This is a whole package in STATA for panel data, though the name is a little bit different (if not weird)--It is called cross-sectional-time-series analysis.Hence all relevant syntax are started with "xt" where "x" refers to cross-sectional while "t" refers to time-series.Simply typing "help xt" in the command window, you will get detailed help files. For example, you can easily estimate randome-effect model with xtreg..., re. Just go and have a try! STATA is really one of the best software for panel study. I have worked on that for a while. Really satisfied.

However, the leeway as you described doesn't exist in STATA. Just according to my experience, but could be wrong.

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ha ha. Have to say I was wrong. Never used that, because I always write do files where such leeway doesn't help. Anyway, thanks for mr. blue