Turbocharge Your ProLaw^® Workflow: The Power of Abbreviations

In the fast-paced legal world, every second counts. But what if there was a simple way to instantly expand a few characters into a full phrase or even a paragraph? Enter the unsung hero of ProLaw^®: Abbreviations!

Why Use Abbreviations?

• Faster Data Entry: Less typing means more time for substantive work.
• Consistency: Ensure uniform phrasing for common tasks or client-specific requirements.
• Reduced Errors: Minimize typos by using predefined, spell-checked text.

Smart Tips for Creating Effective Abbreviations

• Mind Your Capitals: ProLaw^® automatically capitalizes the first letter if it appears at the beginning of a narrative or after a period.
• Steer Clear of Numbers: Numbers can inadvertently trigger expansions in notes fields.
• Avoid Common Acronyms: Don't use abbreviations that professionals already commonly employ.
• Beyond Narratives: Abbreviations are active in all notes fields — great for city/state combinations (e.g., "abqnm" for "Albuquerque, New Mexico").

Firm-Wide, User, and Matter-Level: Understanding the Hierarchy

Precedence order:

1. Matter Abbreviations
2. User Abbreviations (if no matter abbreviation exists)
3. Firm-Wide Abbreviations (if no user abbreviation exists)

Setting Up Your Abbreviations

1. Right-click anywhere on the Time Entry screen.
2. Select Preferences from the menu.
3. Click on the Abbreviations tab.
4. Click Add to the right of the list.
5. In the "Abbreviation" field, enter your shortcut (e.g., "clt").
6. In the "Text" field, enter the full phrase (e.g., "Contacted client regarding upcoming hearing.").
7. Click OK to save.