Top case management software for lawyers

 

Within the past few decades, IT (information technology) has become a massive part of nearly every organization and office. The business world has gone digital in a number of aspects. A lawyer that aspires to achieve the best for his clients should also effectively devise a means of information flow between him and his clients.

A lawyer has to conveniently manage his clients in areas of case information, contacts, documents, calendaring and several other specifics.

But what if the entire process is automated?

This is where IT comes into picture.

For law firms, the right IT emphasis can come in the shape of solid legal case management software.

In this article, we’ll see why it’s important to have a case management software and how to choose one. Finally, I have listed down over 11 top case management software.

Check it out.

 

What is legal case management software?

Legal case management software is simply a software designed to manage a law firm’s case and client records. This includes billing and bookkeeping, schedules and appointments, deadlines and computer files. It also helps facilitate any compliance requirements such as with document retention policies, and courts’ electronic filing systems.

A legal case management software helps to better use, manage, consolidate, share and protect information. It tracks and shapes the business process for lawyers. Such software can integrate data from multiple systems, departments, users and business entities. Its use can increase a firm’s business advantage.

 

Why is it important?

Attorneys and law firms compete for clients and are routinely challenged to deliver services at lower costs with greater efficiency. Thus, firms need to develop practice-specific processes and utilize contemporary technologies to assist in meeting such challenges.

Most of the law schools do not generally teach new lawyers the business skills to run a law office. This is why many offices have turned to technology to ease the learning curve and reduce clerical errors. The American Bar Association (ABA) has found that calendar and deadline related mistakes account for most legal malpractice claims.

Therefore, an initial investment in software tools can yield long term savings in defending against such claims. In fact, the ABA has an entire section devoted entirely to law office management, of which software and related programs are an increasingly important part of its mission delivery.

The main purpose of these software is to allow a law firm to run more smoothly.^[4]

Case Management Software, when used properly, improves efficiency, provides for conflict checking, and enables a law office to not have to search for the physical file each time a client calls with questions.

Thus helping to reduce the need for callbacks since the client can get answers on an as-needed basis at the time of their inquiry.

 

What features to look for before choosing a Case Management Software?

With all the diversity of case management software on the market, it’s difficult to know which one is the right fit—at the right cost—for the particular legal services one offers.

We’ll list some of the features you should look for before selecting a case management software:

Case management (Of-course!)

Case and matter management is a crucial aspect of legal case management software. Depending on the one you choose, the information will be organized either by the case or by matter.

You may have one overall account for each client that then breaks down into information for every matter they bring to you. The software may organization information based on matters.

So, if you have one client who has five different cases they’ve worked with you on, you’d have five separate entries. Digital case and matter management also make it easier to create and enforce opening and closing standards, too.

Depending on the law firm case management software chosen, you can access this information from anywhere as long as you have internet access.

 

Time tracking (for billing)

Time-tracking is offered by many legal case management software as a standard feature. It can be used to track both billable and non-billable time for law firm employees with just a few clicks.

 

Document assembly

Document assembly boils down to digital storage of documents related to client matters and the law firm as a whole. How the documents are organized and even how they are searched can depend on the software chosen. Generally, documents include templates, PDF files, spreadsheets, Word documents, photos, and basically anything else that you’d keep in a physical file.

 

Contact management

This feature gives everyone in your law firm the ability to keep all of both client and contact information in one place so that you don’t have to physically search for contacts through mails or even cell phones. With this feature, it is also easier to update your contacts.

 

Calendaring

Calendaring refers to tracking various appointments with clients, opposing counsel, and others as well as tracking individual schedules. Basic calendaring is not the same as docketing or rules-based calendaring. This particular feature is really more about keeping everyone within the law firm on the same page. Most legal case management software integrate with Outlook and Google calendars.

 

Docket management

Docketing a digital way in which your law firm can track legal hearings, meetings, and filing deadlines for each matter. It can be set-up to follow the rules set by your jurisdiction to ensure that dates are properly calculated.

You don’t have to calculate deadlines by hand. Once the rules are set, it’s faster and easier to update the firm’s docket. The docket is also accessible by everyone in the law firm. This makes it simple for everyone to know what deadlines are looming.

 

Security standards

When you’re using your system to record personally identifying information or other confidential details, you’ll want to be sure that your files are safe by choosing a system that offers proper security standards.

You should choose a software provider that hosts your files on their secure servers where they’re protected from unauthorized deletion, copying, alteration, theft, corruption and curious colleagues. Make sure the provider stores data in multiple locations and performs regular backups.

 

Now that we are clear about which features to look for in a legal case management software, let’s have a look at the top 11 legal case management software in the market:

 

1. PracticePanther

PracticePanther brings together many capabilities into one intuitive and easy to use online platform.

Features:

• Time tracking
• Scheduling
• Billing,
• Payment processing
• Expense management.
• CRM and case management modules that facilitate managing contacts and tracking everything in the office.

What distinguishes PracticePanther from the rest of the pack are its smart functionalities including the ability to generate multiple bills in one click; accept credit cards from the invoice; bill hourly, flat rate, or contingency; track trust account balances; and integrate with leading business apps.

Pricing:

The solo plan starts from $39 USD per user/ per month. It has a 7-day free trial.

 

2. Clio

Clio offers all the functionalities you need to effectively run a law practice.

Clio brings with it robust tools to manage cases, clients, data, documents, bills, calendars, time tracking, reporting, and accounting. Billed as the complete management tool for law offices, the system is intended to assist legal service providers through its many features. We will list them as follows

Features:

• Organizing case details
• Creating workflows
• Setting schedules
• Sharing documents
• Generating invoices
• Processing payments
• Legal accounting

The system enables you to undertake efficient information management, documentation, client and case management, appointments and scheduling, office financials and accounting, time-tracking, and reporting.

Clio connects with over 70 business apps, giving you a robust integrated platform that works with popular accounting, email, online storage, payment gateways, databases, and other software and services. It has a user-friendly system that ensures important files are intuitively presented and easily accessed

Pricing: Clio prices range from $39 to $125 per user per month.

 

3. Rocket Matter

 

 

Rocket Matter is a cloud-based legal practice management software. It was introduced in 2007 and is one of the pioneering solutions in this category. It is intended for law firms looking to enhance their revenues, go paperless, or increase confidence in their trust accounting.

Rocket Matter is designed specifically for solo, small, and mid-sized practices, it provides speed and accuracy in the creation of invoices and the management of documents. You can opt to use other cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Box since Rocket Matter integrates well with third-party apps and services.

Features:

• Time and billing
• Contact management
• Calendar and tasks
• Case management
• Document management
• Advanced reporting
• Integrations

Worth mentioning is Rocket Matter’s integration with LawToolBox, so you’ll never miss a court deadline.

Pricing:

Essentials at $25 per user/month and Pro at $59 per user/month

 

4. My Case

 

 

MyCase is a web-based legal practice management software. It is especially meant for small and medium-sized law firms to manage cases, track time, automate billing, and communicate with clients. It offers an all-in-one platform with various features. They are as follows:

Features:

• Handling contacts
• Scheduling
• Document management
• Case management
• Online billing and invoicing
• Time tracking
• Calendar management.

MyCase doesn’t require technical knowledge, has intuitive features, and can easily be incorporated with modern legal office environments and practices.

Both you and your clients get to use a single secure online portal that has all the features for information sharing. It allows two-way communication between attorney and client as well as records and tracks the communication

MyCase also allows you to work anytime from any location on any device, giving you the freedom to take your practice everywhere you go. The software provides Android and iOS apps to let you access vital documents, send and receive files, send and get alerts and notification for important events, and keep all concerned updated about developments on a case.

Pricing:

There are no pricing packages to choose from because MyCase offers one pricing plan that provides all features and functionalities.

It is $39 per user/month (billed annually) or $49 per user/month (billed monthly)

 

5. Time Solv

 

 

TimeSolv is a customizable application that can streamline the workflow of lawyers and legal professionals. It offers the capability to keep track of time and associated costs. Aside from being comprehensive, it’s also user-friendly and can work with current and legacy platforms in macOS, Windows, iPhone, or Android.

Features:

• Time tracking
• Invoicing
• Reporting
• Budgeting
• Expense tracking
• Trust accounting
• Document management
• Project management

It also integrates with the world’s leading payment gateways, along with credit card services. This gives clients an online portal where they can pay you, see their transaction history with your firm, and more. It can also work smoothly with third-party applications like QuickBooks, where you can sync data to and from it.

Pricing:

Timesolv Legal Pricing Plan: $34.95 per user/ per month (billed monthly) $31.46 per user/ per month (billed annually)

Timesolv Pro Pricing Plan: $19.95 per user/per month (billed monthly) $17.95 per user/ per month (billed annually)

 

6. Amicus Online

Amicus is more of a beginner’s platform. You’ll find more robust features in other options, but it’s an easy way to get started with the basics of client management on day one. It integrates all your firm information into a single automated system so you can improve your efficiency & profitability.

Available as a desktop, cloud or combined desktop/cloud solution, Amicus software solutions give you client/matter management, legal calendaring & tasks, contacts & business development, document management, document automation, time & expense tracking, conflict checking and more.

Features:

7. Cosmolex

 

 

CosmoLex is a cloud-based legal management solution that offers features including time tracking, billing, trust accounting, task and document management.

The solution connects all modules so that users do not have to enter information into multiple systems or clean up errors due to double entry. CosmoLex is a modular solution that allows users to synchronize and replicant information between multiple modules in real-time.

The CosmoLex’s legal time and billing module helps in managing batch processing invoices, past due notices and more. It also helps to capture all billable activities and manage them by creating customizable invoices and overdue invoice notices.

Features:

• Calendar & Task
• Email Management
• Custom Fields
• Document Assembly
• Document Management
• Secure Client Portal
• Time & Expense Tracking
• Billing & Payments
• Electronic Billing

Pricing: $89 (month-to-month)or $79 per user/month (billed annually)

 

MerusCase is a cloud-based legal practice management system that intuitively adapts to fit your practice, streamlining document automation, time tracking, billing, scheduling, email, case management, and more. All its tools and features are integrated into one easy-to-use platform that you can access anywhere at any time from any device. MerusCase automates your day-to-day tasks through advanced technology that can be used by law firms of different sizes and sectors.

The system is ideal for law firms that want to cut costs, save time, and focus more on serving clients instead of being bogged down by routine tasks. MerusCase brings with it features and capabilities for efficient document automation and management, time and billing tracking, training, and secure data storage.

Features:

• Document automation and management
• Streamlined case files
• Template and form auto-population
• Batch scanning
• Predictive searching
• Bookkeeping system
• Invoicing
• Time tracking
• E-Billing
• Reports and analytics

Pricing: 

$40 per user/ per month, but they offer a discount for long-term commitments.

 

9. HoudiniEsq

HoudiniEsq was developed for small firms to assist them in business-related functions such as organizing documents, setting schedules and appointments, marking calendars for hearings, and more. The software can run on the cloud or on-premise and offers an extensive set of features and capabilities such as time and expense tracking, billing and invoicing, case management, and client management, and others. The solution handles everything on the business side of legal practice, enabling you and your law team to concentrate on providing the best legal service to your clients.

The platform integrates with a number of business tools and services such as Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, Excel, QuickBooks, calendar apps, postal services, Google, and more. Creating and sending custom documents and templates is not a problem.

Features: 

•  Billing & Invoicing
•  CRM
•  Calendar Management
•  Client Portal
•  Conflict Management
•  Contract Management
•  Document Management
•  Email Management
•  Legal Case Management
•  Task Management
•  Time Tracking
•  Trust Accounting

Pricing:

HoudiniEsq is available in two on-premise packages and one SaaS/cloud plan that goes for $64 per user/month

 

10. Sheriasoft

 

 

 

Sheriasoft is designed to help law firms, legal departments, and independent law practitioners shift to the modern way of law practice management. It brings together functionalities for billing, time tracking, calendaring, matter, and task and document management under one intuitive, user-friendly, and affordable platform.

The platform is completely web-based and is accessible from your PC, Mac, iOS, or Android devices. It utilizes bank-grade encryption, security audits, and a centralized and secured cloud location for your data. Sheriasoft is available in two plans—for solo practitioners and law firms, and for legal departments.

Features:

• Task Management
• Contact Management
• Time Tracking
• Document Management
• Reporting
• Conflict Search
• Matter Management
• Smart Notifications and Reminders
• Quick and Easy Billing

Pricing:

 

11. Litify

Litify is a fully integrated SaaS platform built for law firms and legal teams. Their practice management software combines legal case and legal matter management, document generation and management, intake, reporting and more—all in one place to help law firms operate as efficiently as possible. 

The software is built on Salesforce, which gives users full access to all the integrations, resources, updates and capabilities that come with secure cloud technology.

Features:

• Real-time and automated analytics and reporting with customizable dashboards
• Integrations with software like Google Ads, DocuSign, and QuickBooks
• Helps legal marketing teams capture and convert leads
• Case management 
• Email management 
• Document management
• Video conferencing
• Reporting

Pricing:

Litify is priced on a per-user/per month basis. The price per user is determined based on the unique needs and functionality required for each Litify account.

 

Final Words

Implementing a comprehensive legal case management software will help your firm work as a cohesive team. You will no longer have to deal with lost paperwork, missed deadlines, or delayed payments. The ability to organize your cases, reports, and payments in an easier and quicker way will bring to improved efficiency and more time for new cases.

 

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