Digital dictation

If you have purchased the optional Digital Dictation integration module, you can use digital dictation from within ALB, via BigHand.

Dictating

As a fee earner you can either perform a pure dictation or you can choose to merge in information from a Word template plus any information you want to type into the template. You can begin dictation from:

• within a matter or client record
• the PMS Tools menu

The two options are outlined below.

Dictating from a matter or client record

You can begin dictation from Matter Details, Client Details or from a case module screen.

To begin dictation from the matter or client record:

1. From the Actions menu, select Dictate. BigHand dictation application opens.
2. You are asked if you want to merge the document now:

• If you select Yes, select the template you want to use for the document. Dictate the content – you can also type in the document if you wish.
• If you select No, simply dictate your content.

3. Click Save in Word.
4. Click Send in BigHand.
5. If you have created the dictation via a matter record, Time Recording opens. Record the dictation time against the matter.

Result

If you chose to merge the document, the document is saved with the matter or client record. The dictation appears in the BigHand work queue, ready to be transcribed.

Dictating from the PMS Tools menu

You can also begin dictation from the PMS Tools menu.

To begin dictation from the PMS Tools menu:

1. On the Tools menu, click Dictate Now! BigHand digital dictation application opens.
2. You are asked if you want to merge the document now:
• If you select Yes, a blank template opens. Dictate the content – type in the document if you wish.
• If you select No, simply dictate your content.
3. Click Save in Word.
4. Click Send in BigHand.

Result

If you chose to merge the document, the document is saved in My Documents. The dictation appears in the BigHand work queue, ready to be transcribed.

Transcribing

As a member of support staff, you can transcribe a document that has been dictated.

To transcribe a document:

1. View the BigHand transcription window and select a job that needs to be transcribed. The document opens and merges any available data. The document type opened is the type that was selected by the fee earner.
2. Transcribe as normal.
3. When finished, click Save to close the document:

• If the dictation was created via a matter record, the document is saved to that matter.
• If the dictation was not created via a matter record, the document is saved in the fee earner's My Documents element of My Home Page.

4. Mark the dictation as complete in BigHand and close it.

Result

The fee earner that dictated the document is notified, by a pop-up and a message in their PMS inbox, that it has been transcribed and the document status is set to "Ready to Review".

More about BigHand

For further information related to using BigHand, please refer to BigHand's own documentation.