Small firms wanting to buy computer systems or upgrade what they already have will soon be able to buy the 'High street starter kit' (HSSK) from the Law Society.

The kit is both a scheme to help firms install and use the technology and a package of hardware and software.The Society has developed the kit because it believes that many high street solicitors are frightened of computers and do not have the time or skills to select and set them up.

Over 800 enquiries a year are made to the Society from solicitors who want recommendations on software, but staff in Chancery Lane's information technology unit believe that the market does not adequately meet small high street firms' needs for affordable programmes which handle case management, accounts and time recording.Robin ap Cynan, chairman of the Society's practice development committee and its IT sub-committee, says: 'Research shows that there doesn't seem to be any straightforward way in which solicitors can find out what's right for them.

The HSSK is a one-stop shop where they can have their hands held from the beginning to the end of the IT buying process.'The results of a study carried out for the Society in February 1995 by Total Press Research (TPR) were another reason for the development of the kit.

For this, 16 solicitors from south-west London were split into two groups -- one for small firms and one for firms with four or more partners -- to hold 90-minute panel discussions.

TPR found that none of the solicitors who had approached the Society for help with IT was happy with the service they received.

At that time the Society had no in-house expertise on IT for the profession.

Christina Archbold has since been hired to fill the gap.TPR also found that small firms were worried that they would lose out to bigger, more wealthy practices as IT took over the working environment.

Some seriously questioned whether the drive to computerisation was a good thing for small firms.

Many thought a good secretary was far more valuable than a desk-top computer.

However, those few who already had computer systems said that they relied heavily on them.Another finding was that litigators benefited much more than conveyancers from on-line systems and the ability to bill their time accurately.

Conversely, conveyancers found case management systems more valuable than did litigators.

Solicitors acting for commercial clients were under more pressure from those clients to be computerised than those acting for private clients.Most of the 16 panel members had built up their computer systems in a piecemeal way.

One solicitor from a small practice said: 'The difficulty...is you start off with a word processor, then you get your accounts package, and there isn't the opportunity as you're building it up to have it integrated.

It's expensive then to change over.'The kit aims to solve this problem.

Firms will be offered a consultancy service and a site audit to find out what they need.

A package, which can include hardware, software, CD-ROM and a modem to link up to the Internet or Lawtel, will be delivered and installed.

Training will then be given on how to use it.An integrated software programme has been specially developed for the kit.

Centred around a database of clients, it combines accounts, time-recording, case management and word processing.

A Windows-based system has been designed to make the screen look like a solicitor's office.Ms Archbold explains: 'Every time you go in to write a letter to a client the computer will tell you whether they've paid you, whether you're coming up against a budget, whether the Legal Aid Board owes you money.

You can record the time which you spend on their matter.

You can draw up a client bill.

You don't have to move between applications; it's integrated to mirror the way you work as a lawyer.'Another feature is a diary and scheduling.

The computer will flash messages if a document is due in to court or a client is about to go overdrawn.

Practice management standards will also be built into the software.

Mr ap Cynan hopes that the software will be able to advise firms on aspects of PMS, for example, designing a business plan.The kit should cost between £2000 and £4000 per user, says Mr ap Cynan.

Once the package is fully operational, interested solicitors will be given a firm quotation.

No decision has yet been taken on whether solicitors will be able to pick and choose what they want from the kit -- buying, for example, the software and leaving out consultancy and training.

'Part of the pastoral function is to inform or advise firms that they may need the full package because otherwise they may waste what they buy,' says Mr ap Cynan.The kit should be available by the turn of the year.

A pilot scheme is being run from this summer.

Janet MacMillan of the MacMillan partnership is taking part in the pilot.

'It's set up very logically and to a lawyer's mind it is easy to follow,' she says.The Sole Practitioners Group (SPG) will see a demonstr ation of the software next week.SPG chair John Limbury says: 'If it's as good as we've been told in advance it will be extremely interesting to many sole practitioners.'