Customer Reviews

Hotdocs in One Hour for Lawyers

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

On the one hand, it's an excellent introduction to HotDocs: clear, concise, easy to follow, and not boring. On the other hand, it merely scratches the surface of what HotDocs can do, and seems written more to the end-user than anyone who wants to develop templates with it, which is where the power of HotDocs can really shine. I've gone through it twice now, and while I appreciate what it does, it's also fairly limited: you're left feeling more conversant with HotDocs than you probably should be; because when you try to write templates, you won't know enough to. (For that, hook up with the tutorial that comes with the software or find a consultant or trainer). There's a GREAT section at the back of the book where Bruce Miller gives the new HotDocs user advice about how to approach automating his or her practice. But as many others have pointed out, weighing in at a mere 5 oz., this book, like sushi, is high priced by volume. For an hour of time to learn about the material, though, with someone like Miller who knows it, it's probably a good value.

I searched for this book in bookstores and libraries to justify the expense. The only place I could locate it was the law library of the U I'm attending. After reading other reviews and sceptic that I am, I checked it out to see whether it is a worthwhile investment. Since I had already created a couple templates on my own without any training or advice whatsoever, I found nothing in this book to enhance what I already know, and concluded it is not a value for my situation; however, for someone with little technical skill or technical understanding it is.

About three weeks ago we purchased two copies of Hot Docs for myself and a summer law clerk that we hired just to go through all of our corporate forms, and put them into order, and then create templates. We also then purchased Hot Docs for every employee of the Firm, because we had to order in able to run the new case management software we purchased, as well. I was quite interested in reading this book, and determining whether it was valuable for my employees in learning the program.

I had already spent a little time going through the tutorial that comes with the program a couple of weeks prior to getting the book. However, the tutorial and the manual sent by the company is not practical. My employees simply do not have the time to sit down and run through the whole huge manual. Time is money in my business. I read through the book with my lap top. It took a little over an hour to complete the whole thing. However, I imagine that I was slowed down because I did not plug in a hand mouse (and was stuck using the tiny pointer in the middle of the key board). The ABA tutorial files referenced in the book come with the software, and are very helpful in use of the book.

Generally, I found the book much easier to work through than the large manual that comes with the software. Very clear writing, I thought. I think that the book is a winner. A firm like mine, with 40 new users of the software, should be interested in buying this book. It is reasonably priced, and simple to use. Its purpose, to give the reader a basic and quick understanding of the software in a very short period of time, is achieved. More advanced functions of the program can then be learned through use of the technical vendor manual.

I knew I was in trouble when I realized the "book" was less than a quarter inch thick. In fact, you get less than the tutorial section that's included *free* with every copy of HotDocs.

This book is really good for just getting the most basic functions out of the way. However, don't expect to be able to do much more that the most basic functions, and, by all means, don't throw away your big manual. The price was exorbitant for such a thin book!