By Alan Pearlman
Gavelware 2.0--debt collection and civil judgment software
During the course of my frequent lectures and seminars, I am often asked about software that can be used in a debt collection practice. Most frequently, I have to say that I have not seen much in the way of that type of program. Now, I can finally say that I recommend Gavelware 2.0.
Gavelware 2.0 is a complete and cost effective solution to the debt collection practice. The program was developed to meet the needs of the collection practice attorney and their staff and the program was tested by many members of the Illinois State Bar Association, before its recent release into the software marketplace.
What you have in the program is a simple, yet effective accounting engine that eliminates most all interest calculation errors, thereby making sure that you collect every penny that your client is due! The program is very simple and easy to use. All you do is enter a date and an amount and then everything else is done for you automatically.
Feature rich
Among the more popular features of Gavelware are:
* Automated Reminder System--allows you to add court appearances, filing deadlines, and the like. Reminders can then be deleted or marked off as they are completed.
* Every time you start up the program you are immediately informed of your pending to-do list.
* A single mouse click brings you your payoff amount, status of the matter and amortization information.
* Transaction history reports--All reports tailored to meet the needs of creditor, debtor and/or firms reporting with a single click of the mouse.
Probably the single most effective feature is the fact that you need not waste countless hours on re-entry of your data, since Gavelware will allow you to import your existing electronic data into the program, and that can save you time from the moment you begin.
Likewise, you can easily export any or all of the data within the program to be used and merged with any external applications that you may be working with. Additionally, the program is also password protected to maintain the integrity of all the data, something that has been missing from many such programs in recent releases.
After you do your initial data entry, you have the ability to select any debt from the client list/debt tab and see a complete transaction history on the ledger tab. Here you have the ability to find out all the information needed in a key click. You can also see all of the cumulative collection totals--since they are visible on every screen--no need to jump from screen to screen for that information.
As for flexibility within the law firm, any number of lawyers, creditors, and/or debtors can be assigned to any given case, so you have no worries when it comes to additional personnel. All cases can be reassigned at any time and to anyone. There is even a customizable list of recurring fees that will allow your firm to have fee assessments entered in a single mouse click.
A very important feature with data such as this is the fact that Gavelware can be backed-up and restored in one single step. A very easy solution to the complicated matter of always having your matters available and never again worrying about a computer melt down! Knowing all this you should be reminded that the single user version of Gavelware has the capability of maintaining in excess of two million transactions, so it's a good bet that it will take you a while before you or your firm outgrows this particular piece of software.
Considerations of importance
There are, as with any computer program, some important considerations. First, your operating system must be a Windows 95 or higher machine or Windows NT or higher. You should be operating under a recommended 8 MB of RAM (16 for NT) and have at least 7 MB of hard drive space available as a minimum to run the program. I recommend always going a bit above the manufacturer's listed requirements, or in this case have at least 16 MB or better of RAM and a bit bigger hard drive.
Another concern is the Y2K issue. Gavelware forces all four digits of a year to be written to the database! The dates that the program displays are really a function of your computer settings. Therefore, Gavelware is be ready to continue to work for you without any problems.
I find Gavelware 2.0 to be an excellent addition to any practice that must work with civil judgments and/or an extensive collection practice. It's simple, easy to use, and most effective for keep the practitioner awakened to the day by day interests of her or his collection clients. I highly recommend Gavelware to any user for an easy, cost efficient method of handling collections for your client. Now if you are still interested in taking a look at the program go to their web site at www.gavelware.com and download the demo. Take a few minutes to give it your own once over and perhaps you will agree that Gavelware 2.0 can help to put your collection practice in the proper prospective and give you the freedom to collect more in less time for your clients.
Details
Gavelware 2.0 by Pace Software Innovations, Inc., 329 South Glencoe Avenue, Decatur, Illinois 62522. Phone 217/422-8321 or at the web, www.gavelware.com Suggested retail price of $395.
© Copyright 1999-Alan Pearlman -"The Electronic Lawyer" ™ All Rights Reserved
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to its author and do not necessarily represent those of the ISBA or the LOE section.
%20Initial.GIF)