Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors are an award-winning law firm specialising in Wills & Probate, Conveyancing, Family Law, Criminal Law, and Road Traffic Law. Established in Liverpool in 1821, the firm has 200 years of experience and offices across Liverpool, Maghull, Runcorn, and Warrington.

In addition to a wealth of experience across multiple areas of law, Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors are a progressive firm, keeping up to date with the latest legal technology to provide the best possible service for their clients.

The firm has had to overcome challenges arising from managing a large number of clients, enquiries, and an ever-increasing workload. Software like WillSuite has played a significant role in assisting the firm in overcoming these challenges, contributing to a more efficient workflow, decreasing drafting times, and enhancing case management synergy.

Challenges and the Implementation of WillSuite

In 2022, Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors sought a software solution for their private client department, specifically for drafting documents like Wills and LPAs, managing cases, and automating processes to increase overall efficiency.

The firm faced several challenges common in the industry:

• Drafting documents was time-consuming.
• Simple tasks like drafting letters, emailing clients, and other administrative tasks were manual processes.
• There was a risk of double data-entry errors.
• Insufficient time to spend with clients.

Recognising these challenges and having used Will Suite previously, the Head of Department contacted WillSuite via the website, and the firm was set up with a 14-day trial and a demonstration of the system's capabilities.

“Having used Will Suite previously, I was immediately impressed with the platform and the quality of the documents drafted and wanted to share this with the rest of the team.”

Since then, WillSuite has been an integral part of the private client department, helping to keep day-to-day operations efficient and organised while providing their clients with the best possible service.

“WillSuite is easy to use and the integration into our case management system allows for a streamlined process. The documents drafted are very client friendly and easy to understand without the need for complex legal jargon.”

How WillSuite Provided a Solution

WillSuite is a sophisticated system built for estate planning professionals, offering a long list of features and tools to maximise output and efficiency.

One significant challenge for Bell Lamb & Joynson was the workload involved with estate planning. The time required from taking a client on to sending the finished Will can vary dramatically depending on the client's circumstances. Therefore, a reliable, efficient, and consistent way to draft documents was essential for the firm.

Drafting documents on WillSuite is done using a questionnaire-based format

Bell Lamb & Joynson highlighted how WillSuite's approach to drafting addresses this need with a dynamic, questionnaire-based format for drafting all available documents.

• Dynamic Questionnaire: The system uses an intuitive and efficient questionnaire to draft documents. Users only answer questions relevant to the client, ensuring that any unanswered questions do not populate the document.
• Address Book: Add anyone into the client’s Will through the address book, meaning information only needs to be entered once, reducing the risk of data-entry errors.
• Real-Time Document Preview: Documents can be previewed in real-time, allowing for immediate verification and adjustments.
• Note Addition: Notes can be added as you progress through the questionnaire, ensuring all client-specific details are captured accurately.
• Efficient Drafting: The questionnaire can draft a document much more quickly and efficiently than using traditional precedents.
• Mirroring Documents: Drafted documents can be mirrored for a partner with a click of a button, streamlining the process for couples.

“The questionnaire within WillSuite has been great for the team and has created confidence in our more junior staff when it comes to Will drafting. The time spent drafting Wills has reduced by at least 50% across the team. There is no longer a need to locate a suitable precent or clause for a certain scenario as WillSuite already has it covered. If you are dealing with anything more bespoke WillSuite has the open to edit the Will directly so you always have that flexibility too.”

“The ability to produce mirrored documents in the click of a button has also been brilliant for us. Especially with LPA documents. We now have more time to see clients and this is shown by the growth across the department.” 

Conclusion

Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors' integration of WillSuite into their private client department has significantly improved their efficiency, reduced manual administrative tasks, and minimised the risk of errors caused by double-data entry. By embracing cutting-edge legal technology, the firm has been able to provide an enhanced level of service to their clients. The adoption of WillSuite reflects the firm’s commitment to innovation and excellence, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of the legal industry for years to come.