Law Practice Management Software - The Top 20

Certain common factors must be present in legal practice management software. However, these features are limited. A few software may be more advanced with additional features.

Contact and Client management

Law practice management software ensures storing and organizing all client information and contacts in one place. With this feature, users are no more required to search for their client information in emails and databases. They can easily find them in the centralized storage, update information, and find details regarding who created the contact and when.

Time tracking & Docketing

With the time tracking and docketing feature, you can track legal matter-related activities like;

• Client emails
• Legal hearings
• Fining deadlines
• Scheduled appointments
• Document analysis

The docketing feature also helps law firms to get rid of tedious tasks like calculating periods.

Legal forms automation

The automated legal document creation feature ensures automatic document creation to eliminate errors during document drafting. This feature takes in information automatically and helps with creating the document. Thus, the legal form automation feature makes the process more efficient and effective.

Billing and accounting

This feature makes invoicing efficient and less time-consuming. The billing feature uses the recorded time to generate electronic invoices along with the due date for billing. The feature also has accounting facilities that enable you to track expenses, create reports, and understand the money flow within the organization.

Document storage

Today’s legal professionals require law practice management software to store documents online. This feature enables users to store all their case files in one place and access them when required. The system stores documents in template forms, spreadsheets, PDF files, photos, word files, etc.

Mobility

Law practice management software must be accessible from anywhere. There are a few specific legal solutions that have mobile applications. These platforms are easily accessible. Hence, all documents can be accessed by legal professionals who are mostly on the go.

Calendaring

With the calendaring feature, legal professionals can track their appointments. This feature typically provides a centralized calendar function to keep everyone on the same page. It is a single source wherefrom; the staff can track their meetings and other appointments too. However, larger firms may use separate calendars according to teams or departments to avoid confusion.

Besides these must-have features, a law practice management software may have other advanced features like;

• Lead tracking – There is legal practice software that enables users to track leads and analyze marketing efforts throughout the lifecycle.
• Case and matter management – This feature provides users case or matter-related information. Using this feature, you can track individual client cases, collect their requirements, and break them down into sections based on the data. Thus, it makes individual case data easier to find.
• Internal communications – A few law practice management solutions have internal messaging systems that enable users to communicate with clients and their teams within the software.

Legal research – Some law practice management software provides a database containing judicial decisions, statutes, and other materials. It helps legal professionals to understand specific laws so that they can make the best decisions for clients.

Legal professionals can ensure proper workflow only when there is a standard level of administration within the firm. Legal practice management software has made it easier for law professionals to manage and maintain regular operations.

Here are some benefits you can expect from good legal practice management software.

Better case management

A legal practice management software enables users to track the case statuses creating a database and removing interest in conflicts. Also, you can store all case records and data in a single place and easily access them when necessary. Hence, the software creates and maintains a workflow within the organization.

Increased storage security

A good law practice management software ensures the security of the files and documents. The solutions offer multiple security levels (like users, client/matter, etc.) that enable users to decide who will access what. For instance, users can control who can access, edit, and delete a client file both internally and externally.

Easy access with cloud storage

Most practice management software provides cloud storage for legal documents that enable users to access data anytime and anywhere. Even clients can store their documents in cloud storage for the lawyers to access them anytime.

Further, cloud storage systems are more secure than the firm’s internal storage because any virus or malware can easily wipe off records from internal storage systems.

Saves time & boosts efficiency

Legal document management involves a lot of paperwork when done manually. For instance, searching for a client file among hundreds is a tough job. But when stored electronically, users can easily search and access client files. Thus, it saves a lot of time and effort, increasing work efficiency and effectiveness.

Sync and track schedules

Most practice management software come with the in-built feature of syncing the firm’s schedule through shareable calendars. With this feature of the software, users can keep a check on the client appointments and time entries.

Better collaboration

With the built-in communication systems in some of the legal practice management software, teams can collaborate in a better way. Further, clients and professionals can also maintain communication easily within the software without having to make a call or send an email. Thus, the clients can always stay updated on the work.

Easy staff onboarding

One of the toughest parts of onboarding new staff is training. Investing in good legal practice management software enables you to minimize staff training.

A few applications provide the automated workflow feature. It enables users to build processes and maintain compliance across the entire workforce with minimum training.

Automated time entry

There are a few practice management software that enables users to capture time while working on the software. Also, a few solutions can track the time spent using other applications and programs throughout the day.

Increased staff productivity

Legal practice management software automates document drafting. It stores all data and client records within the software for easy access. In short, the software includes everything that a legal professional requires – case documents, appointments, schedules, contact info, notes, billing info, etc.

With everything readily available in one place, your staff knows where to look for information. They can easily access anything they need without having to search hundreds of files. As a result, the staff can be more productive throughout the day.

Increased customer satisfaction

Legal practice management software makes work easy and hassle-free. Further, legal professionals can work more efficiently from anywhere and keep clients updated on their cases. Thus, clients are happier and more satisfied.

If you are planning to purchase a law firm practice management software, check out the following factors.

Remote access

A law practice management software must be accessible from anywhere across devices. The availability of remote access features enables legal professionals to stay connected with the clients and their teams.

Data security

Legal documents contain sensitive and confidential information. Hence, a solution with a high-level data security system is necessary. Check for software with centralized storage, two-step authentic, multiple-level security, etc.

Availability of mobile application

If a law firm's practice management software has a mobile application it is a lot easier to use. Professionals can access the documents from anywhere easily and collaborate with teams and clients.

Integrations

A law firm's practice management software must be capable of integrating third-party applications for ease of work. Your existing applications like email marketing, payment gateways, CRM, accounting systems, etc. if integrated with the legal practice management software, you can easily sign in, use data from the apps, and track all documents.

Seamless communication via client portal

If legal professionals have a dedicated client portal, legal professionals can share confidential and sensitive information securely. So, to ensure security and confidentiality go with solutions that offer a client portal.

The legal practice software solutions in the market are mostly priced based on per user, per month. Based on their starting price, the pricing can be of three categories.

• $8 - $42
• $43 - $71
• $71+

Artificial intelligence automation

AI automation has made things easier for legal professionals. The junior lawyers are often burdened with case research and audits. They have a high chance of making mistakes when looking through large volumes of paper contracts, reports, case records, investigation files, etc. Hence, it is natural that the process may slow down.

With AI automation, users can automate the drafting of contracts, eliminating human errors. Thus, lawyers can save time and work more efficiently.

Internal client communication system

More and more legal practice software solutions are offering internal communication systems to increase client and professional interactions. Now, law practice software solutions come with in-built communication systems that make interactions easy and transparent.

Legal cloud storage

Law practice software solutions are introducing cloud storage facilities. Cloud applications are easy to run and they can be accessed from anywhere. Also, several cloud applications integrate with many more third-party solutions than usual. With the ease of access and wealth benefits, businesses are demanding more cloud solutions.

Smart contracts

The law practice software is gradually shifting from manual contracts to smart legal contracts. Smart legal contracts convert the standard terms and conditions of a contract to computer code. Users can upload the same script to the blockchains, resulting in a decentralized contract. Smart contracts reduce transaction costs and the risk of fraud as they do not involve any third party.

A solo law practice management software integrates with several other legal software solutions in some way. Such integrations help to manage the functions within a law firm.

• Legal billing software – Legal billing software is integrated with a law practice management solution when the latter does not include a billing feature.
• Legal case management software – Legal case management software is similar to law practice management software. But the former is more comprehensive and robust. Case management software stores individual case-related data and documents that lawyers can use to manage their caseloads.
• Payment gateway software – A payment gateway software when integrated with legal practice management software closes the loop and makes the payment process easy and efficient for the clients.

Get the Best Law Practice Management Software Now

Managing law practice requires legal practice management software. In this digitally evolved era, a good legal practice solution is a must to conduct everyday operations efficiently.

However, getting a good law practice management software is not easy as the marketplace offers several of them. So, make a checklist of the factors that must be present in the software solution and then consider buying one.

Investing in the ideal legal practice software ensures improved productivity, efficiency, and highly satisfied customers. Hope the information above will help you make better-informed purchase decisions. So, get your legal practice management software now!