Reviews | Testimonials

"The MasterList 2004", excerpt from Dennis Kennedy Legal Technology blog,
January, 2004:

For fans of David Allen, The MasterList gives you a tool to implement Allen's systems.

The MasterList is a fascinating, flexible and functional software tool. I love software that does something I really need in a way that works the way I work and also has a depth of features to allow me to grow in my use of the program. The MasterList is one of the programs that I have found that fits the category for me.

If taming your to-do lists, managing the hundred or so projects each of us have, and otherwise gaining some sense of control over the tasks in front of you is one of your goals for 2004, take a good close look at The MasterList.

Note: The complete text of this review by Dennis M. Kennedy can be found at http://www.denniskennedy.com/archives/cat_legal_technology.html#000280

As featured by Jeff Davidson, time-management & knowledge management guru,
in his latest book (pp. 81-84):

"Originally conceived as a relational database program for attorneys, The MasterList can benefit almost any career-oriented professional who faces several assignments or projects.

The beauty of The MasterList system is that it separates tasks or projects into small, manageable packets that can readily be created, edited, shared, modified, or passed across a network."

Note: To learn more about Jeff Davidson, see Davidson or visit www.breathingspace.com. To learn more about time-management & networked time management with The MasterList get the book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Your Time, 3rd Edition, 2002, at Amazon.

Excerpt From LLRX.com Article: Legal Technology Trends for 2002
January, 2002

By Dennis M. Kennedy

"I¹ve seen more signs that we are moving toward technology that works more like the way we work. In the past year, I¹ve used the excellent case management program, The MasterList, because it reflects in many ways the way I work. It has a project-oriented focus, a great way to "triage" to do lists and a good platform for dividing projects up into component tasks. Even better, a recent feature incorporates a mindmapping program that allows me to create the mindmaps (a form of visual outline) that I use for things like planning this article."

Note: The complete text of this article by Dennis M. Kennedy can be found at http://www.llrx.com/features/techtrends2002.htm.

Excerpt From Law Office Computing Magazine Review: Mastering To-Do Lists
November, 2001

By John Heckman

"The MasterList has gained a small but vociferous following due to its resolutely no-frills approach to project management for litigators.

The MasterList's main strengths... stem from ... [i]t's simplicity, flexibility and even elegance.

If the way you work fits The MasterList's concept, ...The MasterList is worth a look."

 

Excerpt From Law Office Computing Magazine TechnoDebate
January, 2001

By Dennis M. Kennedy

"The MasterList allows you to combine project orientation, meaningful collaboration and real-world time and calendar management in an appealing way. For example, you can easily prioritize your to-do list. That's what lawyers always seem to do in real life. It also makes delegating and checking on the status of projects very easy."

Note: This review by Dennis M. Kennedy, was also published, slightly modified, in the November, 2000 issue of Indiana Lawyer. For a complete online copy of this review, at Chapter 10 of Dennis Kennedy's Online Legal Technology Primer, see: http://www.denniskennedy.com/masterlist.htm

"Thank you for The MasterList, the most wonderful software product I have ever used. I have looked all over the place, and spent way-too-many hours to find functional, user-friendly to-do planning software. You name it I tried it. Save your time and buy MasterList. It's easy to learn, effective, and simple. I love this software so much I'm showing it to my friends. For example, I have a friend who owns and operates 43 fast food restaurants. I have set up The MasterList for him so that he and his management teams can create and track to-do lists, follow-up lists, and maintenance lists for every restaurant. He can save notes and keep a history on what has been done at each restaurant. With one click he can pull up all the information on one restaurant, or can see what is happening across the board at all restaurants. Fast, Easy and Efficient. The great part of this software is that until you put the information into the history area, it will keep popping up (you can pick the date) until you finish what you set out "to do". When you are done with the "to do", you can delete it or send it to history where you will have a record of it forever. Organize your life. Don't spend a ton of money. Buy MasterList! It works."
-Rick Graf, Commercial Real Estate, Owner/operator Burger King franchises, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

"Thanks for your mentioning of David Allen’s books - I ended up ordering "Ready For Anything" as well as "Getting Things Done." The MasterList meshes well with these books. As a PhD student writing a Thesis I needed a way to manage all the tasks, papers, references and conferences! Reading hundreds of papers and keeping track of the information you need can be a challenge. Thanks again for your detailed support. Everything is working great."
-Greg Nofsinger, PhD Candidate, Hanover, New Hampshire

"Thank you so much for your ideas and suggestions about using The MasterList with David Allen's book. My husband and I own and operate an interior plant business in northern California. I've tried many systems (mostly that I've come up with myself, paperbased or electronic). But, I've always had a difficult time keeping track of the millions of details, things in transition, people to call back, waiting for things from, things to do, to tell someone, to bring somewhere, to check up on, to get back to, to take care of. So, I have been plugging away here trying to get, as David Allen says to "empty". The MasterList has helped immensely. I want to thank you for being so accessible and helpful. Thanks again and I will spread the word!"
-Chris Bowerman, Blue Glacier Gardens, Santa Rosa, California

"So what's my commission when you start getting orders from all the people I have been telling about this wonderful software?"
-James Bolmgren, Networking Consultant, Eagen, Minnesota

"I've set up my laptop with my favorite case management / life management software, TML. Outlook just can't do the tasks and calendar the way I want. Bring on The MasterList! Hey guys, I love TML."
-Chanler Sparler, Attorney, San Francisco, California

"I wanted to tell you how great your program is. It is simple but powerful. I am spending much less time remembering all the things to do, and much more time just plowing through my daily list. My paralegal, secretary, and I all LOVE this program. It has saved so much time already. The link function is a genius idea. BTW, my secretary calls the program "MotherList", because it tells her what to do all day. My wife is using it extensively at home. We have six children and are home schooling each of them. There is a lot to keep up on. Have you considered advertising in a home schooling magazine? Thanks again for a great program, and for all the phone time you gave me early on."
-Tom Ruwe, Attorney, Cincinnati, Ohio

"The Master List is great. We (small firm) licensed it a few months ago and love it. I was a little skittish about going with practice management software that wasn't one of the big names that advertises heavily but I researched it carefully and got demos of all of them. The Master List is the ultimate "To-Do" list, or project, database. It's whole approach, from the point of view of projects and managing them, is the way lawyers work. We are very pleased with it."
-Joseph Sferrazza, Attorney, Melville, New York

"The MasterList is an open-ended system that has helped me feel that I am in control of my practice for the first time in years. It does nearly everything that much more expensive and complicated programs do, while being flexible enough to let me juggle all of my projects, whether they’re in the law office, in my community, or with my family. Add to this some of the most wonderful technical support I have ever encountered, and the program is an absolute steal. I’ve been waiting to exhale for years, and now I can."
-Mark Kleiman, Attorney, Los Angeles, California

"I absolutely love your product. I use it constantly to keep up with my cases and my trial deadlines. The sync with Outlook makes it easy to use with my PDA. I have never been so organized and on top of my caseload."
-Jerry Coleman, Attorney, West Memphis, Tennessee

"I wanted you to know how helpful and effective The Masterlist System has been. Although we are all in and out of the office and not always able to check with each other at the same time, we are able to keep completely abreast of all appointments, notes and communications with the use of Masterlist. It has become a tool that I would not be able to do without. To return to logging and tracking all information with paper notes would be time consuming and inefficient. MasterList is a vital part of my daily organizational routine. I also want to commend you on the professionalism of your support. I have never felt that I could not call you for even the most trivial question. Whenever I have a difficult situation you have handled the problem and given me helpful instructions in minutes."
-Dona Haman, Legal Assistant, Lima, Ohio

"The MasterList works great for me. What is GREAT about MasterList is that whenever I am working on something, if something comes up that needs to be scheduled I can click on MasterList, quickly put it in and go back to my work. I also like being able to look at my day, BLAST away what I can't deal with and see and focus clearly on those things which can and should be done."
-Robert Krintzman, Venture Counsel, Beverly Hills, California

"I wish TML had been available years ago. TML has become my caseload manager. It tells me what has to be done and when, and manages rapidly changing priorities with ease. Input is fast. Report generation is quick and results focused: e.g. List coming trial dates; show coming meetings; show phone calls to be made; show when claims lapse etc. From TML it is one click to my e-mail, Word Processor, other support software and Internet links (No more jumping around the desktop from one program to another). Thank you for a great product for busy lawyers."
-John Bartels, Legal Officer, PE Unit, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa

"I heard about MasterList from the TechnoLawyer e-mail list serve. At first I thought about just using the Visual Mind Maps component, because I think in a visual manner. I am constantly charting or drawing out my ideas so that I can see at a glance the "big picture". I like Visual Mind Maps for that reason. I have used the maps to summarize medical records, and am about to try it for outlining appellate court brief issues. After a few days, though, I began using MasterList as an organizational tool and it has worked for me beautifully. I have tried other systems and none seemed to work. One reason I like MasterList over Daytimer is that when I open a file, I can see all of the tasks, dates or other information about that file. If I want to view the history window, it is a simple click away. If I know that I am not going to get to the items on my task list today, then I simply blast each one to a new date. It takes only a second to set up a task and then I can put the piece of paper or file away and not clutter my desk with "stuff" I am going to do 2 weeks in the future. I also like the fact that I can use MasterList flexibly the way I want to, instead of being forced to bend my thinking around some pre-ordained system. The tech support has been great. No matter when I call, I either get an immediate response, or we set up an appointment to solve the problem in a few hours. Bottom line is that MasterList helps me work more efficiently and I am clearing out old files that haven't been worked up in a while. Keep up the great work!"
-Carolyn S. Pitts, CLA, Paralegal, Champaign, IL

"When I first heard how user friendly MasterList was, it sounded like so much puff. Well, it's true. The operation of the program can be picked up very quickly. The first thing I do in the morning, after booting the computer, is open The MasterList. It has really helped me organize my caseload and schedule. And, with the connection to Outlook, I can put this information in my PDA, and carry it with me. I can recommend MasterList to any attorney, without reservation."
-Donald Smith, Attorney, Defiance Ohio

"Just thought I would touch base. I am using The MasterList everyday. Which means I'm building up the habit. MasterList is obviously doing something that I have not been able to achieve without it. So, that spells success for your product."
-Peter McInroy, Attorney, Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada

"The MasterList is a great product. It does exactly what I need. It is very user friendly."
-F. Edward Brown, Attorney, Belton, Texas

"Usefulness" is a good word to use in connection with The MasterList. The MasterList is one of the very few legal software programs that I've ever been asked to review that's actually become a program that I use and rely upon every day. I've found that The MasterList is a program that fits the way I work and I don't have to adapt what I want to do to fit the program. I look at my work, inside and outside my practice, as a series of projects. The MasterList allows me to manage projects -- break them into tasks, actions and deadlines. In The MasterList, you can take a look at your "My Day" list in the morning and then "blast" (I love that term for this function) items that can wait to the appropriate days forward on your calendar. It's a simple, but highly effective, tool. With its integrated features like word processing and linking to other programs, The MasterList can be a good place to "live at" all day long on your computer. Bill Neubert is definitely doing some cool things with The MasterList."
-Dennis M. Kennedy, Attorney, 2001 TechnoLawyer of the Year, St. Louis, Missouri

"I really love this program. This is great! Every day is right in front of me, and I can get to everything faster than ever. This is by far the best system I've ever used."
-Ted Rovet, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Paramus, New Jersey

"I had been looking for a program to help me both keep track of my appointments, court appearances and ongoing "to-do's" and give me ready access to a 'history' of steps taken in individual files, when I happened upon an advertisement for The MasterList. A quick visit to the MasterList website suggested that this could be the program I was seeking. I ordered the demo disk, and just after I installed it Bill Neubert of The MasterList contacted me by telephone and kindly took me through a very thorough introduction to the program. It was obvious to me by the end of the telephone call that the MasterList was just what I needed, and a purchase was duly negotiated. I have now been using The MasterList for several months and I can report that it more than lives up to its billing as an information storehouse and task organizer. It's sensational. And, I find I can't work without it. Having all my tasks in front of me at the start of the day helps me to plan my day and make the most efficient use of my time. I also like the convenience of not having to get up and check the hard copy of a file, which is accomplished by an archived list of the steps already taken in a file/project combined with a powerful linking function that permits you to access your word-processing and other documents, even web pages, from within the individual MasterList entry for a case. Another useful link for the visually inclined is a "mind map" function to facilitate brainstorming exercises. Finally, it is such a straightforward program that it has almost no learning curve. All in all it's a terrific program."
-Victor T. Bulger, Lilly Anderson Wilson, Barristers & Solicitors, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

"I have been using MasterList for several months now and have purchased licenses for all my staff. I have a law clerk, paralegal and office assistant all using MasterList software to help me keep on top of my work. It became apparent over a relatively short period of time that I needed some assistance in staying on top of my cases to avoid a "putting out fires" style of practice. I have tried to use some of the more integrated programs, but have found the learning curve and staff time involvement to be pretty extensive. MasterList is a simple program to use. This simplistic approach is very helpful when you add your to to-do's. For example, if I need to obtain some information on the location of a vehicle involved in an accident, I can type in a "to do" reminder to have a staffer make some calls for me. Rather than wasting time doing a memo, the entry appears on their daily task list. Once the assignment is completed, I can place a check on the "to do" and it is moved to an accessible "history" file. There is another feature of Masterlist that has been helpful: The Mindmaps. These tools are helpful in putting your thoughts together on a case in an interesting "outline" type format. Also, and perhaps, almost as important as the program itself has been the support. Every time I think of a question or an issue, I e-mail it to the company and I get a very prompt and helpful response."
-Monte Weiss, Attorney, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

"As a new lawyer starting my own practice, The MasterList is the best investment I've made. TML allows me to keep on top of my legal tasks, manage contacts with clients, and keep track of my personal tasks so that I can enjoy life. A simple, intuitive interface gives you access to your calendar, to do list, and the best electronic filing cabinet I've ever seen. Customizable links can be added to give you access to your favorite programs without having to leave The MasterList. Create your own categories for tasks and see your business, personal, and other tasks on separate lists as projects or see them merged at a daily to-do list. The blaster function allows you to triage and update your to do lists in seconds. This is the program that I have wished for since college."
-Kevin L. Bryant, Attorney, Columbus, Ohio

"The overarching goal in any project (whether its a litigation or transaction) is to identify and address everything that stands between you and a successful outcome. The three most serious obstacles to getting this done are lack of focus, lack of a tracking system, and lack of a central place where all necessary information can be found. The MasterList gives you the tool you need to overcome these obstacles. It lets you look at your project on every level, from the global to the molecular, and see what needs to be done. It gives you a place to record and track what’s being done, and a way to store and access the priceless information that you gain going through the process of the project. The problem with so much work in our information culture is that we are deluged with information. It’s easy to be swamped into inactivity. TML helps you turn information into data and keep on track with what you need to do."
-Stephen Chakwin, Attorney, White Plains, New York.

"The MasterList is great. I have used Abacus for a number of years and have been using TML much more extensively than I ever used Abacus. I particularly like the way TML allows you to create your to-do list. Each day I view the day's activities, bump the one's I can't get to "down the road" and work on the one's I can. When I open a client file I immediately open an activity log (another feature I really like) and make notes of my meeting with the client and thoughts about the case. I love the Mind Map feature which I use for making random notes which come to mind about what needs to be done or researched in the case. Yesterday I scanned an article and linked it to the case. I can now review the article from the client's file in TML. The MasterList is extremely easy to use. I feel on top of my cases with this program. Everything seems to be right at my fingertips and I have complete confidence that nothing is falling through the cracks."
-Bill Beyers, Attorney, Loveland, Colorado

"I have been looking for almost 10 years for a Windows program like this. The MasterList with Mind Maps combines an accurate matter inventory with a detailed to do list, and then adds a robust environment for strategizing, making notes, and linking scraps of this and that."
-Richard Birns, Attorney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"The MasterList helps me get control of my professional life. I use it all the time for almost everything."
-Barry Price, Attorney, East Lansing, Michigan

"The MasterList has proven to be very effective in giving us superior organizational ability with our legal projects. Every time our department comes up with a new project, we are constantly asking ourselves how we can run it through The MasterList database."
-Beth Arvai, Corporate Counsel, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

"The MasterList is indispensable to me. I have generally got so much going on that, without it, I would be running around in circles. The MasterList straightens out my work requirements and allows me to make decisions to prioritize, and to meet critical deadlines. I can put off lower priority work without forgetting about it. The MasterList is wonderful."
-Jim Crawford, Accident Reconstruction Expert, Grafton, Ohio

"I think MasterList is wonderful. I have begun to use it as the focus of my practice, especially where I have many deadlines and I am forced to keep up with many ongoing assignments."
-Russell Leu, Attorney, Honolulu, Hawaii

"At last I've found the next step beyond Microsoft Outlook to handle my case load and important dates. Most of my work is probate and the availability of logs in The MasterList helps me keep much better organization of the entire case. I'm better able to watch my SOL dates for important events."
-Kevin Jones, Attorney, Cincinnati, Ohio

"The MasterList fits my needs to a "T". My support staff can input information on clients at their terminal. My incoming mail is placed in the system to assure compliance with discovery deadlines, limitations of action, and trial preparation cutoffs. When you couple these features with the opportunity for me to create a trial preparation schedule, you have hit the home run for my litigation practice."
-Fred E. (Bo) Fugazzi, Jr., Attorney, Lexington, Kentucky

"MasterList has provided a complete, intuitive means of tracking all aspects of the busy litigator's docket. Its flexibility allows each attorney to customize the means by which all aspects of each case is monitored. From keeping tabs on statutes of limitations to sharing appointment notes, the trial attorney can use MasterList as a tickler system, an archives for conferences and phone calls, a task management system, and more. And MasterList can be used to manage a sole practice or an entire law firm. When integrated into a network, MasterList can be configured so that trial team members -- be they attorneys, paralegals, secretaries, or other staff -- can each make simultaneous entries so that all aspects of a lawsuit at all stages can be scheduled, assigned, and monitored. Trial schedules, critical date listings, or virtually any other report is available with ease. MasterList is a purpose-specific application which can be a valuable weapon in any trial attorney's arsenal of practical preparation tools. It helps the busy practitioner plan each day, week, month, or his/her entire docket with clarity, convenience, and confidence."
-Benito C. R. Antognoli, Attorney, Kent, Ohio.

"Thanks again for working with me to bring me up to speed with the "MasterList". I use it every day and print information about individual cases and my calendar. It is a wonderful tool to track my cases and keep finely tuned to my calendared court appearances, deadlines and daily activities. I highly recommend MasterList to the sole practitioner and large law firms. I have told several of my attorney friends about the advantages to using the system and have asked them to call you for a demo."
-Marsha Tuck, Attorney, Bingham Farms, Michigan

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