Cann-do: Case management and legal process

Strategic consulting | Case management system design | Case management training Legal process design | Template authoring

What:

A range of consulting and hands-on services designed to help firms fast-track: the roll out of new case management systems; the enhancement of existing systems for volume work; the development of practice-wide legal process/matter management solutions; the leveraging of case management data for management information purposes; and the creation and amendment of new and existing workflows and templates

Why:

This service portfolio offers clients a 'pick and mix' approach to all aspects of case management, from system procurement to workflow amendments, procedural frameworks to cultural change. The ultimate aim is the same however: to help firms rapidly reap maximum advantage from their case management and legal process systems in terms of improved efficiency, productivity, risk management, compliance, customer satisfaction and profitability.

As to why you'd want to use the Cann-do approach, it maybe that:

* You have bought case management licenses but have yet to use them
* You want to extend the use of case management into other volume areas
* You are keen to introduce matter management/legal process into non-volume areas
* You need to embed compliance and standards into your systems to support Lexcel accreditation and avoid SRA censure
* You are interested in extracting management information and KPIs from your case system
* You have a case management project and need temporary help with workflow design and authoring
* You need to address an internal case management skills gap via a Train the Trainer programme
* You need a reliable source of workflow design/authoring skills for ad hoc change requirements

How

In terms of how things hang together, there are three core services, which can be used together or discretely:

Strategic consultancy
Train the Trainer
Workflow and template design and authoring

Strategic consultancy
Consulting services are aimed at anyone looking to leverage 15 years' experience and achievement in the case management and legal process arena; to deploy optimum solutions in an optimum timeframe; and to secure positive adoption, early returns and significant bottom-line improvement. With an approach that combines the strategic with the pragmatic, the focus is not just on what and why but also on how, with hands-on assistance available to push through recommendations or project plans.

Complementary services including programme management, mentoring, Train the Trainer sessions, workflow design and a technical helpline are all part of the Cann-do approach.

Consultancy is essentially whatever you need it to be, with a free meeting to discuss your requirements always the first step. Typical work includes half-day 'brain-picking' sessions, one-day partner workshops, and end-to-end projects delivering case management/legal process solutions across new departments or firm-wide from scratch.

Guideline costs: £350 for half-day 'brainpicking', £650 for one-day workshop, £2500 for complete case management solution

Train the Trainer
For those firms wanting to build in-house resource and expertise at reasonable cost, this solution provides a highly cost-effective alternative to external training schemes for teams and individuals. The aim is to equip a designated member of staff with the knowledge, confidence and training materials both to run their own in-house sessions and to mentor/guide individuals on a day-to-day basis.

A typical programme will comprise four half-days of intensive coaching with remote support available subsequently. By the end, the trainer will have the ability to design workflows and case management loops, to write templates and utilize precedents, to integrate them into the relevant departments, to train colleagues to a similar level of competence, and to instruct users on the new systems.

Guideline costs: £1200 for full programme, £50 per hour remote support

Workflow and template design and authoring
This is ideal for those firms who need workflow and template writing skills and need them now. No learning curve, no overhead of a permanent staff member, no waiting, just highly experienced design and authoring resources able to turn round single or bundled tasks quickly, expertly and reliably. Aimed at those who do not currently have any in-house capability to tackle workflow/templates; or who have in-house skills tied up on other projects and just need an extra helping hand; or who only have occasional change requirements that don't warrant in-house resource; or firms who are keen to introduce a new project and whose existing case developers need some short-term assistance.

Guideline costs: £50 per hour, £175 per half day, £350 per day

Who

As a former partner and head of systems at innovative regional law firm Martin Kaye, Chris Cann has done pretty much everything there is to do in the case management and legal process arena, from the 'big picture' strategic choices to everyday template writing. He created four bulk supply departments from scratch, writing systems, hiring staff, training system writers and training trainers; he project managed the roll-out of matter management across other departments, and designed workflow for Probate, Employment, Family and LPA amongst others. He pioneered the use of case management to support Lexcel accreditation, created a KPI system to give invaluable insight into case performance, and drove productivity and efficiency initiatives that took the firm from a 1:1 fee earner/secretary ration to business with 100 people and only four secretaries.