New Year, New Improvements
Welcome to Orion’s first “Happenings” of 2015! These publications are just for our Clients, to help you get the most out of your Orion software. 2014 was an exciting year for Orion, as we launched many new product modules (GL Live Financial Statements Module, Orion Visual Analytics Module, A/P Imaging Module) and made exciting upgrades to our existing software (Orion Version 4.6). We are looking forward to even more enhancements to Orion in 2015, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary!
In this Orion Happenings, the Support Corner articles focus on 1099 Form processing. Make sure to check those out below. If you have any further questions contact the Support Desk.
Schedule Your Firm Upgrade
Have you scheduled your upgrade yet? Orion Version 4.6 is ready to be launched at your firm. This update contains many new enhancements to your existing Orion software. Check out the informative video below highlighting some of the new features, and the link to the notes regarding this release.
Orion Version 4.6 Highlights Video
Release Notes
Make sure you contact the Support Desk now to schedule the day/time for your upgrade.
Law Firm Billing Gets Smart with Tech
by Sean Doherty of Law Technology News
“For law firms to get smart about bidding on work they need a legal management infrastructure with deep knowledge and understanding of their matters, staffing resources, billing rates and spending data. This knowledge infrastructure, or business intelligence, goes beyond a stand-alone matter management application to include historical and real-time information on billing rates, invoices and costs, and incorporates a facility to calculate alternative fee arrangements and use third-party data to compare law firm metrics to the larger legal industry…”
Read the entire article by clicking here.
Orion and Affinity Consulting Group
Affinity will be hosting their Worldox BootCamp in Atlanta, GA from February 23-24, 2015. You will receive intense training that will enable you to tap into the full power of your Worldox Document Management System.
Taught by Affinity’s own Greg Bray and Paul Unger, your instructors will detail everything from saving a simple document to creating security profiles and document retention plans. The course is great for new users, existing users who need a refresher course, or, to “Train your Trainer”. Accompanied by meticulous materials, you will go back to the office excited to unleash the full power of Worldox.
For more information click here.
Affinity Webinar Series
The Paperless Office: How to Make it a Reality in Your Practice
February 5, 2015 at 11:00 AM EST with Paul Unger
REGISTER HERE
The Case for Time, Billing & Accounting
March 12, 2015 at 11:00 AM EST with Steve Best
REGISTER HERE
Client Milestones
Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell LLP – of Tacoma, WA – Chose Orion’s Financial and Practice Management software as their new all-in-one solution.
Kasimer, Pierce & Schaecher, P.C. – of Tysons Corner, VA – Selected Orion’s Hosted Financial Management solution.
Wright Beamer, PLC – of Farmington Hills, MI – Chose Orion’s Financial Management and Practice Management software.
Baker Manock & Jensen, P.C. – of Fresno, CA – Selected Orion’s Financial Management software as their new solution.
Aldrich & Bonnefin, PLC – of Irvine, CA – Chose Orion’s Software as their firm management solution.
ALA Annual Conference & Exposition
As a proud supporter of the ALA, Orion is excited to announce that we will be attending the 2015 ALA Annual Conference & Exposition, taking place May 17-20, 2015 at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN.
Orion will also be celebrating its 30th year of providing excellence in legal management software! You won’t want to miss out on the fun, registration for attendees is now open. For more information, visit the ALA website.
Local ALA Chapters
Orion also supports many of your local ALA chapters. Here are some of the chapters will we be supporting in 2015. We hope to see you at the business partner events and educational expos!
We will begin the year at the Orange County ALA’s Annual Chapter Education Summit taking place tomorrow, January 30th. This event is being held at the Hilton in Irvine, CA – stop by our booth to hear about our latest software developments, free giveaways and a chance to win our giftcard drawing.
Atlanta – Association of Legal Administrators
Orange County – Association of Legal Administrators
Triad Chapter – Association of Legal Administrators
Greater Phoenix – Association of Legal Administrators
Philadelphia – Association of Legal Administrators
Raleigh Durham – Association of Legal Administrators
News from 4L Law Firm Services
Preparing for 1099s
Were you unable to attend our latest webinar? Orion partnered with Michael Marget of 4L Law Firm Services, to provide our Clients with the most up-to-date information regarding 1099 processing at their firms.
Fourth 1st Annual “To 1099 or Not to 1099” Webinar
Watch the Recording Now
This is a friendly reminder to our Clients and friends: The deadline for providing 1099’s to “1099-reportable payees” is just a few months away. The 1099 IRS reporting deadline is approaching quickly as well.
1) Are you up-to-date in reviewing all firm bank accounts (including Client Trust Accounts) to identify all 1099-reportable payees?
2) Do you have W-9’s on file from all of your 2014 1099-reportable payees?
3) If you plan to or are required to file electronically this year (250 or more 1099’s) have you previously established an account on the IRS Filing Information Returns Electronically (“FIRE”) System? (The IRS suggests you allow at least 45 days for processing a new FIRE account)
If the answer to any of those three questions is “No” it’s time to start getting all your ducks in a row. January is always busy enough as it is and 1099 reporting requires a lot of time if things are not planned out in advance. Take a moment to watch our recording!
Orion’s Knowledge Base
Orion has released a valuable tool to its clients, known as the Knowledge Base. Many of you are already taking advantage of this when seeking support or general Orion knowledge, but we wanted to take a moment to remind our Happenings readers of this resource.
Orion’s Knowledge Base contains hundreds of helpful articles and video tutorials, written by our IT and Support Staff here at Orion.
If you don’t already have access, email the Support Desk and we will get you set-up with your username and password.
Support Corner
Preparing for 1099 Processing
Processing and creating 1099 Forms is done once a year and can be a challenging task. Procedures performed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis are easy to remember. Those performed only once per year require “refreshing” your memory every time you need to use the procedure. The key to making the production of 1099 Forms easier and less stressful is in setting up the vendors correctly on the front end and in knowing how to get the most out of the 1099 processing program.
Preparing for 1099 Processing Guidelines – Read the guidelines and procedures to follow when preparing for 1099 processing.
Vendor Set-up – This video focuses on how a vendor is initially set-up for the 1099 default and how to correct a distribution line in a voucher.
Work-File Query – This video covers setting up your work-file query to be used with 1099 processing, which you can view by clicking here. Note: Most Clients will not need to re-do this task, but if you are a new Client you may find this video beneficial.
Processing 1099 Forms in Orion
1099 Processing Instructions – Once you are prepared by making sure the steps above are completed, you are ready to process your 1099 Forms in Orion.
1099 Processing Instructions Video – This video is another helpful aid to help you understand the processing instructions.
Editing Layout – Watch this video for help in editing the layout of your actual 1099 Forms.
Tech Tip
Start the New Year Successfully –
Resolutions for 2015
As the first month of the new year comes to a close, we’d like to remind you of some resolutions… it’s not too late to begin these now. Our friends at Affinity Consulting Group came up with several resolutions that will help you and your law firm get off to a good start this year.
“Our Partners and staff came up with several resolutions that will help you and your law firm get off to a good start in 2015. Some of these resolutions related to law office technology. Others are applicable to small businesses in general. Finally, there are a handful of personal resolutions that may help you become healthier and happier in 2015.
Here is our list of resolutions for 2015 (in no particular order).
Adhere to ABA Model Rule 1.1 on lawyer competence as it now includes competence in understanding relevant technology as follows; To maintain the requisite know ledge and skill, a lawyer should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology…”
To read the complete article, click here.