OPSIS News & Info Blog - Legal Case Management, Solicitors Accounting and Time Recording Software

Millennium Rel V5.74.1 - March Legal Aid LSC changes

Millennium Accounts V5.74.1

The Millennium Accounts release of 5.74.1 primarily contains new reports and miscellaneous new features and bug fixes. It does, however, also include some Legal Aid changes; some minor changes to Legal Aid fees, and online bulk load file.

You will probably have received notification of this directly from the LSC (OPSIS are not responsible for supplying this information).

Below is the relevant information from the release notes:

Legal Aid Enhancements:

All new criminal matters will now Use revised standard fees for magistrates courts by default.
The Legal Services Commission Online Bulk Load File now allows you to specify the LSC submission year and month.
Standard Description Records can now be marked as being a Counsel Fee.

Please refer to the LSC website or contact the LSC directly for the most up to date information.

For more information, release notes and downloads of the latest software go to our website Legal Aid Announcement support page.

March 18th, 2009 | Category: Legal Aid, OPSIS Support, Releases | Print This Post | Email this Post | Leave a comment

Important Notice: Phone Calls / Office Move

OPSIS Office Move for Monday 16th March 2009

IMPORTANT NOTICE regarding Customer Telephone Calls

This weekend OPSIS relocates its UK offices from Stamford to Grantham, and we are taking every measure to ensure a smooth transition of the business.

Two weeks ago we notified customers to start using the newly assigned telephone numbers:-

Admin Tel: 0844 815 5751

Support Tel: 0844 815 5752

FAX: 01476 567716

Hopefully these will switch smoothly at the end of business on 13th March from the Stamford office, so that the phones in Grantham become operational ready for Monday. The old Stamford telephone numbers will then provide an automated message explaining the new numbers are operational and that customers should use them.

For technical reasons (and depending on exactly when BT action the switchover) there is a slight possibility the new numbers might not connect immediately and will be unavailable for approximately two hours at the end of Friday. In the event you cannot get through to us and your call is important, please use the following emergency number: 07970 600780

On Monday all our staff will be settling in to the new office, and while we will do our best to maintain normal service to our customers, there may be minor disruptions so we would greatly appreciate your patience.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

The OPSIS Team

March 12th, 2009 | Category: OPSIS News, OPSIS Support | Print This Post | Email this Post | Leave a comment

OPSIS Moves To New Premises

OPSIS Stamford office will move to new Grantham premises

We are pleased to announce that OPSIS Practice Management Solutions Ltd UK office is moving from Stamford to larger premises in Grantham.

With effect from Monday 16th March 2009 we will be based at the following address:-

Summit House
Alma Park Road
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 9SP

Admin Tel: 0844 815 5751
Support Tel: 0844 815 5752
FAX: 01476 567716
DX: TBC

The above telephone numbers can be used with immediate effect.

Please update your records accordingly and ensure all future correspondence is sent to the Grantham address. The Ireland offices remain at their current locations in Dublin and Belfast.

Watch out for the new OPSIS Web Site coming soon!

February 26th, 2009 | Category: OPSIS News | Print This Post | Email this Post | Leave a comment

NEW Telephone Numbers UK Office

With immediate effect please use the following local rate telephone numbers when contacting the OPSIS offices in England (UK):-

Sales & Admin: 0844 815 5751

Helpdesk/Support: 0844 815 5752

The existing telephone numbers (Sales/Admin 01780 764947 and Support 01780 766300) will remain active for a short period to enable a seamless transition to the new numbers.

Precedent Customisation guide updated for SCM V5.4

Solicitor Case Manager

A new version of the Precedent Customisation guide to coincide with Solicitor Case Manager V5.4 is now available from the Case Manager Resources page.

Use this guide learn how to add, copy and modify items in your Precedent Library so that they reflect how your practice works. Once correctly set up, your precedents will dramatically reduce the amount of time spent on typing. The aim is to eventually automate the system whereby documents brought into cases will require minimal, if any typing.

Millennium Rel V5.73.1 - February Legal Aid LSC Changes

Millennium Accounts V5.73.1

As you are probably aware, the Legal Services Commission has made minor changes to Legal Aid CDS and Claims Forms. You will probably have received notification of this directly from the LSC (OPSIS are not responsible for supplying this information).

The Millennium Accounts release of 5.73.1 primarily contains new reports and miscellaneous new features. It does, however, also include some Legal Aid changes.

Below is the relevant information from the release notes:

Legal Aid Enhancements:

Some late form changes have been made by the Legal Services Commission:

·	The CDS7 template “Non-Standard Fee Contract Work Assessment Form” has had page 4 updated with the latest LSC guidance notes.

·	The FR1 template has been updated to version 8 October 2008 and has had all reference to civil files removed from the form as they are no longer valid.

Police Station Schemes:

·	From December 2008 you will now see the Fixed Fees & Escape Fees for Police Station Schemes with 15% VAT.

Legal Aid Billing:

When billing Tailored Fixed Fees (TFF) Replacement bills the fixed fee, recorded against the matter type, is increased by any non-counsel disbursements entered. You will now see both values onscreen during billing. The recorded fixed fee/tolerance fee (as entered on the matter type) is shown in the Recorded column and the increased fee is shown in the Total column.

·	Fixed fee values, entered against the matter type, for TFF Replacement bills are now also increased by any non-counsel future disbursements entered during bill posting.

The Legal Services Commission should have already notified providers of the form changes. Please refer to the LSC website or contact the LSC directly for the most up to date information.

For more information, release notes and downloads of the latest software go to our website Legal Aid Announcement support page.

OPSIS Christmas Support Cover

During the Christmas 2008 and New Year holiday the OPSIS Support/HelpDesk will operate on a reduced support team cover from the hours of 10.00am to 4.00pm on Monday 29th to Wednesday 31st December.

The Helpdesk will close at 4.00pm on Wednesday 24th December, and remain closed all day on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

If a major problem should arise out of these hours then the following mobile number can be used,
although this is strictly for emergency use only: +44(0)780 2520021

Christmas Cheer

The Helpdesk answerphone message will also be changed, explaining the above too.

May we take this opportunity to wish you a
Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2009

Best Wishes
OPSIS Support Team

Arctic Fox

Solicitor Case Manager V5.4.2 Released

Version 5.4.2 of Solicitor Case Manager has been released and is accompanied by some new release notes available from the Documentation area of the website.

Changes affect:-

Marketing Module Campaigns
Marketing Module Search Criteria
Marketing Module Mailing Labels
Some bug fixes

There is also a new version available of the Case Activities User Guide V5.4

This guide provides details of the OPSIS Outlook Toolbar, and case-related activities: Tasks, Appointments, Diary Manager, Case Emails, Telephone Messages, Contacts and Hearings.

Solicitor Case Manager UK VAT Rate change 1/12/2008

Solicitor Case Manager - UK VAT RATE CHANGES - December 1st 2008

As posted previously on our blog the Chancellor, Alistair Darling has announced the Governments pre-budget report for 2008.

Due to the change in VAT announced, you will need to adjust the standard VAT rate in Solicitor Case Manager. If you have Precedents and Case Details (ud fields) which automatically calculates the VAT it is necessary for both of these areas to be amended.

A PDF document detailing how to change the VAT Rates in SCM’s Precedents and UD Fieldds has been created for your convenience.

Click here for Solicitor Case Manager’s UK VAT Rate Change document ( 111kb PDF format)

Please contact our Support team if you require any further assistance with this.

To review the pre-budget report in full, please go to this weblink:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/24_11_08_pbr_completereport.pdf

Millennium Accounts UK VAT Rate Change - 1st December 2008

You may have heard that the Chancellor, Alistair Darling has announced the Governments pre-budget report for 2008.

Over the past year, major shocks have hit the economies of every country in the world. While commodity prices have recently eased, the credit shock has intensified into the worst global financial crisis for generations, a crisis that is being addressed by a global policy response of unprecedented scale and scope.

These developments mean economic prospects are subject to exceptional uncertainty, but it is clear that the UK, like many advanced economies, has moved into recession. Asset markets and the financial sector have been severely affected, with persistent implications for the public finances. The economic and fiscal climate is exceptionally challenging, but because of the macroeconomic framework introduced in 1997 the UK is facing these shocks from a solid foundation.

The Government remains committed to the macroeconomic framework and the objectives enshrined within it. Credible medium-term objectives and mechanisms for short-term flexibility mean that the Bank of England and the Government can deliver the necessary support to the economy without compromising their respective commitments to low inflation and sound public finances. The Government’s immediate priority is to continue to support the economy through these difficult times.

This Pre-Budget Report announces that the Government will support families and businesses, including by cutting Value Added Tax (VAT) from 17.5% to 15% for 13 months, from 1 December 2008.

Due to the change in VAT announced, you will need to adjust the standard VAT rate in Millennium Accounts.

Before you make any such change in Millennium Accounts, ensure that all of your postings in the current period which have the standard VAT rate of 17.5% applied to them are posted.

A PDF document detailing the change to VAT Codes has been created for your convenience.

Click here for UK VAT Rate Change document ( 56kb PDF format)

Please contact our Support team if you require any further assistance with this.

To review the pre-budget report in full, please go to this weblink:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/24_11_08_pbr_completereport.pdf

OPSIS News & Info

Millennium Rel V5.74.1 - March Legal Aid LSC changes

Important Notice: Phone Calls / Office Move

OPSIS Office Move for Monday 16th March 2009