Top 20 Litigation Software for 2023

Investigation

Attorneys arrange for private investigators to get the details in the case. This stage involves collecting evidence such as forensic reports, medical records, and informal evidence. All evidence is stored in litigation law software.

Pleading

Both plaintiff and defendant parties file pleadings with the court. It has two sections: the complaint and the answer. The plaintiff lodges a complaint against the defendant mentioning all of their wrongdoings and this will be sent to the defendant.

The defendant has to give an answer to this complaint. They have the right to ask for further clarification or ask the court to completely ignore this complaint. Attorneys use litigation management software to upload all these documents, and they can ask clients to give an e-signature on these papers rather than using hard copies.

Both client and attorney will have access to all the documentation in one place.

Discovery

This is the third stage in the litigation process, and here both plaintiff and defendant try to research and discover as much as they can about the case. Attorneys conduct legal research, review documents, depositions, and file motions as and when needed. 

Discovery is the longest part of any case as it continues until the trial ends. All the required reports and documents can be stored in litigation case management software. This software also sends alerts and reminders to the attorneys as and when required about case updates.

Apart from helping attorneys with reports, documentation, and reminders, this software will also help law firms in keeping track of all the work done in this discovery period. Most law firms usually charge on a per-hour basis, and the litigation document management software will help them track the exact hours worked on the case.

Pre-Trial

This is the time period when attorneys on both sides negotiate, and most of the time, cases are settled during this stage. Usually, attorneys come to an understanding and proceed with settling the case rather than going into the trial. 

If at all both parties come to a settlement, the same can be mentioned in litigation software and close the case with every detail that the attorney and law firm needs. 

Trial

If both parties want to proceed with the trial, they go to court. Before they proceed with the argument, attorneys have to present case briefs to the judge along with every related document that they are going to use while arguing. 

These documents can be testaments from witnesses, any other supporting document, etc. Here the arguments happen between both parties. It starts with opening statements, questioning, closing statements, and the verdict. 

This trial period is very crucial for attorneys, and having all the required documents in both physical form and digital form on their litigation software mobile app can help them in court. Apart from it, they can also get notified about upcoming court trials via this app, and they can prepare themselves effectively. 

Settlement

This settlement is usually in monetary form for any civil case. The losing party has to give an amount to the winning party as per the judge's orders. 

Appeal

If either party is not happy with the judgment, they can file an appeal. They will have 14 days after the judgment date to file this appeal, and once they do this, the case will go to a higher court with all the required documents.

During this appeal stage, the higher court checks for errors as per legalities and can change the case outcome as per the judge's decision. 

Litigation management software automates multiple workflows and assembles all the work related to the legal department in one place. It is one of the best software that legal teams can invest in. Here are some of the primary benefits of using a litigation software:

Data Centralization

Legal departments have lots of data that they need to manage and work around on day-to-day basis. Reliable litigation document management software can help them in this process. This software segregates data according to the case and stores them in different folders. Every case has its own folder with all the required data. Right from court dates to the opposing lawyer's number, everything is available in one place. 

Managing Dates

Every attorney out there knows the importance of deadlines. With so many cases in hand, it becomes tough for the legal teams to remember the dates of every case they are dealing with. This is where the litigation case management software can help them. 

The software will give them a reminder about the deadlines of different cases. The legal teams can assign the respective person who needs to be reminded about that particular case. The best thing about automation is that teams can sync these reminders with their Outlook or Gmail calendars. 

Easier Access to Data

It becomes extremely tough for lawyers to go through data when there are so many hearings going on. However, with litigation management software, it becomes easy for them to access the required document with just a few clicks. This software can be accessed from multiple devices, and with one centralized point for data, they can check required documents whenever required.

Expenditure Tracking

Lawyers or legal firms usually set up the bill payment post the judgment date, and they feed all the billing required information into the software. While this process requires fine on the surface, there are so many issues with it. 

The hearings can continue for so long, and lawyers have to note down everything they did during this time. This can become quite tiresome for organizations. This is where litigation software can help attorneys.

All the work done by legal teams for one case is recorded in the software, and once payment time arrives, lawyers just have to re-check and bill accordingly.

Better Communication

Litigation case management software can act as a great communication tool between legal and non-legal teams. Attorneys and other legal team members can use this tool to communicate with clients and their employees. 

All the communication that happened between both parties can be recorded, which helps in keeping track of it all the time. 

Improved Time Management

Lawyers have multiple works to focus on, and when they have litigation document management software available, they can focus on those tasks rather than worrying about keeping track of documents, remembering the meeting dates, deadlines, etc.

This software automates various types of monotonous work that these lawyers have to spend their time on an everyday basis and gives them ample time to work on cases. From document management to getting e-signatures, this litigation software can help an attorney at every step of the case. 

Security

Lawyers need to be extremely careful when it comes to the data of their clients. They need to ensure that the data is protected and there is no breach. Legal teams that are using litigation software don’t have to worry about this data breach. 

It secures sensitive documents, and lawyers can restrict access to users.

Litigation software programs typically include features such as document management, e-discovery, case management, and legal research tools. Here are some of the most important features that every litigation software should have:

• Document management: This allows users to store, organize, and share documents related to a case.
• E-discovery: This feature enables the collection, processing, and review of electronic data for use in legal proceedings.
• Case management: This feature in litigation software for attorneys helps users track the progress of a case, including deadlines, tasks, and communication with other parties.
• Legal research: This feature provides access to a database of legal cases, statutes, and other relevant information to help users prepare for a case.
• Billing and time tracking: Some software also includes tools for tracking billable hours, expenses, and billing clients.
• Collaboration: Some software allows team members to share, comment, and collaborate on documents, tasks, and case information.
• Cloud-based access: Many software provides cloud-based access, so users can access their case information from any device with an internet connection.
• Reporting and analytics: Many software provides reporting and analytics functionality, which allows users to track the performance of their team and cases.
• Mobile App: Some software has mobile app versions to allow access to cases and information from mobile devices.

When choosing litigation software, it is important to consider the specific needs and requirements of your organization. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:

Ease of Use

The software should be easy to navigate and use for all team members. It's important to have a user-friendly interface.

Security

Legal information is strictly confidential, and it is important for lawyers to choose software that has robust security measures in place to protect this information.

Integration

Consider if the software can integrate with other systems and tools you are currently using, such as email, calendars, and document management software.

Scalability

Choose software that can grow with your organization and adapt to changing needs, when the number of cases that you handle increases, your software has to be capable of offering support to all those cases. 

Support

Make sure the software vendor offers adequate support and resources to help you get the most out of the product after sales support plays a very important role.

Cost

Compare the cost of different litigation management software present in the market and choose the one that is within your budget.

Data Backup and Recovery

In case of data loss, data recovery, and backup features would help to restore data.

Customization

Many software provides customization options to adapt the interface and features to your organization's specific needs. 

Customer Reviews

Look at customer reviews and testimonials to see what other users have experienced with the software.

There are several trends currently impacting cloud-based litigation management software. Here are some of them:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine learning

These technologies are being integrated into litigation software to automate and improve tasks such as document review and legal research.

Cloud-based Solutions

Many litigation software companies are moving their products to the cloud to make them more accessible and easier for remote teams.

Increased Focus on Data Privacy and Security

With the rise of cyber-attacks and data breaches, software companies are investing in more robust security features to protect confidential information. 

Mobile Accessibility

Many software vendors are now providing mobile-optimized versions of their products, which allows users to access case information and documents on the go.

Automation of Repetitive Tasks

Many software vendors are now providing automation features to automate repetitive tasks such as document indexing, coding, and review.

Increased Focus on E-discovery

Many software vendors are providing e-discovery features such as data collection, processing, and review.

Priortizing Collaboration and Teamwork

Many software vendors are providing collaboration features such as team sharing, commenting, and case management to improve teamwork.

Dynamic Analytics and Reporting

Software vendors are providing more advanced analytics and reporting features to provide more insights and improve performance tracking. 

These trends are helping to make litigation software more efficient, user-friendly, and accurate, which can help to streamline the legal process and improve the overall performance of legal teams. 

Case Management Software

Case management software is a type of software that helps legal teams manage and track the progress of a case. It typically includes features such as document management, task management, and communication tools. 

Legal CRM Software

Legal customer relationship management (CRM) software is a type of software that helps legal teams manage their interactions with clients and potential clients. It is designed to help legal professionals to automate and streamline their marketing, sales, and client management processes. 

Document Management Software

Document management software is a type of software that helps organizations store, organize, and share electronic documents. It typically includes features such as version control, document indexing, and security.

Document Automation Software

Document automation software is a type of software that automates the creation, assembly, and management of documents. It uses pre-defined templates and rules to generate documents, reducing the need for manual data entry and formatting.

Automating multiple works with the help of litigation software can reduce huge burdens from attorneys and make their work easier. Legal firms and individual attorneys benefit a lot by  investing in this as it simplifies their work.