Who do you want to do your migration?
basic
Do It Yourself
For organizations with available IT personnel.
starts at
$3,500
USD
what.you.need
An IT Person who knows SQL
A dedicated computer for migrations
what.you.get
Access to the Universal Migrator software
Prebuilt mappings and training
Unlimited 9/5 Support
Direct access to developers
recommended
Hire a Partner
For organizations who just want to get it done.
full-service, starts at
$4,500
USD
what.you.need
Pick a partner (we'll recommend one)
Pick a migration date
what.you.get
A vetted partner ideal for your project
Confidence your project is handled right
The easiest migration you've ever had
Most partners deliver within 72 hours
What a Migration Specialist Should Know
about
SmartAdvocate
SmartAdvocate runs as a:
Browser-Based Application
This means that firm members can typically access SmartAdvocate from anywhere with an internet connection. When they need to use SmartAdvocate, they enter SmartAdvocate credentials into a SmartAdvocate website and are able to access all their data from there.
SmartAdvocate is used as a:
Personal Injury Practice Management System
Personal injury practice management systems are highly optimized for the needs and workflows of personal injury law firms.
Universal Migrator extracts data from SmartAdvocate via:
Database Connections
SmartAdvocate uses the following database backend:
Microsoft SQL Server
The following credentials are required:
Admin SmartAdvocate Credentials
The Migration Specialist will need an Administrator username and password into SmartAdvocate in order to extract your data.
The computer used to migrate from SmartAdvocate:
Can be located Anywhere
Because data is extracted from the SmartAdvocate database, the migration can be run from anywhere with access to a backup of the database.
In order to migrate from SmartAdvocate:
The Firm Administrator must complete a User Mapping spreadsheet.
A member of the firm will need to complete a small spreadsheet mapping users from SmartAdvocate to users in the new system.
Backing up communications from SmartAdvocate includes:
Email Communications
When SmartAdvocate stores emails, it keeps key information like to/from/subject/body. This isn't an original email but it is very useful when looking at case timelines and maintaining records of correspondence.
Text Messages
When SmartAdvocate stores text messages, it keeps key information like to/from/message. This information can be backed up and transferred to compatible systems.
The following people are required for a migration from SmartAdvocate:
Migration Specialist
The Migration Specialist is the person who will be performing this migration. They may be a member of Universal Migrator's own Internal Migration Team or any IT professional who has completed the Universal Consultant training program.
Firm Administrator
The Firm Administrator is a member of the law firm who can serve as a dedicated point of contact, make decisions, and answer any questions the Migration Consultant may have. This person should be readily available and is typically the managing partner or office manager of the firm.
To migrate from SmartAdvocate, the Migration Specialist needs:
A Universal Migrator Subscription
Migration tools for SmartAdvocate are available to:
IT Professionals with an active Diamond Migration Specialist subscription
IT Professionals with an active Gold Migration Specialist subscription
Special warnings about SmartAdvocate
Plan Your Migration Timeline Correctly
With certain vendors, submitting a Notice of Termination/Non-Renewal can prompt a shift in cooperation: some will restrict or revoke export and backup capabilities, or limit the volume of data you're able to download, making migration more difficult.
To guard against this, best practice with any vendor, including SmartAdvocate, is to withhold notice until you've been fully live on your new system for at least 30 days. In practice, this means your migration should be complete approximately 45 days before your notice deadline.
