“Before 8am, we were constantly turning down cases because we didn't have the bandwidth. Now we've doubled our caseload without adding staff.”
– Corinne Gillenwater, Lead Paralegal & Office Manager, Nanthaveth & Associates
Case Study: Immigration law firm growth with 8am
Law Firm: Nanthaveth & Associates
Practice Areas:
Employment-Based Immigration
Family Immigration
Individual Immigration
Location: Austin, Texas
Started Using 8am MyCase: 2018
Started Using 8am LawPay: 2019
Started Using 8am DocketWise: 2020
About Nanthaveth & Associates
Nanthaveth & Associates is an Austin-based immigration law firm dedicated to helping individuals, families, and businesses navigate the U.S. immigration process. Founded by attorney Vi Nanthaveth, herself a refugee from Laos, the firm was built on compassion and a personal understanding of the immigration journey. Today, Nanthaveth & Associates serves a wide variety of clients—from families seeking reunification to companies sponsoring international employees.
Like many small law firms, Nanthaveth & Associates began with paper files, handwritten notes, and traditional check payments. But as demand for their services grew, it became clear that a more efficient, secure, and client-friendly system was essential.
Moving from paper to digital with 8am solutions
“When I first joined the firm, everything was done on paper,” recalls Gillenwater. “We had physical files with handwritten notes, and there was no easy way to securely share documents with clients. Collecting payments was a struggle, too. We often had to chase down checks or run to the bank with cash.”
The firm adopted 8am MyCase, case management software for lawyers in 2018, which was quickly followed by the legal billing solution 8am LawPay and later 8am DocketWise, an immigration software for law firms. The results were immediate:
Secure client communication and document sharing through the MyCase portal
Flexible, user-friendly payment processing with LawPay
Expedited immigration form preparation with DocketWise smart forms
The ability to tackle double the caseload without additional staff
Vi Nanthaveth reflects on the transition: “Switching from paper to 8am felt like night and day. Suddenly, we had efficiency, security, and peace of mind. It’s almost impossible now to imagine running the firm without it.”
The top benefits
Adopting 8am solutions has transformed the way Nanthaveth & Associates operates day to day. The team can now manage more cases, respond quickly, and stay organized, creating a smoother practice that improves client service while giving staff the breathing room they need.
Greater efficiency
The combined 8am solutions enabled the firm to double its caseload without adding staff.
“One person can now manage 200 cases easily,” says Gillenwater. “Before 8am, we didn’t have the bandwidth. Now, we can take on more clients, deliver faster service, and still leave the office on time.”
Elevated client experience
With MyCase’s secure portal and messaging tools, clients can upload large files, send photos by text, and instantly message the team.
“Our clients love the portal—it’s user-friendly and gives them peace of mind,” explains Gillenwater. “They know their information is secure, and they appreciate how quickly we can respond.”
Clients also benefit from the convenient payment options through LawPay. “It used to be a nightmare collecting payments,” Gillenwater says. “Now, with LawPay, clients can pay online, set up automatic payments, or use the Pay Now link on our website. It gets money into our account faster and saves everyone time.”
Smarter immigration casework with DocketWise
Immigration law is form-heavy, and outdated methods were slowing the firm down. “It used to take us four to five hours to prepare a case by hand,” says Gillenwater. “With DocketWise smart forms and questionnaires, that same work takes 30 minutes to an hour.”
DocketWise also ensures accuracy and compliance. “We never have to worry about expired USCIS forms. The system updates automatically, saving us from rejections and delays.”
Better team collaboration
With all case information stored in MyCase, every team member can assist clients. “When a client calls, anyone can pull up their notes and provide an update,” Gillenwater explains. “We don’t waste time tracking down the last person they spoke to. It makes us more responsive and efficient.”
Work-life balance for staff
For Gillenwater, the impact goes beyond efficiency. “Before 8am, I skipped lunches and stayed late. Now I can actually take a full lunch break and leave work on time. It’s been amazing for my work-life balance.”
Scaling without limits
As Nanthaveth & Associates looks to expand across Texas, Vi Nanthaveth sees 8am solutions as essential. She comments, “Opening new locations will be seamless because everything is digital. Whether we’re in Austin, Houston, or Dallas, clients can call any office and get the same information. 8am solutions make that possible.”
Nanthaveth adds, “There’s simply no way to grow without the right tools in place. 8am solutions give you the security, efficiency, and scalability every firm needs.”
When asked what she would tell other law firms considering 8am solutions, Gillenwater doesn’t hesitate: “My advice? Go for it. I can’t rave enough about the 8am suite. It has made us more efficient, improved our client satisfaction, and given me back my time. It’s crucial to our business.”
From turning down cases due to limited bandwidth to doubling their caseload without adding staff, Nanthaveth & Associates is proof that with the right tools, small immigration firms can scale their impact while staying true to their mission of helping clients build better futures.
See firsthand what 8am solutions can do for your firm and which is the right fit for your team—book a demo.
Lessons learned: What other firms want to know
1. How can immigration law firms increase caseload without adding staff?
Firms can double their caseloads without hiring extra staff by adopting case management, billing, and immigration-specific tools like MyCase, LawPay, and Docketwise.
2. What software tools help immigration lawyers save time?
Platforms like Docketwise provide smart immigration forms, while MyCase centralizes documents and messaging, reducing prep time from hours to minutes.