Law Vibe

From May It Please the Court:

Using new software can be a hit-or-miss prospect largely because the developers rely on you and me to help get the bugs out of it.  But when you’re on Version 8, you should have most, if not all, of the bugs exterminated.

Should have, that is.

Hopes were high when Lexis bought Time Matters three years ago.  As time has passed, however, they’ve faded.  One of my law school professors once famously remarked, “Hope springs eternal.”  Apparently, that sentiment doesn’t apply to software upgrades.

WLF just upgraded from Time Matters Version 7 to Version 8 this weekend, and today, despite our hopes, we still have the same problems we had Friday.  Perhaps one of the most annoying problems is the billing interface.  Every time we open a completed slip, the dollar amount drops to zero.

That’s a bit of a problem for a law firm that sends invoices to its clients each month.  Even though our clients don’t complain, it really has a disastrous effect on cash flow.  But that’s not the only problem.  Despite Lexis’s claims that the upgrade fixes the software’s bugs, even the best of intentions go wrong - things that worked in prior versions don’t work in this new version.  Ouch.  Please, don’t get me started - there are a host of other problems, as well - but too long a list for this post.

We’ve made the billing interface suggestion to Lexis numerous times, asking them to fix the bug, but with no results.  Apparently, Lexis’s Quality Control Department isn’t talking to its Tech Support Department, and vice versa.  So, we’re likely going to switch programs, encourage others who are thinking of buying the Time Matters program not to, and generally start a boycott.

Can you hear me now, Lexis?  I’m voting with my feet, and my blawg.