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Championing Justice: How Hackett & Dabbs Boosts Efficiency with Clio

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Hackett & Dabbs LLP

  • 2017

    Year Founded

  • 2

    Number of Staff

  • 2021

    Started Using Clio

  • Hampshire, United Kingdom

    Location

  • Hourly

    Fee Types

  • Human Rights

    Insolvency

    Intellectual Property

    Prison Law

    Practice Areas

Championing Justice: How Hackett & Dabbs Boosts Efficiency with Clio

Hackett & Dabbs LLP, led by barristers Lorna Hackett and David Dabbs, offers legal advice, litigation, and representation across areas like intellectual property, human rights, and prison law. With nearly 20 years of experience, Lorna is particularly passionate about defending prisoners’ rights in the British criminal justice system.

However, managing these cases can be time-consuming for a small firm. To streamline operations and focus more on their clients, Hackett & Dabbs turned to Clio’s legal software, enabling them to save time and dedicate more energy to advocating for prisoners’ rights.

“Clio has transformed our business, enabling us to free up precious time previously spent on administrative and billing tasks to create space for us to dedicate to the causes we are passionate about.”

Advocating for prisoners’ rights

Lorna has represented many clients sentenced under Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), a system introduced in 2005 in England and Wales for serious, non-life-threatening crimes. IPP prisoners would serve a short minimum term (“tariff”) before becoming eligible for parole, but many ended up serving far beyond their tariffs. Even after release, they faced indefinite supervision and could be recalled for minor breaches.

Although IPP sentences were abolished in 2012, it wasn’t retroactive, leaving many still imprisoned. Alongside her legal work, Lorna organises IPP Forums in local prisons, where prisoners can share experiences and discuss advocacy efforts.

Lorna has contributed to the legislative discussions on the Victims and Prisoners Bill in Parliament in line with the firm’s commitment to amplifying marginalised voices. Her efforts include submitting written evidence to promote an IPP Mentors and Advocates scheme and proposing a draft amendment to improve support for IPP prisoners, helping them secure release and avoid re-incarceration.

“It’s important that those serving the sentence know they have not been forgotten.”

How Clio transformed Hackett & Dabbs’ operations

When Lorna and David first started Hackett & Dabbs, they were a very small operation. However, as the firm grew, it became clear that they needed a solution to support their operations.

“It got to the point where it felt like, ‘Okay, we’re growing now, and we need a practice management system,’ she explains. “I Googled Clio, and I liked how you get a feel for not only the ethos of the company but also the value of the product and how good it is.”

Lorna reached out and, after speaking with the team, decided to go with Clio. Since adopting the software, Clio has revamped the operations at Hackett & Dabbs—allowing the firm to work more efficiently so that they can focus on clients and work that they’re passionate about.

“I liked what Clio was able to offer. It was always going to be more difficult for us because chambers have specific types of practice management systems and solicitors have types of practice management systems. So, because we sort of both, we wanted to get something that works for us, and Clio fitted the bill.”

1. Efficient document management

Clio empowers the firm to handle extensive case documentation in a streamlined and organised manner.

This is particularly important for complex IPP cases, which often contain high-volume parole paperwork that can typically range between 600 to 1,000 pages.

“Clio helps us to keep track of paperwork relating to these prisoners—both current and historic—in an efficient and organised way.”

2. Cloud-based accessibility to documents

Clio’s cloud-based legal software helps the firm save time by making documents easy to access quickly from anywhere. This allows the firm to streamline its workflows while also reducing the use of paper at the law practice.

“Clio has also contributed to us not having to use so much paper! Because everything is visible in one place on the cloud, we can find everything we need quickly.”

3. An integrated calendar

Clio’s integrated legal calendaring software allows firms to stay organised and on top of events and appointments. This is especially useful for Hackett & Dabbs as a way to reduce scheduling errors for prison visits and hearings.

“The Clio calendar means that ‘diary malfunctions’ are a thing of the past, and enable us to keep track of prison visits, conferences, and oral hearings—so that when people telephone from prison, we can tell them when to call back to speak to their lawyer.”

4. Streamlined time tracking and billing

By saving time on administrative tasks like time tracking and billing with Clio, the firm has been able to free up more time to focus on pro bono work in the community—while still exceeding their billing targets.

“The tracking time is great—you absolutely have to use that, especially when you’re doing a deep dive into something. You can lose track of time easily. You just can’t do it without it if you’re doing sort of a big piece of research or a big piece of drafting.”

An ongoing commitment to compassion in prisoners’ rights

At Hackett & Dabbs, excellent client care is a priority across all areas of the law practice. For Lorna, this dedication to client care includes a commitment to improving the lives of prisoners through compassion and justice.

By streamlining workflows and enhancing operational efficiency, Clio helps support the hard work of the Hackett & Dabbs team. As such, the firm has expressed their appreciation for Clio’s passion for innovation and how it benefits Hackett & Dabbs.

“We are ‘Clions’ for life!”

Interested in learning more about what Clio can do for your firm?

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