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A national law firm with over 500 staff across six offices moved from an awkward legacy database to Soutron’s cloud-based library management system, giving its information team a flexible, easy-to-use platform built with legal librarians in mind.
Ashfords LLP needed a cloud-based replacement for an Access database that had become difficult to use. Soutron delivered a configurable library management system with the depth of functionality a national law firm requires, set up by a consultant with direct experience managing library systems for global law firms.
Ashfords LLP is a UK based, national provider of legal and professional services with 76 partners and over 500 staff across 6 offices in London, Bristol, Exeter, Taunton, Tiverton and Plymouth.
The firm offers significant experience and depth of knowledge in business areas including real estate, energy, projects, corporate, commercial, technology and private client.
“It was clear to us that the Soutron Library Management System was designed by a librarian, not an IT technician!”
Susan Flegg
Information Resources Manager
With the advent of new cloud-based solutions becoming available in the library management marketplace, Soutron was able to move Ashfords across to their very own new online library management system, Soutron LMS.
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She liked the way the whole catalog was configured and designed by Graham Partridge, VP of Research and Development at Soutron Global.
His previous background and expertize as a Library Systems Manager for a global law firm has provided a valuable insight into the needs of a legal librarian.
Susan adds, “Soutron is set up in a way only a true librarian would have designed it. Graham, in particular, has been extremely helpful in setting up our system”.
The flexibility of the Soutron catalog has helped Ashfords make the most of the software. They store digital content alongside their own extensive book library collection and like how easy it is to quickly edit fields and add new records.
Susan says, “When we need to add replacement volumes to statutes or amend ISBN numbers, we can do so very easily. The cataloging process runs very smoothly. I really like how we can add weblinks alongside the book record, providing our lawyers alternative choices for content in search results.”
The library also really values the support provided. Susan says, “Soutron provide great support and response times are very quick. They really do go above and beyond when it comes to support.”
This illustrates just one of the many ways the flexible database at the heart of the LMS can be configured to assist a law firm and provide support to lawyers.
To learn more about Ashfords LLP and the legal and professional services they provide visit their website:
www.ashfords.co.uk
To find out how you can upgrade your legal library to a fast, cloud-based and flexible library management system support your law firm, book a 20 minute discovery call with us today, see below.
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The first step is to learn more. Here's how we can answer your questions:
Yes. Ashfords LLP had been running its library on a third-party Access-based database that had become increasingly difficult to use.
Soutron migrated the firm to a cloud-based library management system that is easier to manage for library staff and more intuitive for end users, without requiring technical expertise to maintain.
Yes. Ashfords LLP has over 500 staff across six offices in London, Bristol, Exeter, Taunton, Tiverton and Plymouth. Soutron provided a single cloud-based platform that serves the entire firm, configured by a consultant with direct experience managing library systems for global law firms.
The system handles both digital content and physical book collections in one catalog.
Yes. Ashfords LLP uses Soutron's flexible database to store login details for lawyers' access to third-party websites within user accounts.
This reduces routine support requests to the library team and illustrates how the system can be configured to support a law firm beyond standard library management tasks.
Soutron allows library staff to add weblinks directly alongside book records in the catalog. At Ashfords LLP, this gives lawyers alternative content choices when browsing search results, connecting physical and digital resources in a single view.
Staff can also edit fields, add new records and update statute volumes quickly without needing technical support.
