time tracking software?

[ATP]

My use of the archives turned up nothing on the subject.

Can anyone out there tell me if they

i) track their time for all articles and such projects, and;

ii) if so, do you use the aid of time tracking software?

Thanks,

ATP

[Cathy C]

I don't, but there are some really good legal time software programs out there, but they're pretty expensive. Attorneys track every minute, and the user can select how to track, from half an hour to a quarter all the way to a tenth of an hour (6 minutes -- about the time it takes to open a file and read a one page letter). You can enter each article as the "client" and it'll track phone calls, writing time and pretty much anything you need. The one that our attorneys liked the best is called "TimeSlips". We ended up changing to a more integrated system that tied in with billing and year end reports, but TimeSlips is perfectly adequate to do what you're thinking. Older versions don't have all the bells and whistles that attorneys need, which might be better for you, and you can buy them cheaper. You can check out the company's free demo here (http://www.timeslips.com/products/signup.asp) and see if it's sort of what you're looking for. Then check out somewhere like Ebay or used software stores for an older version. You can also Google "attorney time management software" and you'll find lots of different versions. I don't recommend Amicus, though. It's VERY difficult to use. TimeSlips is a TSR that you can pop-up with a single keystroke, making it easy to manage when you're typing or on the phone.


Good luck! :D