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GAZETTE
OCTOBER 1989
functions of the office including
profitability, overheads, taxation,
work-in-progress and new busi-
ness is instantly available.
The office payroll is handled in
minutes.
Time recording and time costing
are performed and monitored by
the system.
• Billing is automatically calcu-
lated and produced and state-
ments, reminders and internal
reports are created to report on
profitability and cash flow.
• Trends in the practice are
analysed and profitability in-
creased or unprofitable work
lessened.
• High quality legal documenta-
tion is produced quickly and
profitably.
• Standardised systems reduce
the havoc caused by staff
mobility.
• Access to internal office in-
formation is instantaneous. This
applies to files, clients (for
conflict purposes), deeds, closed
files, wills and their location, the
financial status of every Client in
his dealings with the office, all
phone numbers, fax numbers,
addresses of clients and con-
tacts etc.
• Internal memos are sent by
electronic mail, external mail is
sent electronically also. This
reduces waste paper around
offices and commun i ca t es
quickly.
• Office diaries are maintained
which enable scheduling of
appointments electronically
between any number of people
without memos or messages,
taking account of holidays, court
appearances etc.
WHEN WILL THIS BE
AVAILABLE?
Now!
All of the above type of work is
available to the present Solicitors
office. I am aware that most, if not
all of these facilities are available in
certain offices who have invested in
technology for the future. On a Unix
system, all of the above are
available, as indeed are automated
document production systems and
expert systems in the legal office.
Office Automation
There have been substantial ad-
vances in software in Unix Office
Automation over the last few years.
As Unix developed from the busi-
ness sector, those using the Unix
system have concentrated on de-
velopment of office automation
products. The structure of Unix has
allowed Office Automation to
emulate existing office methods
while taking them successfully into
the computer world.
Thus, for example, word pro-
cessors followed from the type-
writer, Electronic mail from the post,
electronic diary from the diary,
electronic messaging from the
memo-pad and electronic calcula-
tions from the notebook or
calculator. The progression is not
frightening in concept to the learner,
but the increase in efficiency is
notable. The real advantage of Unix
in the office is that all of the above
facilities are to hand on screen and
are capable of being related to each
othpr and to the Accounts and other
databases.
NETWORK SYSTEMS
While Unix systems developed from
the operation of larger computers,
network systems developed from
the highly successful personal
computer [PC]. Many solicitors
acquired personal computers for
various functions, principally word
processing. Network systems were
devised to try and link them to-
gether in a manageable form so that
information on one PC could be
used by other linked PCs.
Development has been uneven.
The basic principle of a series of
computers linked to a central pro-
cessor for storage and processing
was initially successful in the main-
frame market, but the costs were
huge. Attempts to operate networks
with smaller PCs were not so
successful, particularly in the legal
market. That is not to say that it
couldn't be done; but nobody
seemed to get it right.
There have been substantial
developments in the last few years
but, unlike Unix, these development
are still subject to limits of operation.
LIMITATIONS OF NETWORK
SYSTEMS
Technically, Networks are limited by
the basis on which the system
originated. The most successful
networking system (Novell) is based
on MSDOS. MSDOS is the operat-
ing system used by the personal
computer such as the I.B.M. PC.
11
WORLD
FAMOUS
BRAND
NAMES
BUSINESS ELECTRONIC
EQUIPMENT
12A
Parkmore
L T D .
Industrial Estate,
Tel: (01) 509044
Long Mile Road,
FAX: (01) 509744
Dublin 12
363