communications and telephony systems. The 63 lawyer firm anticipates improved client service and increased efficiency in case turnaround from the new system to lead to greater profitability.

Everys, which employs around 150 people, is a well-established family firm whose mantra is legal expertise for everyone. Though formed over 250 years ago, the firm has a very progressive outlook, recently opening branches as diverse as Dubai and planned office in the new livestock centre at Junction 24 on the M5, as well as eight others predominantly in East Devon as well as Taunton, Somerset.

SOS Connect will replace the current IRIS/Videss system and be the vehicle for providing a consistent, standardised, multi-disciplinary service from all UK offices.

Everys managing partner James Griffin said: “When we learnt that the upgrade to the new IRIS/Videss solution offered us no cost advantage from buying new, there was an incentive to re-assess other legal software suppliers. We went to the market looking for a very good accounts system but also one that would help us provide the most useful case management tool for fee earners.”

Working in close conjunction with Nigel Field of Alchemy Systems, to whom Everys outsources its IT operations, five legal software suppliers, including incumbent IRIS, TFB and SOS were evaluated, especially in terms of ease of use and simplicity in presenting client details, files and business processes to fee earners.

James Griffin added: “SOS Connect offered a very user friendly and intuitive system with its integration with the Microsoft desktop and provided the flexibility to personalise the solution according to the needs of fee earners and the practice area. Eventually we expect to develop standard packages of service which deliver clients certainty of service, cost and the expected end date. The aim is to equip our lawyers with the best tools for handling more cases while improving client service.”

The SOS Connect implementation, which will be fully integrated with the digital dictation system, is planned for September.

David McNamara, managing director of SOS said: “The intention has always been to enable SOS Connect to adapt and flex easily to the individual needs of every practice, including Everys! Everys is yet another example of the forward-thinking firms choosing SOS recently and taking advantage of the recession to implement change and remove cost from their business processes. We look forward to working with Everys and Alchemy Systems who will be providing and looking after the IT infrastructure.”