LEAP Installation

Although running a application installer is a relatively small task, there are a number of very key tasks that must be completed before and after the installation of the software before it can start being effectively used by the business, such as:

1. Pre-installation system audit to identify any compatibility issues and ensure the workstation meets the requirements to successfully install and run LEAP. If a workstation doesn’t meet LEAP’s requirements there may be significantly reduced performance, key functionality or integrations may never operate and essentially a bad experience that wastes your time.
2. LEAP datafile creation and configuration – to configure LEAP means to bring in your firms details, preferences, branding and layout of letters, faxes, invoices and receipts. Configure and test integration with Xero/myob and Microsoft Office. Some tasks may not need to be completed on day one and more time is often required by firms to prepare the information and files required to complete the configuration ready for business.

LEAP Training

LEAP is very comprehensive as a solution for managing a legal practice, which also means there’s a lot to learn. Everyone comes from difference backgrounds and levels of experience working within a firm. Different roles have different responsibilities and therefore different tasks to complete each day. There will be some people who never need to understand time based fees vs fixed fees and for others recording time accurately and reaching targets is critical. Regardless of whether or not a firm is working through a new LEAP installation or a firm is transitioning from one version of LEAP to the latest, training is generally broken down into the following components:

1. Initial training – this is for all LEAP users and focuses on getting to know the basics
   • Learning to navigate the menus and screens
   • Setting up a new matter, client and other critical matter details
   • Emphasis is placed on LEAP’s integrated functions within Outlook, Word, Excel and how these will now be used in general day-to-day tasks such as, writing letters, faxes and emails and automatically adding these items to the matter correspondence
   • Working with LEAP’s calendar and task items which are integrated and synchronized with Outlook
   • Recording time entries for billable and non-billable tasks
   • Creating fix professional fee entries in preparation for billing
   • Brief overview of the office accounting, recording indirect costs to be recovered along with direct payments made on behalf of a client.
   • Creating an invoice record to include the time/fee entries and disbursements
   • Generating and issuing a bill to a client from the invoice record
   • Receipting payment and applying to outstanding invoice
2. Bookkeeper training – this is for LEAP users that will require knowledge of all office and trust accounting processes with specific focus on trust bank account compliance
   • Refresher on recording professional fees and disbursements (anything billable)
   • Direct payments from office on behalf of a client along with recording anticipated payments
   • Greater emphasis on creating the invoice record and understanding all available options, such as adjustments, adding and removing items from an invoice record, protection and allocation of trust money to an invoice
   • Deep dive into creation of the client bill document, content and layout options (client bills are documents with the invoice data merged into the document
   • Receipting payment scenarios and issuing receipts to clients
   • Bank deposits
   • Cheque printing set up
   • Thorough explanation and demonstration of how office accounting in LEAP integrates with either myob or Xero
   • Office accounting reporting
   • Trust account record keeping
     • Receipting
     • Payments
     • Anticipated deposit (request for trust deposit)
     • Protected trust money
     • Trust to office transfer process
     • Bank deposits
     • trust account journal
   • Trust bank account reconciliation
   • Trust account end of month process and reporting
3. Initial training – this is for all LEAP users and focuses on getting to know the basics
   • Learning to navigate the menus and screens
   • Setting up a new matter, client and other critical matter details
   • Emphasis is placed on LEAP’s integrated functions within Outlook, Word, Excel and how these will now be used in general day-to-day tasks such as, writing letters, faxes and emails and automatically adding these items to the matter correspondence
   • Working with LEAP’s calendar and task items which are integrated and synchronized with Outlook
   • Recording time entries for billable and non-billable tasks
   • Creating fix professional fee entries in preparation for billing
   • Brief overview of the office accounting, recording indirect costs to be recovered along with direct payments made on behalf of a client.
   • Creating an invoice record to include the time/fee entries and disbursements
   • Generating and issuing a bill to a client from the invoice record
   • Receipting payment and applying to outstanding invoice

Automated document creation requires two key elements:

1. Matter, client and other party details to be full and correct along with critical dates and other details specific to the type of matter to be entered.
2. Precedent documents with merge fields to bring information recorded on the matter into the document. The merge fields work together with conditions to show and hide content or change the layout of a document based on information recorded on the matter. Another technique is using prompts/questions for more information when required.

Complete Consulting AU are privileged to have the opportunity to be a part of the LEAP Partner Network of Australia. What this means is that LEAP have trained, tested, retested and certified us as specialist consultants in the LEAP practice management software. Consulting and Training are the two primary activities of a LEAP Certified Consultant.

LEAP Certified Consultants provide valuable services to law firms around Australia who have either been using LEAP or are looking to begin using LEAP’s Legal Software. Understandably, getting set up and given the “keys” are usually the primary goal of any business utilising software to manage a business, and this is a key service we provide. However, the greatest value is in the training and providing training to busy people with busy lives can be a tricky task. Patience and perseverance is how we approach training. There’s no question too small or too silly, the no question too difficult or response not important to understand. It’s all about understanding the tasks that LEAP will enable people to complete and what’s the best practice or approach to meet the requirements of the person and/or the firm. Having this much covered is the beginning, then it’s knowing all the functional capabilities and where to look when you get stuck.