When it comes to case management software, the issues facing law firms are probably more complex than with any other form of legal profession technology.

Yes, you do still want the best system, for the best price from a supplier you believe you can rely on, but you also need to take into account other factors.

For example, what are your priorities?

Is the main objective to assist your existing fee-earners with the way they handle some aspects of relatively low volumes of similar-type matters, such as residential conveyancing, debt recovery and personal injury claims? Or, are you planning to set up departments that will specialise in high volume, low margin work, such as the conveyancing 'factories' some firms now run, where the process is heavily automated and most of the staff are not legally qualified?

Both are perfectly legitimate business models but in the case of the former, you will probably be best suited by whatever case management software your present (or prospective) accounts and practice management system (PMS) supplier can offer.

Almost all the vendors listed in the current edition of the Law Society's Software Solutions Guide can also supply case management systems or 'modules' to complement their PMS software.

With the latter option - where case management is going to be mission critical to the future of your practice - your priority will be selecting the best case management system for the job and then looking for a practice management system that can support it.

A further permutation here - which we will look next time - is that a growing number of suppliers now also support what is called 'best of breed', so you can pick and mix between accounts and case management products from different suppliers.

Another issue to consider with case management is whether to go for an off-the-shelf product or a bespoke package?

Case management suppliers currently offer a range of almost ready-to-run applications covering most areas of legal practice.

However, in addition, most can also offer a generic or developer toolkit version of the software that firms can then customise to their specific requirements on a DIY basis.

The danger is that too many firms are tempted by the latter option, thinking it is better to have a system they hope will do 100% of what they want in the future, rather than maybe just 80% now with the off-the-shelf option.

Unfortunately, unless you have experienced case management system developers working on the project, the DIY option can - and does - often drag on for years, all the while distracting your lawyers from their real job of fee earning.

Charles Christian is an independent adviser to the Law Society's Software Solutions Guide