I LOVE MY NEEDLES BECAUSE...

You may be aware of the fact that our company recently sponsored a contest. The idea was to finish the statement, "I Love My Needles Because...". What started out as kind of a joke around the office truly turned into a wonderful and exciting monster when we received close to 200 entries! The quality and enthusiasm of the comments amazed us, and choosing the winners was nearly impossible. Below, please find a list of Honorable Mentions, as well as the top 5 entries to the contest. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit!

Honorable Mentions

• Nancy Ortega of the Crosse Law Office PC
• Michael Hoffman of Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo LLP
• David Daggett of Lewis & Daggett PA
• Susan Maruca of Betras, Maruca & Kopp
• Nancy Pavon of Frank D’Amico, Jr., APLC
• Faith Earley of the Morrissey Law Firm
• Tracie Root of Bart Durham Injury & Accident Law Offices
• Kathryn Forbes Tuttle of Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, et al
• Paul McGuffey of the Law Offices of Paul McGuffey
• Barbara Costello of L. Long Lawyers
• Maureen O’Toole of Eden, Tolins & Rafferty
• Vincent Nesci of Nesci Keane
• Victoria Leath, R.N. of Nurenberg Plevin Heller McCarthy, Co LPA
• Donna Lee Weaver of Keller & Keller
• Karlene Tyghter of the Law Office of Graham Woods PL
• Vickie Farmer of Crumley & Associates
• John Mathis of Medical Reimbursements of America
• Bill Morrissey of Morrissey Law Offices
• Melody Pena of Catania & Catania
• Linda Rodriguez of Thomas E. Downs, IV, PA
• Stacy Ashworth of Crumley & Associates
• Steven Cooper of Steven M. Cooper Law Offices
• Nick Enslinger of Hutton & Hutton
• Betty Taylor of the Alexander Law Firm
• Christopher Shifflett of Mithoff & Jacks LLP
• Laura Schatke of Franklin D. Azar & Associates PC
• Kelly Hall of Hurst, Brumback & Brusic
• Cyndi Crocker of Hughes & Coleman
• Mary Jo Jerkins of Thomas C. Saunders PC
• Judi Jackson of the Kosieradzki Smith Law Firm, LLC
• Blake Dickson of Dickson, Campbell & Freeman LLC
• Phyllis Meloff of Larry Pitt & Associates
• Diana Orozco of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder
• Eileen Alberto of Shor, Levin & DeRita PA
• Annette L. Zrowka of Munley, Munley & Cartwright
• Elizabeth Vogelsong of the Law Offices of Daniel E. Rosner
• Paulette Waltz of the Nunn Law Office
• Rebecca McCauley of Medical Reimbursements of America
• Phil Balli of the Rad Law Firm
• Meda Hemelt of Frank J. D’Amico, Jr., PLC
• Kurt Young of the Law Offices of Kurt Young
• Doris Pate of Joseph Smith, Ltd.
• Diane Schaeffer of Robert E. McCann & Associates PC
• Cindy Mark-Conley of Stark & Stark
• Deborah Rowe of The Sutter Law Firm
• Geri Kjome of Law Offices of Lowell Stanley
• Theresa P. Laryea of Carter Mario Injury Lawyers
• Daniel Rosner of the Law Offices of Daniel E. Rosner
• Stuart Garson of Rockefeller Management
• Evan Harris of the Harris Law Office

I Love My Needles Because

"...Needles is a must for any law firm. You can hire the best legal assistant in the state, but without Needles, you will not be doing justice to her, your law firm, or your clients. Needles is so sophisticated, it will quickly become your best friend. Someone once said that everything shifts and changes with time. Sometimes things start out one way and become something else down the road. I’ve traveled that road and I’m so happy about the changes that have taken place with time.

Among all the wonderful things that have made my life complete, Needles is definitely amongst the top 10. If we have to work for a living, why not have something that we love to use that also makes our work easier. I’m serious about this program. I will not work for an attorney who does not have Needles. It’s that awesome.

I love my Needles because....

 It is all encompassing. It can be set up to give you reports on a daily, weekly or monthly basis so that you will always be on top of your cases, as well as your staff. Yes, that’s right. You can go into Needles and actually see how productive your staff is. You can make sure your clients are not being ignored, which is one of the biggest pet peeves a client can have. Needles gives you complete control over project and workflow management.

I love my Needles because...

You will never miss a deadline, or a Statute of Limitation. Needles has a calendar and a checklist system like none other. It can work for you as is, or you can customize it to work for you in a way that you would like all your office personnel to use.

The reports are so important and I cannot say enough how valuable they will be. These reports will help your firm to thrive. Yes, I said thrive. The standard reports include monthly statements, checklist summaries, history and referring reports. The tracking system is flawless. Case expenses can be tracked by these reports; case notes can be tracked; liens can be tracked. Needles can track anything you want.

I also love Needles because...

As we are progressing more and more into a "paperless" world, Needles is a must have. You can write notes and keep them in each and every case. Needles will automatically date the note as well as enter the author’s name. This particular part of Needles is loved by every new person I have trained. Needles will furnish you a Manual which is self-explanatory and very user friendly. The corporate office is also very user friendly. Should you ever need to speak to a technician, you will find them very helpful and courteous. I felt I was driving them nuts at one point, but no one intimidated me or made me feel uneducated. They are all so helpful.

I also love Needles because ...

it is the foundation that every single firm should have. Needles has the ability to be used as a Customer Relationship Manager. I made a tab so that I can gather information and report on the satisfaction of my clients. The results in gathering such information will be invaluable in determining areas of strengths and weaknesses in your client’s database. How awesome is that?

I love Needles because ...

your office will always be kept in the corporate loop. You will get a Sidebar (newsletter) occasionally which will give you all kinds of information, introducing new people at Chesapeake, Needles hints, new Needles users, and all kinds of goodies. Your firm will also be privy to User Group Meetings throughout the year, free of charge because you have Needles. There’s also Internet training which is a super way to get quick, inexpensive training.

I cannot sing the praises of Needles enough. I am one of the biggest supporters of Needles software because I look back in time and wonder how on earth I streamlined cases without it."

Fifth Place Winner

Nadine Salazar
Peebles Law Firm
Winston-Salem, NC
(336) 723-7361

I Love My Needles Because

"...It has brought a new sense of purpose and excitement to our firm. We implemented Needles in conjunction with a new marketing campaign to assist us in dealing with an anticipated high call volume. Thank goodness we did!

Needles has allowed us to streamline our intake process through the use of customized Intake screens. Our intake staff is able to obtain the pertinent information regarding a client’s accident and injuries and our attorneys are then able to review the intake prior to speaking with the client. This creates an extremely favorable impression with the potential client, because they are then speaking with an attorney who is familiar with their case facts and who can anticipate and answer their questions with confidence, putting the potential client at ease.

Needles provides our staff and attorneys with immediate access to our clients’ case information, enabling us to deal with all types of client inquiries in an efficient and timely manner.   Needles’ checklist system has increased our staff’s efficiency in moving a case through the review process and to conclusion. It has also enabled us to have immediate access to Statute of Limitations deadlines stored in a central location.

We have just begun implementation of form documents, both Word and PDF, and have found the process to be very slick. We are able to quickly generate client welcome letters, rejection letters and fee agreements. We are using the Social Security forms and have even coded our very first PDF form requesting a State Police Accident Report.

As the IT Administrator for the firm, Needles has provided me with a renewed sense of purpose. It has stimulated my creative energies in the design and setup of custom case and intake screens, as well as coding form documents. I am getting ready to undertake training for Report Writing which is very exciting. Learning Needles inside and out has broadened my horizons and made me a better resource for the firm."

Fourth Place Winner

Sharon Rudy
Metzger Wickersham
Harrisburg, PA
(717) 238-8187

I Love My Needles Because

"...It seems like yesterday there was a "splinter in my mind." I felt in many ways like a moving target. After years of successfully practicing law, I knew it was what you don’t know that can hurt you. Sheer volume can haunt you. Although I was always conscientious and diligent, there were persistent nagging concerns about deadlines, times, events, messages, court filings, client communication, information management, marketing and a multitude of other apprehensions. To be successful requires more than experience, commitment, and determination. I had software to help me, but there was still that "splinter." I hoped there could be a better way. There had to be a solution.

My venture began. Searching for the right answer, I read, researched, studied, and did extensive homework. I then came across a pleasant fellow named Burt. He was cordial and talked a good game, but could he "walk the walk"? I was never an easy sell. Everyone knows being a good lawyer requires skepticism. I needed to consider all the angles-functionality, service, technical support, cost. I tested him. I was the judge and jury; he had the burden of proof-proof beyond a reasonable doubt. For the six months the trial continued, he smilingly presented his case. He was a skilled advocate. I visited his office, talked to his witnesses-(staff), and tested the product with my cynical expectations. He rested. The evidence was impressive. I carefully deliberated, and in the end, had no doubt. Now, almost ten years after my favorable verdict, I feel a bit guilty being so tough on Burt and his staff; but feel worse in not purchasing Needles sooner.

At a minimum, Needles is a beloved dynamic component of my law firm. Except for not making me coffee, it never forgets. Calendars and checklist unfailingly remind me of all those when, where and hows. Its notes/diary abidingly reminds me of the whats and the particulars of each case. Needles dependably keeps my office organized. It flexibly allows me to implement my game plans. I am able to give focused and special attention to each matter. At the touch of a button, all case information is there, saving time and effort, impressing clients and making work and life much easier. With the right tools, practicing law continues to be productive, profitable, and enjoyable.

Importantly, Burt and his able staff are smart, knowledgeable, friendly and dependable. They are trusted and highly regarded. Their technical help and training has been exemplary. They have always been responsive. When I asked if Needles could be put on a notebook for travel, home or court usage, they attentively listened and skillfully performed. Today, my notebook computer allows me to have all case information available to me anytime, anyplace, anywhere.

Do I love Needles? Yes, and I have only counted a few of the ways. Needles is a remarkable and dynamic product. It continues to evolve to meet new challenges. My only concern is that one day it will evolve to replace me. For now, thanks guys/gals, no more "splinters." Life is good."

Third Place Winner

Larry King
Law Offices of Larry King
Newport News, VA
(757) 595-8100

I Love My Needles Because

"...How do I love my Needles? Let me count the ways...

Could I love Needles the most because of the ability to customize? Perhaps. After all, with the ability to customize, we have made Needles our very own. It was as if we went out and hired our own programmer, told that person our dreams and visions of running a volume injury practice but wanting to maintain efficiency, quality work product and excellent client service. It was as if that programmer then went out and spent months or years creating this program for us, dropped it into our firm, and it ran perfectly with no bugs. That is what Needles customization did for our firm. Prior to our installation, we spent an entire month just plotting out our customization, trying to serve every dream we ever had about a case management system. It was the best 30 days we spent on our practice because the level of efficiency we have gained from our own customized version of Needles has launched us into a realm of practice we never thought possible. Who would have thought we would have customized case types for auto accidents, worker’s comp, social security, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, mass torts, etc.

Now, customization is important, but is that really why I love my Needles? Maybe I love Needles the most because of the reports that can be generated? Needles reports, user defined reports... it’s the stuff dreams are made of for a firm that keeps statistics on practically everything except how often our employees use the rest room (and we could create a report for that if we wanted!) I mean, come on... with the click of a button I can get reports that:  

• organize all outstanding medical records requests either by client or provider making follow up phone calls a breeze.
• tell me how long it takes my PI lawyers to send out initial notices to the insurance adjusters or send out a brochure from the date their clients are released from treatment.
• tell me how long it takes my WC lawyers to get a case accepted, file a F33 after the claim has been denied, or how long it takes the case to get to mediation.
• tell me how long it takes my litigation attorneys to get the lawsuit filed from the date the case was impassed in negotiations.
• ensure the clients are called every 30 days whether they need it or not.
• track my medpay submissions, receipts and disbursements.
• track whether I received photographs in the case.

...And I could go on and on about the 68 user defined reports we have created and depend upon to make our practice run as smoothly as it does.   Yes, Customization and Reports are two very important things I love about my Needles. I would go as far as to say those are two of the most important things. But, when thinking about what I really love about Needles, there is one thing that does stand out above all the rest. It has nothing to do with the mechanics of the program. It doesn’t even have a thing to do with the technical aspects that drive Needles. It comes down to one simple thing that Needles has that many, many other businesses do not have, and it is a major reason why we purchased Needles.

I love my Needles because of the CLIENT SERVICE they offer to us. When our firm was founded 7 years ago, we made a pledge to build a firm based on Client Service first. It was a unique concept that, to this date, we have not seen any other firm do in North Carolina. It was based on five very simple rules that we insisted all of our attorneys and staff follow:

1. The attorney always talks to the client when they call in; no hiding behind your paralegal.
2. All calls are returned same day before you go home.
3. Exercise the Golden Rule – treat others the way you wish to be treated.
4. Talk to your client every 30 days, whether they need it or not.
5. Speak with a smile on your face.

As you can see, Client Service is important to our firm. It is a rare quality for a business to possess the desire to truly want to make their clients feel valued and respected. If our attorneys or staff do not buy into client service values, they no longer have a place in our firm. I knew Needles had good client service skills from the very first time I met Rich Paresky in Vegas. Rich didn’t have to resort to high pressure sales pitches, but rather just showed me the fundamentals of Needles which sold itself. Before we came to an ultimate conclusion whether or not to buy Needles, Rich would check in every once in a blue moon with me just to see how I was doing and if we had any questions. When we finally decided to buy Needles, we worked hand in hand with Lonnie Wright for implementation. While our first inclination was to try and steal her away from Needles, we soon found out that we would never be as well versed in Needles without Lonnie’s training. After spending a full week with just three of us in our firm, Lonnie was able to teach us the inner workings of Needles, customize most of our case types and checklists and start teaching others how to use Needles.

Finally, after we customized, trained and installed, I got the biggest Client Service shocker of my business career to date. I came back from lunch one day to find that I had a voice mail from none other than Burt Bank. It was a long voice mail and while I can’t recall the exact specifics, he was just letting me know how glad he was to welcome our firm to the Needles family, he was so excited to be partnered with us in the future, and if there was ever anything he or the company could do for us, just to let him know. I was so impressed the President of Chesapeake Interlink would bother to call us, just to let us know he appreciated our business with him, I made everyone come into my office and listen to the voice mail. "That", I told them, "is what customer service is all about". I even saved the voice mail until my partner got back from out of state to listen to it. I know that probably sounds insignificant to a business such as yours, that is grounded in the basic principles of client service, but as a business person who has to deal with other businesses in both my personal and professional life, I can tell you that true client service is hard to find. It is a characteristic that we recognize in our own firm, and thus can appreciate it even more because we know that it does take effort to make your clients happy. The client service, of course, does not stop there. Any time we have had a problem with Needles, or a question (dumb or otherwise), the technical support folks have been just super!!! They are always responsive, nice and easy to deal with. If they don’t know the answer, they get it for us. We are never made to feel as if we are an imposition.   So, in closing, it would be very easy for me to extol the virtues of all of the wonderful bells and whistles that Needles gives our firm, but it is the Client Service aspect that you have created that keeps us continually enjoying your product, even after the shine of the new system wore off. While we tend to take for granted now all of the wonderful things that Needles does for our practice, we never forget what sets you apart from the others... treating your clients well."

Second Place Winner

Beth Leone
Hardison & Leone LLP
Raleigh, NC
(919) 829-0449

I Love My Needles Because

"...It allows me to sleep at night! Needles enables me to run a 30 -attorney Personal Injury & Workers Compensation practice, employing 30 paralegals and 30+ staff members, in 3 locations in 2 states, with ease. I have the confidence of having all the management statistics at my fingertips, in as many configurations as imagination allows, as well as the ability to insure that our practices and procedures are uniform throughout the offices. Needles allows me to monitor important issues, including statutes of limitations, workload allocation, checklist compliance and speed of compliance, average case life, average settlement value and overall productivity. We have a significant referral practice, and Needles allows me to maintain a tight rein on both "referred out" and "referred in" cases. Annual Needles training from a certified trainer keeps our staff sharp and keeps our utilization of the program at a very high level. We interface our Needles data with Harvard Graphics to create a monthly Case Management Report that I have shown at a number of conferences, and it never fails to amaze others when they see it. I am the Co-Managing Partner of this 95+ attorney law firm, and Needles is simply the most important management instrument/tool in my arsenal. We turned the key to start PINS on March 17, 1990, and that's a date that I'll never forget. I would never have considered expanding our practice into another state, or opening additional offices, without Needles. Our law firm, our Personal Injury practice, and our profits and productivity have grown greatly, thanks to Chesapeake Interlink, and I'm sleeping through the night! Needles - I love you!"

First Place Winner

John Sakson
Stark & Stark
Lawrenceville, NJ
(609) 896-9060