Staying Mobile

Where Everything is within reach … even on a public holiday.

As a society that’s always go go go it stands to reason that we would need tech that can keep up the pace. From WhatsApp to mobile banking apps, there’s an “app” for absolutely everything.

Mobile apps have become a vital part of our day-to-day life. Inherent in the very makeup of our tech-savvy society.

They are even around – should you require them – when you are not go go going but are chillaxiiiing while enjoying your public holiday.

What is a mobile app (briefly don’t worry)?

A mobile app refers to the little icons on your mobile phone (or tablet) that you can tap and either get directions, pay someone, order something, rate something or read something. The operating system then links that specific app to a particular piece of hardware or software on your iPhone or Android phone to initiate the app – like Waze via your GPS.

And with “over 6.3 billion smartphone users across the world, it’s no surprise that the mobile app industry is thriving. App usage and smartphone penetration are still growing at a steady rate, without any signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future” (Buildfire).

In fact, Buildfire set out that on average Americans check their phones 262 times per day (or once every 5.5 minutes) and most of that time (or at least 88% of that time) it’s spent on mobile apps. Knowing that, it leaves little wonder why businesses of all sizes are looking to get their slice of the mobile app pie.

Why should legal practitioners use mobile apps?

The legal profession is one which speaks to the exact ideology that “time is money.” Whether we are referring to billable hours or the amount of time spent at the office (which is often the same thing), a lawyer makes their money from the time they spend on doing something. So, if there’s a way to save time (or better manage time), allowing lawyers to do much more in their workday, resulting in the writing of 10 X more fees, then whatever that app is, it’s going to be an immediate hit.

One example is the Microsoft Office App. Should a document need to be amended, and you are on the go, you can open the document using the Mobile Office App, amend whatever needs amending and then send it back (via email or WhatsApp) to the necessary person. This ensures you not only save time because you can work on the go, meaning you remain productive wherever you are, but it also ensures that a lawyer remains on top of drafting – regardless of location.

Lawyers can also charge for the time they spend doing this – even when they are out of the office. Earning whilst on the move. Yes please!

But are there other advantages for lawyers using a mobile app in their day-to-day operations?

AJS Mobile: When you’re on the move, it can be hard to keep track of your own progress in matters – let alone remembering to bill for consultations and phone calls on the go.

With AJS’s mobile billing tool, you can log consultations—including time spent, billing rates, and narrations—while on the courthouse steps or in a coffee shop. All data syncs in real time, ready to invoice the moment you return to the office.

Manage tasks for yourself and your team with every action automatically recorded as it happens. No need to wait until you’re “back in the office”—eliminate wasted time and ensure seamless productivity and progress tracking, no matter where you are.

Need to share a contract or invoice? Pull up saved documents instantly and email them to clients in minutes—no office required. Authorize payment requisitions or view real-time management reports and firm performance metrics with just a tap.

In short, the AJS Mobile App empowers you to:

• View account inquiries
• Post fees or notes
• Capture and review consultations
• Manage tasks
• Authorize payments

All from your phone or tablet.

You can even monitor daily, monthly, or yearly performance stats—in fact, you can run your entire practice remotely without missing a beat.

Having AJS Mobile as part of your arsenal will

• Reduce stress – lawyers will be able to work literally from any location because they don’t need access to their laptops to attend to work. They can even address a quick email reply and post a fee while enjoying family time on a public holiday.
• Enhance the remote work movement – working from their mobile phones ensures that lawyers never let anything fall through the cracks, because work can be dealt with quickly and easily on their mobile phones. Lawyers truly remain on top of their workload from wherever they may be.
• Reduce risk – as AJS Mobile allows lawyers to work from their mobile phones (or tablets), there’s no need to carry around valuable laptops. If a mobile phone is lost or stolen it doesn’t automatically mean access to firm wide confidential information. But losing or having a laptop stolen could result in a hefty price tag to replace the lost/stolen laptop whilst at the same time resulting in the loss of valuable (and confidential) information.

The importance of mobile apps in general and AJS Mobile in particular cannot be underestimated. Not only does it help the user save time, enabling them to be more productive, but it also reduces stress, increases billing with no forgotten fees, reduces risk, and enables an easy work from anywhere option. Even while on holiday (if you have to).

If you are ready to incorporate a new tool into your existing accounting and practice management suite, or if you need to start from scratch, Get in touch with us to see how we can best support your strategic goal. We have the right combination of systems, resources, and business partnerships to assist you with incorporating supportive legal technology into your practice. Effortlessly!

AJS is always here to help you, wherever and whenever possible!

– Written by Alicia Koch on behalf of AJS

(Sources used and to whom we give thanks: Bark, West Agile Apps, Entrepreneur, Objective and Buildfire)