For estate planning attorneys looking to streamline their practice management, our newly branded “FLOWS™”—which stands for Focused Legal Operations & Workflow Systems—is built within the Actionstep platform to drive impactful results. At Lawyers With Purpose (LWP), we’ve developed this seamless workflow system to optimize every aspect of law firm operations. Even the most skilled estate planning attorney can struggle to reach their firm’s true profit potential without fully integrated, effective systems.
At Lawyers With Purpose (LWP), we recognize that your law firm is more than just a practice; it’s a business. Without robust workflows, chaos can reign supreme. This is where LWP’s cloud-based systems come into play, allowing you to build a fail-safe practice that reduces mistakes, enhances efficiency, and frees up your valuable time. This enables you to focus on what truly matters: acquiring new clients and enjoying a fulfilling work-life balance.
This blog will explore how FLOWS™ within Actionstep can elevate your practice, leading to greater efficiency and client satisfaction.
Overview of LWP Automated Workflows: FLOWS™
The LWP Automated Workflows serve as a guiding framework for law firms, helping to streamline processes and ensure no critical steps are overlooked. These workflows come equipped with pre-created steps and tasks, detailing who is responsible for each assignment. Additionally, the reporting features enable firms to track progress and performance effectively.
How It All FLOWS™ Together:
Every law firm has its processes, whether or not they realize it. Often, these processes evolve without intentional design, leading to inefficiencies. The workflows we’ve established at LWP are tried, tested, and proven to enhance operational efficiency. They are embedded in Actionstep, allowing firms to leverage a powerful tool for managing their unique workflows.
The Benefits of LWP Integrations, Systems, Processes, and Workflows
By integrating LWP’s workflows, your firm will experience significant benefits, including:
- Improved Efficiency, Proficiency, and Profitability: Streamline operations and maximize your firm’s output.
- Consistent, Error-Free Plans: Deliver high-quality estate plans quickly, minimizing the risk of mistakes.
- Clarity in Client Progress: Always know where each client stands in the planning process and what the next steps are.
- Real-Time Financial Insights: Stay updated on your firm’s revenue and expenses at any moment. Generate reports directly from the system.
- Accountability Across the Team: Track individual contributions and ensure everyone is aligned with firm objectives.
Understanding the LWP Workflows in Actionstep
Challenges Without a Structured Workflow
Without a structured workflow, attorneys frequently encounter several challenges:
- Lack of Insight: Difficulty tracking where clients and work are in the process.
- Productivity Gaps: Uncertainty about overall productivity and whether tasks are being completed.
- Risk of Oversights: Increased potential for tasks to fall through the cracks.
Addressing These Challenges
The LWP automated workflows tackle these issues head-on by providing a structured process for attorneys and their teams. By implementing established workflows, teams are engaged and aware of their responsibilities, ensuring that all tasks are addressed. With built-in reporting features, everyone stays aligned and focused on essential activities.
Example Workflow: From Client Intake to Case Closure
A typical workflow begins when a client contacts the firm. Their information is entered into Actionstep, linked to the relevant matter. The workflow then guides the firm through the following steps:
- Initial Meeting: Understanding client needs.
- Plan Design: Building the plan based on the clients specific wants and needs.
- Document Drafting: Creating legal documents and funding outlines.
- Signing and Maintenance: Finalizing the documents and ensuring ongoing compliance.
Comprehensive Processes Tailored to Your Needs
LWP offers a suite of automated workflows designed specifically for various practice areas:
- Client Enrollment System (CES): Streamline client intake, conduct workshops, hold vision meetings, and clarify processes and goals.
- Estate Planning System (EPS): Efficiently manage design meetings, drafting, funding, and signing meetings.
- Medicaid Qualification Process: Use eligibility worksheets, software, and structured application checklists.
- Probate and Trust Administration Process
- Relationship Management System (RMS): Enhance referral processes through structured meetings and strategic presentations.
- Maintenance Processes: A structured system to streamline the probate and trust administration processes, ensuring that clients receive comprehensive, timely support during every stage.
- Funding Processes: Use funding tables and asset allocation checklists to ensure thoroughness.
Key Features and Benefits of the Workflow in Actionstep
Unique Advantages
The LWP FLOWS™ system stands out with its seamless integration of workflows and reporting functionalities. Unlike other systems that separate workflows and reporting, FLOWS™ provides immediate access to performance data, helping attorneys prioritize essential business metrics and drive operational improvement. Built and refined since 2001, FLOWS™ incorporates the “best practices” established in real, everyday law firm operations. This history of continuous refinement ensures a system that meets the practical needs of law firms while supporting growth and efficiency.
Time Savings and Error Reduction
One of the significant pain points for attorneys and clients is the follow-up process and the completion of tasks. When tasks are overlooked or delayed, it can lead to a negative client experience. LWP’s standardized workflows help set clear expectations, assigning specific roles and tasks to team members, and tracking completion through detailed reporting. This structure ensures that all engagements end positively, reinforcing client trust.
Many LWP members have attempted to create their workflows in other systems but faced challenges integrating tasks, roles, and reporting. Actionstep’s high customizability allows LWP to combine all necessary elements in one platform, a feature that our members have found invaluable.
Cloud-Based Workflows: Save Time, Increase Accountability
All LWP workflows and tasks are integrated into Actionstep, a secure and fully automated cloud-based practice management system. This integration offers several key benefits:
- Increased Efficiency: Eliminate bottlenecks by ensuring that team members can access necessary information at any stage of the planning process.
- Automated Reporting: Customize reports to keep your firm focused on its goals, with real-time access to critical financial data.
- Tracking and Accountability: Gain insights into your team’s activities and the effectiveness of revenue-generating initiatives.
- Anytime, Anywhere Access: Enjoy peace of mind knowing that you can access client information without fear of lost files or communication breakdowns.
- Security: Benefit from a private, encrypted database that provides automatic backups for your firm’s data.
Exploring the Actionstep Platform
Primary Functionality
The primary function of Actionstep within the LWP system is to facilitate a comprehensive workflow that delineates tasks for each team member, ensuring smooth client transitions through the firm’s processes. The reporting tools allow for real-time tracking of workflow success.
Supporting Daily Operations
Actionstep automates routine tasks by assigning them to the appropriate team member as matters progress. Each team member receives a daily task list, streamlining their responsibilities and ensuring nothing is overlooked.
Integration of Workflow and Actionstep
It’s essential to understand that the Workflow is housed within Actionstep. They are not separate entities; rather, Actionstep enhances the efficiency of LWP’s automated workflows. This highly configurable platform also offers additional features tailored to individual firm needs.
Customization and Flexibility
Tailoring Workflows to Firm Needs
The LWP workflows are designed to cater to firms of all sizes. They offer step-by-step guidance, ensuring that even solo practitioners can efficiently manage their processes and smoothly onboard new team members. For larger firms, clear role definitions eliminate confusion about responsibilities.
Examples of Customization
LWP provides workflows for various practice areas, including Estate Planning, Medicaid Application Process, Probate, Trust Administration, and Maintenance. Our members can modify the Probate and Trust Administration workflows to suit their specific state requirements, starting from a solid baseline and building from there.
Implementation and Training
What to Expect During Implementation
When implementing LWP workflows, attorneys can expect a comprehensive step-by-step guide that covers every essential aspect. Data entry is streamlined, and the integration with Actionstep reveals the necessary skill sets for efficient use.
Training and Resources Provided by LWP
To ensure a smooth transition, LWP offers extensive training resources, including:
- Online Training: Flexible learning on your schedule.
- Personalized Coaching: Tailored support for your unique needs.
- Help Desk Support: Assistance via help desk tickets.
- Monthly Online Training: Regular sessions to keep skills sharp.
- 1:1 Training: Additional training as needed based on your membership level.
Future Developments
Upcoming Features for LWP workflows
The LWP team is continuously looking to enhance the standard workflows for optimal efficiency and effectiveness across various law firm sizes. While timelines for updates are still being determined, member feedback is always encouraged to help refine best practices.
For attorneys hesitant to adopt these tools, consider that many firms operate out of habit rather than design. The LWP system encourages you to run your practice with intentionality and data-driven insights, enabling better tracking of goals and client work.
Getting Started With LWP Workflows in Actionstep
To explore the benefits of the LWP Automated Workflows in Actionstep, members can familiarize themselves with workflows like the Estate Planning or Medicaid Application processes. New members should reach out to the Member Success team to initiate a 7-day trial.
If you’re ready to put in tried and tested processes within your practice management and streamline your law firm operations, we encourage you to schedule a demo or contact the LWP team for a personalized consultation on how the Workflow and Actionstep functionalities can be integrated into your practice.
Let us help you design a more efficient and productive law firm today!
To learn more about how Lawyers With Purpose can help your law firm’s growth plans and profitability, contact us at info@lawyerswithpurpose.com or call (877) 299-0326.
