“Maximise the return of your investment in IT”



Here are just some of the benefits of membership of the ILUA:

Independence

Perhaps the main benefit - we are totally independent of IRIS Legal sharing only the common goal of the development of the very best software. Whilst membership is open to all users of IRIS legal software, only those who subscribe to ILUA have the benefits of membership of the Association.

Sub Group Meetings

ILUA provides regular meetings of sub-groups to do with the different parts of the software - a group devote to IT/Systems management, a group for Finance and Business as well as a group focusing on migration topics, These sub-group meetings allow users to meet two or three times a year, where topics relevant to their particular interest are demonstrated, discussed, and ideas generated.

Development Influence

Over the years ILUA and in particular the sub-groups have been very influential in the development of the products, and in providing a useful conduit to IRIS of user's requirements.

Networking - sharing experiences finding out how others deal with issues

The Annual Conference, the regular sub groups meetings and the web forum allow users to network with others who may have similar demands and challenges with regard to use of the software, and a sharing of ideas, methods and experiences.

Annual Conference

The annual conference is a great event in the ILUA calendar. It provides an opportunity to understand the current position of IRIS, the development of its products, and learn about new products. Traditionally the Conference has had sessions on technical matters, system procedures, and developments within the IT world. Specifically also for those needing them it has provided CPD (and at a rate generally much cheaper than standard Training days!)

An Enthusiastic Committee of Users

The ILUA Committee consists of members from chambers and law firms, and has members who are chamber directors, partners, accounts personnel and IT managers. It thus has a good perspective on issues and challenges with which we are faced. The Committee is completely voluntary (apart from expenses of travelling etc), and ILUA benefits greatly from the many years of IT and legal experience that the Committee provides.

A Professional Secretary

ILUA has the benefit of a professional secretary, Peter Wetherman, who is remunerated from the group's income, and is therefore independent of IRIS. Peter is a non-practicing Solicitor with considerable experience of Aim Evolution and other IT matters.

An Effective Web Site

ILUA has its own web-site, which is open to its members for networking purposes, and to share ideas, thoughts, yes and criticisms, about IRIS and its software. The Forums are open to members who can post new threads, join in discussions etc. Each section is monitored by a Committee member, who can pick up on any issues that may need to be raised with IRIS.

Regular Meetings with IRIS

ILUA meets with IRIS on at least a quarterly basis to have formal discussion about relevant issues. It is always a full and frank discussion, and members' interests are always at the forefront of our discussions.

Our Relationship and Influence with IRIS

The officials of ILUA have a good working relationship with IRIS, and whilst we are obviously interdependent, the group is entirely independent of IRIS. We are therefore free to express our members' views without being hampered by our relationship. Whilst we have been able to advise members about the issues that affect them, it is not part of the group's brief to negotiate individual terms with IRIS, or to interfere in any organisation's contractual discussions. ILUA is not a negotiating group trying to seek advantage from its buying power. But because of its size and the number of members it represents the Group is very influential in its dealings with IRIS.

Escrow and Contingency Plan

The group holds the escrow on the Evolution software, so that in the (albeit) unlikely event of financial problems occurring to IRIS, ILUA has the ability to ensure that that software continues to be usable, and the ILUA's finances are such that it has a fund available to establish (but not continue to run beyond the initial stages) a support organization if required. Obviously this would be for the benefit of its members, and not users who are not members.