IT Development Analyst for SJ Berwin & Co, a legal firm in the City. Part of the development team responsible for maintaining, upgrading and enhancing existing software systems and also creating and developing new applications.
General responsibilities:

• Writing macros in Word and Excel
• Writing applications using Visual Basic
• Designing and creating databases using Access
• Maintaining code using MS Visual SourceSafe
• Updating and troubleshooting existing applications
• Customising interfaces between different packages
• Investigating new packages and their compatibility with existing systems
• Training staff in use of new applications and packages
• Training staff in writing Word and Excel macros
• Training staff in programming techniques in VB
• Training staff to write databases in Access
• Writing user and technical documentation
Specific tasks carried out:
• Writing Word macros to automate document creation and updating, and to interface with various document management systems using a variety of operating system platforms
• Conversion of templates and macros from Word 6 to Word 97 and conversion of document management from Soft Solutions to PCDOCS
• Writing a client contact database, using Access and Visual Basic, and customising interfaces to link with Word, Soft Solutions and Dragon Dictate voice dictation system
• Creating databases using Access and VB to manage and process orders and maintenance contracts for the IT department and also to manage the IT resource library
• Writing a Case Management package using Visual Basic, Access and Crystal Reports and integrating document output with Word
• Writing applications using VB to schedule the updating of databases distributed across several servers and involving FTP links with a Unix system.
• Automating conversion process for documents to be transmitted onto the firm’s intranet ready for indexing and searching. This involved the use of VB and HTML, as well as integration with the document management system.

Part of the IT Development Team at Simmons & Simmons, one of the top 5 UK legal firms, involved in converting their document production and management system from a Windows 3.11, WordPerfect and Soft Solutions platform to Windows 95, Office 97 and LiveLink document management.

Work undertaken involved:
• designing and setting up document templates
• writing macros in Microsoft Office using VBA
• integrating macros with Livelink document management and workflow systems
• writing programs with Visual Basic
• writing generic routines to automatically convert user interfaces between different languages for overseas offices
• maintaining code using MS Visual SourceSafe
• testing and implementing systems created
• writing technical documentation

Consultant for Portner & Jaskel, a large London PI law firm Involved in a range of projects including:
• Development of Case Management software and accompanying reporting tools using a combination of Visual Basic, Access, SQL Server and Crystal Reports.
• Development of accounting and financial forecasting and cashflow software using Excel, Word and VBA
• Development of time recording system to automatically update billing and accounting databases
• Creation of software to integrate case management systems with external client systems to enable case tracking and financial transactions
• Also responsible for training staff in the use of the software and helping them to undertake amendments and enhancements.