The selection of a case management system is potentially a more complex process than for other forms of legal technology because there are so many different permutations and issues to consider (see [2003] Gazette, 25 September, 11).

This also follows through to the type of supplier you are dealing with.

Typically, these can be broken down into suppliers of integrated solutions, suppliers of stand-alone solutions and suppliers of 'best of breed' solutions, although to confuse matters further some suppliers' products may fall into more than one of these categories.

For the vast majority of practices in this country - and particularly high street and smaller firms with little or no in-house IT staff resources - what will best meet their needs is the appropriate integrated solution.

By appropriate, I mean a system that best reflects the firm's priorities and whether computerised case management is going to be a core or secondary aspect of their IT and practice development strategy.

As the name implies, an integrated solution is a system in which the accounts and case management elements are either an integral part of the same product or else the case management is an easy to add extra.

However, the fundamental feature of integrated systems is that there should be a common client/matter database, so if information is changed in one part of the system, it automatically updates all other records relating to that particular client or matter.

This means you should avoid the problem of the cashiers department sending bills to the wrong address because a fee-earner has not passed on details of a change or someone else has entered an incorrect postcode.

When it comes to selecting an integrated system, solicitors are spoilt for choice.

Along with almost every supplier listed in the current edition of the Law Society's Software Solutions Guide, most of the well-established legal systems suppliers - including Carydan (07000 426649), Civica (0121 359 4861), Linetime (0113 250 0020), Norwel (0161 945 3511), Pilgrim Systems (0131 555 9700), Pracctice (0870 443 6300), TFB (01489 609010), and Timeslice (020 7231 0073) - also offer case management as an integrated part of their accounts and practice management solutions.

We will look at some of the suppliers of stand-alone and best of breed systems next time.

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