Should ABC Law Firm Invest in Microsoft Project?

ABC Law Firm depends on Microsoft Excel and Word for preparing diagrams, tables, charts and flow charts which are incorporated throughout the practice. For example, the firm relies on a bullet point checklist to ensure the proper steps are completed when a new employee is hired through the employee orientation day or to ensure proper documents are presented during a real estate transaction.  In addition, timelines are prepared in Word and Excel to ensure proper litigation calendaring for important dates and filings with the Court. Preparing charts and table timelines in Excel and Word can be time consuming and the customization features are limited.  


After researching Microsoft Project as a possible software application for the firm, I found it has a multitude of functions and is a robust software program. Microsoft Project enables the user to organize tasks, duration of tasks, predecessor events, assign resources/employees and organizes the tasks into numerous charts including Gantt charts and network diagrams.  The user can designate a team planner, monitor usage of resources and track progress.  Microsoft project also enables the user to generate reports such as resource allocation, cost overview, project overview and task completion/milestone. As a first time user of Microsoft Project, I found the software to be complicated and extremely detailed. In order to use the program to its highest functionality, training needs to be completed. 

Now the question is presented: Should ABC Law Firm Invest in Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project is a wonderful program to illustrate, monitor and report on projects with numerous moving parts, personnel and resources.  The exceptional detail in the functionality offered by Project is simply not necessary for the legal work conducted at ABC Law Firm. The firm does not partake in large resource planning projects, employee scheduling or projects where this program could be utilized. The only function of Project that ABC Law Firm would benefit from is the timeline however, if the firm invests in Microsoft Visio that need will be fulfilled. This program is better suited for project management firms, real estate developers both commercial and residential and IT developers. 

At this point in time, ABC Law firm should not invest in Microsoft Project. The size of the firm coupled with the work conducted simply does not warrant an investment into this program.