By Bob Ambrogi of LawSites
Orion Law Management Systems has released an extensive update to its financial and practice management software for midsize and large law firms. Version 5.2 introduces ethical wall management, integration with Aderant’s BillBlast e-billing software, an updated LawPay integration, enhanced W-9 management, and expanded mobile access. For firms that already rely on Orion to run their financial operations, the BillBlast integration in particular brings a long-requested capability into the same platform attorneys and accounting teams use every day.
Ethical Wall Management for Confidential Clients and Matters
Orion clients can now set up ethical walls to restrict access to sensitive client and matter data. Users can be blocked from viewing or searching for information related to a confidential client or matter, keeping confidential data safe from unauthorized eyes inside the firm. The feature is designed to let conflicts and risk teams enforce screening across the same system that runs billing, accounting, and reporting, rather than relying on side processes.
BillBlast Integration: Faster, More Compliant E-Billing
The new BillBlast integration is the headline feature for many firms. Aderant’s BillBlast is a widely used e-billing solution, and integrating BillBlast directly with Orion is designed to streamline submission of electronic invoices and improve compliance with client e-billing requirements. The integration helps firms accelerate the acceptance and payment of invoices, which in turn supports productivity and profitability.
For firms that bill large corporate clients, this is significant. Insurance companies and corporate legal departments increasingly require e-billing in specific formats, and the BillBlast integration gives Orion users a clean path to meet those requirements without rekeying data or maintaining a separate workflow.
How the BillBlast Integration Works Inside Orion
Inside Orion, the BillBlast integration lets firms move invoices, supporting documentation, and reimbursement images out of Orion and into BillBlast for client submission. Users can extract and upload images for reimbursement requests and vendor invoices directly from Orion’s database, reducing the manual handling that has historically slowed e-billing.
The result is fewer rejected invoices, fewer downstream collection issues, and a tighter loop between the work attorneys do and the cash that comes back into the firm. For Orion clients evaluating their e-billing toolkit, BillBlast is now first-class in the platform.
W-9 Management and Orion ePay Updates
Orion 5.2 also enhances W-9 management to support law firm compliance with IRS 1099 requirements. When requesting check payment for a new vendor, legal professionals can attach a W-9 from Orion desktop or from the iOrion mobile app while working remotely.
The release further updates Orion ePay, the firm’s online payment system powered by LawPay, for better performance. Orion ePay enables firms to add secure payment links to invoices, emails, and other client communications, so clients can click and pay by credit card, debit card, or eCheck.
iOrion 5.2 Mobile Updates
iOrion is Orion’s financial management mobile app for Apple iOS and Google Android devices. The 5.2 update adds check request approvals, unified matter lookup and views, and an updated payment calendar, including payments by project attorneys completing split assignments. Together with the BillBlast integration and the new ethical walls capability, iOrion 5.2 helps Orion clients manage their financial operations from anywhere, with the same controls and visibility they have at their desks.