Final Exam

Law Office Management and Technology

Fall 2005

If you are reading this, you are about to be locked in mortal combat with your own fear not to mention the subject matter of this course. Your palms are clammy. Perspiration drips in rivulets from your forehead and burns your eyes with a salty bite. The Bic pen given you by your aunt slips in your fingers. You grip the pen harder wishing she had given you a Parker. Greenish white blotches appear under your nails as the blood drains from your fingertips. The veins in your temples pulsate and you think you may be having a stroke. You are reassured however by the thought of your kindly professor smiling benevolently and you make a mental note to buy his next book no matter how boring it may be - maybe two or more to give as holiday gifts to your friends and family. You realize that the take home exam which is to follow is but a Zen-like challenge which will result in your personal evolution - maybe even fewer cycles on the Karmic wheel if you are successful. Not wanting to be reborn as a cockroach, you begin to read the instructions carefully.

You may use any resource except other human beings outside the class list. You may consult with each other as far as information only but not conclusions. Your conclusions must be your own. Recall from the midterm, that several pages per answer is expected. A few paragraphs will not help you much.

Answer the following questions. (Scores will be curved to account for point differences). Think broadly and try to integrate all the material from all parts of the class which will answer the questions.

4. (Worth 40 points) Still with me? Explain in prose (it better be very explicit prose) or with a well executed spreadsheet how you would create a what-if scenario with the following factors:

Partners (2)	Associates (4)	Paralegals (2)	Secretaries (2)
benefits=1200 monthly	benefits=1000 monthly	benefits=750 monthly	benefits=700 monthly
salary=12,000 and 10,000	salary=avg 5000	salary=avg 3500	salary=avg 3000
square ft per partner=200	square ft per assoc.=150	square ft per para=120	square ft per sec=70
income per partner avg=15000/month	income per assoc=9000/month	income per paralegal=6000/month	income per secretary=000/month
overall expenses for the firm=18000/month except rent	Figure rents based upon different assumptions

a. Create a recapture program for expenses. List four profit centers or areas of recapture and suggest how it can be accomplished.

b. Suggest what you would change to affect profit.

5. (Worth 30 points) List and explain the benefits of CALR/ELR, CD ROM, and Internet use? What rules would you create to keep costs low? What rules would you apply to your firm for use of LEXIS?

6. (Worth 30 points) You are on the home stretch. Explain fully the difference between decentralized and centralized timebilling? Design a simple client invoice for an hourly client identifying each entry on the sheet (ie timekeeper). Be sure to assume that expenses occurred as well as 6 categories of events.

Have a Happy Hannuka, Merry Christmas, Great Ramadan, Wonderful Kwanza