7 Best Softwares for Attorneys

Every law firm is different, and has unique needs based on a multitude of things. You might have limited staff, different types of practice areas, certain strengths and weaknesses, and therefore might need different assistance in some areas. We decided that, in order to save you some time on free trials and demos, we would do the research for you, and come up with 7 legal softwares - assessing them on their strengths and weaknesses, your potential needs, and the type of money you’ll need to dish out in order to use the software.

1. Clio

Clio is one of the largest cloud based management softwares, boasting over 70,000 users and partnerships with more than 38 BAR associations. Clio does everything from intake to invoice, and doesn’t miss much in between. Here are some of our favorite features Clio offers:

Features

Document Management and Document Automation:

This feature allows you to keep all of your documents, forms, and other necessary files secure in the cloud. You can also create documents on the fly, share documents with your clients and keep track of the changes and edits made. Clio uses a private client portal to allow you and your clients to exchange documents with ease. You can handle all of your clients’ documents in one place, without having the tedium of separating files and wasting time filing.

Clio also integrates with Microsoft Office, so all of your files can be easily exported, or even imported - whichever way you create your documents. Not only that, it integrates with all leading cloud storage services, including: Dropbox and Google Drive. Clio will keep your documents extremely organized and secure, all while having the convenience of exporting them easily to whichever platform you prefer.

Time Tracking and Billing:

Clio will actually let you record the time you spend on a case. You don’t have to just estimate, you can actually start a timer within Clio that will track how long you’ve spent, and will either limit the time you spend on the case or simply record it. This way, you can focus more on the task at hand, not the accounting of the time you’re spending.

You can also create time entries from your calendar and other documents. Since your documents and calendar can be separated by each case, you can assign them times and it will all be stored accurately.

According to the way you bill, either flat fees or hourly fees, you can assess and accurately assign prices to your billables. You can also track how much you’ve billed in total for accounting purposes.

After Clio has determined your billables for you based on the intuitively collected information, you can automatically generate a bill for your clients, as well as receive payment. Again, Clio’s integrations come in multiple forms, allowing you to collect payment from clients using largely used services such as PayPal or LawPay (which we will also be discussing later in this article.)

You can also establish payment plans for customers that can not pay their bill up front. Payment plans can be customized for each client, so don’t worry about trying to make every client fit into the same plan. Each one of your bills can be linked to an individual matter, so you can group matters or keep them separate, whichever you and your clients decide.

Trust Accounting and Integration With Quickbooks:

Clio’s Trust Request feature will ensure that there are no improper entries when handling your accounting, since it will help you follow IOLTA guidelines. Clio allows you to have clients deposit payment directly into your trust accounting using their credit card, and also makes the entry into your ledger for you. After this is done, you can track your trust accounts and your client payments in Clio’s portal, which can track multiple accounts and can be viewed in as much detail as one matter, or you can view an entire account. This way you can see the entire picture.

Don’t make mistakes with your trust accounting. Clio can record advances, payments, and can help keep track of your trust accounts while transferring funds to operating accounts. Even better, Clio integrates with Quickbooks to help you keep your accounting 100% accurate!

Pricing:

Billed annually, Clio is $39, $59, and $99 per month. Each pricing plan is an additional $10 per month when you pay month-to-month. In our opinion, the $59 per month package is the best option, as it integrates with payments and allows all of the integrations you would need to efficiently use the software. We think $59 for all you get with Clio is a pretty fair price!

Summary:

Overall, Clio provides everything you need to move your law firm into a cloud based software, and they don’t specialize in one single need, so this is good for the all-around attorney who wants to move their entire practice into the cloud!

What We Love:

• Time tracking will actually time you and record time spent on each case.
• Trust Accounting features keep your trust and operating accounts separate.
• Secure all your documents electronically inside Clio’s portal.
• Multiple pricing packages to choose from so you can cater it to your unique practice.

Room For Improvement:

• The pricing package including all features is a whopping $99 per month annually.
• No complimentary bookkeeper portal to record transactions.

2. Lexicata

Lexicata is a contact management software and Legal CRM that stores all of your contacts in an easy to find platform. Basically, you can customize contacts, add specific notes, and track the source of your leads as well as schedule tasks and reminders in order to keep you on top of every case! Here are some of our favorite features about Lexicata:

Features

Online Intake Forms:

Build a form instantly with drag and drop interface, which you can 100% customize if you so choose. Lexicata allows you to send a unique URL to a client, which allows them to fill out their information online. You can track the status of the forms you send clients and set reminders/due dates to follow up if forms aren’t filled out. This can be extremely useful if you need clients’ info and/or signatures to move forward with a case!

Lead Tracking and Matter Tracking:

Lexicata’s lead tracking features give you the ability to “tag” every lead within Lexicata with a referral source, allowing you to know which types of methods are bringing more clients and revenues to your firm. For example, if you start a new marketing campaign that is bringing you 2 clients per month, but your previous advertising dollars were bringing in 10 new clients per month, you will see these numbers side by side and be able to realize that your previous advertising methods were more effective than your new marketing campaign - a strong indicator that you should spend your money accordingly.

Matter tracking will allow you to manage individual tasks within each contact, making sure that you are constantly up to date and ready to go with every single matter regarding each client’s case. Even better, if a task due date is creeping up on you, Lexicata will let you know that time is running out and you need to focus on this right away!

E-Sign:

E-sign, a technology that allows you to collect electronic signatures instead of using paper and pen, is extremely useful for your firm because you don’t have to constantly either have clients come to your office, or travel to your clients. You can send over a unique URL that will allow clients to electronically sign documents online, saving you time and making your cases move even faster. Lexicata will also allow you to automate followups and reminders to clients whose signatures are required with automatic reminders for yourself as well, making sure that all of your e-signatures are completed!

Pricing:

Lexicata customizes their pricing to each and every law firm, and you only pay for the amount of users you’ll need. Unlike Clio, Lexicata offers unlimited storage and use of every feature in the platform for a flat rate, based on how many users you’ll need. Contact Lexicata for your firm’s custom price quote!

Summary:

Overall, Lexicata is more task and followup oriented, so for those who have a lot on their plate and need the extra assistance reminding yourself and your clients to stay on top of things, Lexicata is for you. Attorneys who like automated followups and reminders might want to take a look at Lexicata!

What We Love:

• Customizable online intake forms for your new clients.
• Keeps track of your leads and matters within the leads.
• E-Sign makes collecting signatures easy and eliminates having to travel.
• Reminders let you know what due dates are coming up so you know what to work on.

Room For Improvement:

• Pricing is customized to your law firm, so you’ll need to call for a quote.
• No complimentary bookkeeper portal to record transactions.

3. CosmoLex

CosmoLex is an all-in-one Case Management Software that comes with its own proprietary accounting solution, meaning you won’t need QuickBooks integration! CosmoLex is more for the solo attorney who needs the all-in-one tools in order to do that job, and has an outside accountant that handles the books, because CosmoLex gives you a free login to give to your bookkeeper! Here are some of our favorite features that CosmoLex offers:

Features

Law Office Accounting:

Like we mentioned before, CosmoLex’s proprietary accounting software is built in alongside the practice management capabilities so there is no need for QuickBooks or any other integration with any third party software. You also get a free portal for your bookkeeper to log in and manage your accounting.

Client Portals:

Once inside Cosmolex, you can set up individual portals for your clients to log in and complete documents, signatures, payments and other things that need to be shared between you and your clients. This way, you can send your clients forms without the hassle of faxing. Simply give your client his/her portal login, and keep the line of communication between the two of you fast and easy!

Legal Invoicing and Billing:

CosmoLex allows you to capture every billable activity and itemize your invoices for your clients so that they have a detailed breakdown of the services you have rendered, and can easily understand what they are paying for. You can also customize your invoices with your letterhead and logos so that clients know exactly who the invoice is from!

With one single click, you can email or print your invoices to send or give to your clients, and accept credit card payments through a seamless integration with LawPay (we’re getting, to LawPay, don’t worry!) Giving your clients the freedom to choose their payment method and widening the range of the payments you accept will only improve your cash flow. You can also customize payment plans for each individual client’s needs!

1:1 Individualized Support and Training:

From the moment you start with CosmoLex, their support team works with you to make sure that you can use the platform to its full potential. When you eventually sign up with them after your 30 day free trial, they set up everything for you… and we mean everything.

CosmoLex will put your data into the system, set up your logins, set up a login for your external bookkeeper, and they don’t stop there. For as long as you use CosmoLex you receive free unlimited support, free unlimited data storage, and free unlimited secure client portals for all of your clients.

Pricing:

Similar to Clio, CosmoLex, each user is $49 per month billed annually, and $59 per month billed month-to-month. With this, you get their free data migration, free login for your bookkeeper, free law firm accounting book, free unlimited support, and free unlimited data storage.

Summary:

CosmoLex does not piecemeal its services, so you may find that you like CosmoLex better! We won’t recommend one over the other, you’ll have to choose based on your own preference! Attorneys who like the benefit of unlimited support may want to check out CosmoLex for their case management software needs.

What We Love:

• Cosmolex has its own proprietary accounting software.
• Free portal for your bookkeeper to log in and record transactions.
• 1 on 1 support and training makes sure you are never in the dark.
• Pricing is one flat fee per month with all features included.

Room For Improvement:

• Only one pricing plan to choose from.
• It seems to lack in legal intake ability.

4. LawPay

LawPay is an online credit card processing solution that correctly separates unearned fees into your IOLTA account and earned fees into your operating account to avoid any commingling of funds. LawPay is the most widely trusted credit card processing software for law firms and works with 46 State BAR associations as well as specialty and local bar associations.. Here are some of our favorite things about LawPay:

Features

Protects Trust Accounts:

LawPay protects attorneys' client funds by restricting the ability of any third-party from debiting monies from a trust account. This takes the burden of separating funds yourself out of your hands, and places it in the widely trusted hands of LawPay.

Mobile App:

The LawPay mobile app makes it easy for you to receive payments and have clients sign for payments on your smart phone. This means clients literally use their finger to sign their name on your touch screen! Simply have your clients plug in their credit card number, agree to the payment, and verify it with their signature on your smart phone’s touch screen! The ability to collect credit cards as payment makes payment plans easier as well, as you can automate your clients’ monthly payments according to his/her individual needs, and what you both have previously agreed upon.

You can also view your transaction history and provide receipts to all clients all while being able to void and refund payments with the touch of a button.

Integrations:

LawPay essentially integrates with every Case Management Software that you could possibly want, including CosmoLex, Practice Panther, Clio, Lexicata, and many others.

Pricing:

LawPay's pricing is determined by the plan you select. Rather than trying to explain it, LawPay has done a good job of breaking it down with this chart:

Summary:

You don’t need an entire case management software? In case you don’t want an entire Case Management Software, and you just want the convenience of handling your billing and credit card payments with ease, LawPay is for you.

LawPay is perfect for any law firm that is looking to easily accept credit card payments in order to better cater to their clients!

What We Love:

• Easy to use and extremely intuitive.
• Convenient for you and your clients to send and receive payment.
• Allows you to accept credit card payments.
• Integrates with nearly every case management software.

Room For Improvement:

• Lacks in overall case management capability.

5. Captorra

Captorra is a legal intake software that exists entirely in the cloud, and is essentially a guide for your legal intake call professional. The legal intake call professional can use captorra to answer the phone and go through a new client form without having to know much other than what the form tells them to have asked and answered. Here are some of our favorite features offered by Captorra:

Features

Customized Intake Scripts:

Since different types of clients need different things from you, and each case is different, the information that your legal intake professional obtains from a potential new client is paramount in being able to assess his/her case. You can customize each legal intake form inside of Captorra for each different area of law that you practice. Of course, your separate fields of practice will live in separate forms inside of your Captorra portal, so that your legal intake professional always gets the correct information from each different type of caller!

There are unlimited fields that you can fill out, so you can have your legal intake expert handle as much or as little as possible during the intake process. You can customize whatever works best for you and your practice.

Follow Up and Automation:

If you don’t hear back from one of your new clients that you have put into your Captorra system, you can schedule automatic reminders and followups to ensure that you’ve afforded every opportunity to help this caller. This is especially helpful for volume-based practices with tons of callers to keep track of. Don’t worry about following up, automate the process and let Captorra handle it for you!

Lead and Referral Tracking:

Captorra allows you to track where each lead came from, and helps you to track your referrals as well, so that if you send a client to another attorney, doctor, etc. you can keep track. You can see in real time, the analysis of how your clients are coming to you, and you can make educated decisions about how to allocate your advertising and marketing dollars based on the historical data. This is especially important for those spending money on PPC advertising campaigns, TV advertising, Radio advertising, Search Engine Optimization, and other means of advertising in order to obtain new clients.

Customizable Dashboard:

Customize the home page of your portal inside Captorra and look at the things that matter most to you. Maybe you are more task-oriented and you would like to see who requires a follow up, or maybe you are more analytical and you like to see how each of your marketing campaigns are performing side by side. Whichever you prefer, you can customize the perfect view in order to run your practice more efficiently!

Pricing:

Captorra costs $150 per user per month.

Summary:

Captorra will take your legal intake to the next level, and will allow you to analyze your leads like never before! Attorneys who need to step up their legal intake process should check out Captorra!

What We Love:

• Customizable legal intake scripts for each area of law you practice allow you to cater to each individual caller.
• Lead tracking helps you track how your advertising/marketing is performing.
• Customizable dashboard to view the things you care about most as soon as you login.
• Follow up and reminder scheduling to send your clients reminders ensures you keep your clients in the loop.

Room For Improvement:

• No pricing available on their website for comparison.
• Does not seem as if it is as all-encompassing as a case management software.

6. MyCase

MyCase is a legal practice management software that has a case and matter filing system, task and calendar automation, document storage, invoicing and billing system, and a direct private messaging portal for you and your clients. Here are some of our favorite features of MyCase:

Features

Case and Matter Filing System:

Each one of your individual cases contains all of the separate matters that you are working on within the case. For example: if you are working on John Doe’s civil case, you might have the matters: request for dismissal, restraining order, or cross complaint, all within John Doe’s case. This way, it is as if you have filed all of those matters within a folder named John Doe, but instead, they are available to you with the single click of your mouse! The case and matter filing system is extremely simple and easy to use, and we even tested it out ourselves with a free trial. We found that it was easy to create matters and upload documents, and is extremely intuitive.

Shared Firm Calendars and Reminders:

Since multiple people within your firm might be working on a case together, it is important that each person is able to view and edit matters and documents within each individual case. MyCase allows you to do exactly that. Rather than passing around folders and paper, each user in your law firm has instant access to the case, and you can even archive all changes that are made to a case, in case a mistake is ever made, so that you can restore the case to the state in which it was correct. Having this access to a functional teamwork within a case management software is important for firms with multiple or many employees, so this may be a huge benefit for firms that have multiple people!

Shared Calendars and Reminders allow the workflow to be assigned in the way that your law firm works. For example: if one person is in charge of a case up until its court date, then a reminder will pass from the original handler to its new handler, letting him/her know that a court date is impending, and that preparations need to be made. Reminders can be assigned to anyone working within the case, to ensure that everything is done in a timely manner, and everyone holds each other accountable for the work that needs to be done.

Pricing:

MyCase is one of the cheaper softwares, starting at $39 per user per month for attorneys, and $29 per user per month for paralegals and support staff. These prices do not fluctuate with additional services. In fact, every feature of MyCase is included with each user that you pay for!

Summary:

Overall, MyCase seems to be the most intuitively created case management software, as a single case can be handled by multiple people, and the life cycle of a case seems to be carried well through the platform, from its inception through its completion. Not to mention, it is one of the cheaper and better Case Management Softwares available!

What We Love:

• Shared firm calendars and reminders create a team workflow.
• Case and matter filing system is extremely intuitive to use.
• Pricing is fair for what you get and includes all features.
• A single case can be handled by multiple people within the firm.
• Secure client portal with private messaging capabilities.

Room For Improvement:

• Mobile app has bugs that many have notified MyCase about.
• Costs more for the attorney’s login than a paralegal or support staff login.

7. Smokeball

Smokeball is a legal case management software that turns every single piece of paper that you need for your cases into a digital file so that you eliminate physical paperwork inside your law firm. Their legal form database includes over 6,000 forms from BAR associations across the country, so that you don’t have to do research in order to find forms on websites, just search your easily accessible library. Here are some of our favorite features that Smokeball offers:

Features

Included Automated Legal Forms:

You no longer have to browse county websites for forms, you can just search the form library and find exactly what you’re looking for. You can set up your own forms, use Smokeball’s forms, and access over 6,000 forms from local and State Bar Associations. You can even integrate your forms and letters with Microsoft Word, so that you can edit your forms however you please. Of course, your letterhead, logo, and any other branding can be placed at the top of any form that you download and use inside of Smokeball.

Smokeball also converts any document to a PDF before sending it as an attachment, so that if you need to send documents over to a not-so-tech-savvy client, the simplest format for printing is attached! We know that sometimes things can be complicated, so Smokeball will help you convert any and all of your files to PDFs for easy access and easy reading!

You can insert logic into your forms using if, then, ask, and/or, and any other legal language that you might need to insert within a form, so don’t worry about figuring out the logic of your forms. Smokeball has you covered.

Tasks and Workflows:

Tasks and workflows for your employees will actually tell them what the very next step is in a case so that the person working on the case at that time can perform the next necessary step. Sophisticated workflows are completed as each completed task triggers the next reminder for your employee to complete! You can set multiple reminders and multiple triggers that activate the next necessary task within a case, which will increase your firm’s productivity!

Your daily updates will allow you to see what was completed the day before, the entire week before, the entire month before, or any combination of the three. You can see which types of workflows are working best for your employees so that you can use similar protocols in the future, and get rid of protocols that slowed overall productivity.

Legal Website Building and Hosting:

If you are a Smokeball client, Smokeball will design and create a brand new legal website for you including free stock photos, social media, hosting, and upkeep of the site… for no additional charge. If you don’t have a website and you are using Smokeball, they will literally build you a site at no additional charge.

If you are not a Smokeball customer but you need a legal website built for you, Smokeball will create your website and perform all the necessary upkeep and hosting for $50 per month!

Pricing:

Smokeball does a lot for you, and because of its powerful platform, they charge a whopping $99 per month per user, with a 90 day money back guarantee. They offer a free demo and will train you on the platform, so if you need sophisticated workflows for your employees and a free brand new website, you might want to go with Smokeball.

Summary:

Smokeball starts at the legal intake, and doesn’t stop until your client is completely satisfied with your work. They also build you a completely new website for free if you’re a client. Attorneys in need of stepping into the new era of practice management and also in need of a new website should check out Smokeball!

What We Love:

• Tasks and workflows can have “triggers” which allows users to set up sophisticated workflows.
• Daily updates let you know what needs to be done that day.
• Document library has over 6,000 forms from State and local BAR associations.
• Smokeball will build you a brand new website if you’re a customer for no charge.
• Eliminates the need for physical paperwork inside your office.

Room For Improvement:

• Pricing is a bit high at $99 per month.
• No portals for clients to login and share document.

We hope this helps you in your search for your new legal software! Let us know if we missed anything, or if we helped you find your new favorite legal platform! As always, subscribe to our blog for the latest and greatest in the news, more helpful articles to help you market your practice, and more interesting topics!