gI_132390_velawsity logoIn what is getting to be an increasingly crowded field, another cloud-based practice management platform launched this week. The latest entrant, Velawsity, joins the ranks of Clio, Rocket MatterMyCaseLexisNexis Firm Manager, Thomson Reuters Firm Central, and others.

So why does a crowded field need to get any more crowded? The press release announcing Velawsity’s launch describes it as “unique” and goes on to explain:

Velawsity has its sights on a rather specific inefficiency in the practice of law encountered by a growing number of sole practitioners. The technology is focused on the intelligent manipulation of critical data to render the amount of time an attorney must spend on routine, non-billable — albeit necessary — tasks almost negligible.

Designed by a team of lawyers, the cloud-based software is engineered to boost lawyer efficiency, encourage compliance and simplify attorney-client communication. The flagship version of the product features digital engagement, cloud-based conflict checking and seamless attorney-client communication modules.

I have not tried Velawsity, which is still in beta, but as best as I can determine from its website, that last sentence of the above excerpt is where it is most trying to distinguish itself from other platforms — with its digital engagement, conflict-checking and communication features.

When a new client comes in, Velawsity runs a conflicts check against all your existing clients, relationships and matters. If the new client clears the conflicts check, then Velawsity automatically sends out an engagement letter by email. It also automatically opens a new matter for that client and enables a private attorney-client communications gateway. The gateway, the website says, makes client communications “as simple as text messaging.”

According to its website, Velawsity also includes the ability to create letter templates and automatically populate them with client information.

No one of these features is unique. Several platforms have document assembly or even word processing built in. LexisNexis Firm Manager has conflict checking. MyCase has a client portal and direct messaging with clients.

Velawsity appears not to have a time and billing component, which, again, most of the other platforms have, in one form or another.

The cost of Velawsity is $30 a month.

So do we need another entrant in an already crowded field? Having not tried it, and with it still in beta, I’ll reserve judgment. But I will say this: Not only are there already a number of cloud practice-management platforms, but several of those that are already available are mature, well-developed and feature-rich. Anyone hoping to break into this market has to truly distinguish itself in some unique way.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.