Blog Resources

What Is Legal Case Management Software and How To Choose The Best One

by | Dec 15, 2022 | Legal, Software

Legal Practice Management Software & IT Services

2022 Law Practice Management Software: What is it and what’s the best software for your law firm?

What is Law Practice Management Software?

Law practice management software is a software or web application designed to manage a law firm’s case and client records, billing and bookkeeping, schedules and appointments, deadlines, computer files and to facilitate compliance requirements such as document retention and courts electronic filing systems.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has found that calendar and deadline-related mistakes account for most legal malpractice claims. Because law schools do not generally teach new attorneys the business skills to run a law office, many law firms have turned to technology to ease the learning curve and reduce clerical errors. In short, law practice management software, while an initial investment, can yield long-term savings by reducing clerical errors and improving the operations of law practices.

 

What Does Law Practice Management Software Do?

Law management software allows you to keep all of your firm’s information in one secure place, creating a working environment that improves access to information and the management and scheduling of a wide range of legal tasks. As a result of the powerful capabilities of legal management software, law firms can complete many administrative tasks more efficiently with less chance of error.

 

Core Features of Legal Management Software:

1. Case Management: a good case management system keeps you organized and provides easy access to information when you need it.

2. Legal Document Management: allows you to securely edit and store your legal documents.

3. Billing: most legal practice software includes billing, allowing you to automate time-consuming tasks and helping you get paid faster.

4. Contact Management: Manage all of your clients and contacts easily in one secured place.

5. Trust Accounting: Simplify reconciliations and manage your trust account regulations. Most legal software management allows you to sync to third-party accounting software such as QuickBooks Online.

6. Calendaring: Many law firm mishaps and missed deadlines happen due to a lack of a calendaring system. With legal management software, you can stay on top of deadlines and keep connected wherever you are.

7. Task Management: Improve your productivity with features like to-do lists, project management, and task progress to keep your law firm team organized and in compliance.

8. Law Firm Insights: Get data analytics on time, utilization, and collection rates so you can make informed business decisions. With a birds-eye view of your firm, you can improve performance and find opportunities to increase productivity and revenue.

 

How Legal Work Gets Done With Technology

More and more legal work is becoming mobile. Working on legal documents in a client’s office, a meeting room, or court is becoming more common. The days where you have to be in the office to get legal work done are over. 80% of lawyers bring their smartphones to court, and over 77% of lawyers regularly work from home.

Lawyers in the courtroom or legal proceedings are using technology to access their law practice management software, legal documents, calendar, and the internet. Because of the growing use of technology in the legal space, it is important to have your law practice’s technology secure and supported by a managed service provider.

 

How to Choose the Best Law Practice Management Software

There are many choices for law firms when it comes to law practice management software. Popular software such as Amicus Attorney, Clio, Practice Panther, Smokeball, and Tabs3 are excellent choices for law firms looking for management software. We’ll go over a few of them in this section. But first, let’s go over some ways to determine which software is right for your law firm.

 

The difference between on-premise and cloud management software:

On-premise legal management software is more of a traditional software model where law firms purchase licenses for individual staff and then install the software from a disk or via download onto the individual’s computer. With this option, all information is stored on a dedicated computer. This creates the need for having a central file server to be shared across the firm to conduct work. A secure network that is backed up routinely with access available outside the office through a virtual private network (VPN) will need to be set up and maintained. EVERNET, a legal IT support service, can help you install, manage, and secure your on-premise software and network.

Cloud-Based legal software management, also known as web-based software or software as a service (SaaS), is a newer option for law practices that utilize the web to deliver software applications. To access cloud-based legal software, an attorney will use a web browser like Chrome or Microsoft Edge to log into their law firm’s software account to access their data and software features. Instead of using a dedicated network where your legal information is stored, the data is securely stored on cloud servers. Having security measures in place like multi-factor authentication allows attorneys to access cloud-based legal software at any time from any device.

 

Costs & Maintenance of Legal Management Software

How much does legal software cost? Do you go the licensing route or the subscription route? How does legal management software affect your firm’s IT? These are all questions law firms have to consider when looking for legal management software. If you’re looking for legal IT support along with legal software, EVERNET can help you with both.

Law practice software involves updates, security patches, networks and servers, and cyber security measures. Choosing a legal management software that offers security and predictability is a great advantage to attorneys.

 

EVERNET’s Law Practice Management Software Recommendations:

As a law firm, you have many options when it comes to law practice management software. From Needles, Tabs3, and PCLaw/TimeMatters. It all depends on the specific core software needs your law firm has. Below are EVERNET’s top 3 recommendations for legal software.

 

Amicus Attorney

Amicus Attorney is a cloud-based legal management software by AbacusNext. It is a powerful case-management software with integrations to various third-party vendors like QuickBooks and Microsoft Office. Amicus Attorney features include case management, calendar, billing, document automation, and state court forms. They also have additional billing software and serve all law practice areas.

Amicus has assisted me organize my practice for over 25 years. The integration with the Billing program, Quickbooks and the APX credit card payment acceptance program is a convenient timesaver, very much appreciated. – Mark Johnson Attorney at Law 

Click here to learn more about Amicus Attorney

 

Clio

Clio is an easy-to-use legal management software with quick setup and features including case management, calendar, billing, document management, and client intake forms.

Generally Clio changed my practice. The software makes it easy to access critical data which is right on your dashboard, such as billing goals (day/month/year), A/R, actually vs. targeted billing, client and matters, just about everything a lawyer needs at his or her fingertips to make billing easy and efficient. – Edward David & Associates LLC 

Click here to learn more about Clio

Practice Panther

Practice Panther promotes a seamless, intuitive interface to manage your law practice. Features include case management, legal CRM, billing, document management, e-signatures, and military-grade security.

PracticePanther has helped keep my firm organized. We handle a large number of cases and we needed software that could help us manage them all, stay on top of tasks, and store information efficiently. PracticePanther has also been key in allowing for rapid growth in my practice. – Patton Law Office S.C. 

Click here to learn more about Practice Panther

EVERNET brings security to your trust account, legal documents, and devices with strong cyber security measures and 24/7 support. With the use of law practice management software comes cyber security risks. Working with a managed service provider can help.

 

 

Marketing Materials

At EVERNET, we are experts in providing a broad range of marketing materials to our clients. Our offerings include brochures, flyers, business cards, posters, product catalogs, websites, social media content, press releases, presentations, and email newsletters.

SEMRush Premium Location

SEMRush Premium is a comprehensive suite of tools that helps businesses improve their online visibility and performance. It includes features for keyword research, competitive analysis, website auditing, and more. SEMRush Premium is used by businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.

 

SEMRush Basic Location

SEMRush Basic Location is a feature that allows you to manage your business listings in over 70 local directories.

Email*: Newsletter

Email*: Newsletter" refers to a task or item on a schedule or to-do list that involves writing and sending an email newsletter to a group of subscribers. A newsletter is a regular communication sent by a company, organization, or individual to provide updates, share information, and engage with the recipient base.

Email*: Product & Services Promo

Email*: Product & Services Promo" refers to a task or item on a schedule or to-do list that involves writing and sending an email to promote specific products or services offered by a company or organization. This email aims to attract recipients' attention, highlight the features and benefits of the products or services, and encourage them to purchase or engage with the offerings.

Email* Company Post (Holidays, Quick News Items)

Email*: Company Post (Holidays, Quick News Items)" refers to a task or item on a schedule or to-do list that involves writing and sending an email on behalf of a company or organization. This email aims to share company-related updates, news items, or holiday greetings with the intended recipients, such as employees, clients, or subscribers.

 

 

Email*: Blog/Press Release (est 1.25 hrs)

Email*: Blog/Press Release" refers to a task or item on a schedule or to-do list that involves writing and sending an email related to a blog or press release. It typically entails reaching out to individuals or organizations to announce the publication of a new blog post or a press release and seeking their support, coverage, or collaboration.

Social Text Post 

A social text post is a written message or update shared on social media platforms or online communities. It is a way for individuals to express their thoughts, opinions, share information, ask questions, or engage in conversations with others within their social network or online community.

Project Discounted Hourly Rates

All new accounts pay a $500 dollar onboarding fee to start and an additional $125 per resource.

Managed Website Support

EVERNET’s team of experts offers comprehensive website support services to ensure your website's smooth and efficient running. Our support includes technical and administrative assistance, such as website security updates, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting.

Branding Style Guide

A branding style guide, also known as a brand guidelines document or brand manual, is a comprehensive document that outlines the visual and stylistic guidelines for consistently representing a brand's identity across various mediums and applications. It is a reference tool for designers, marketers, and anyone involved in creating or using brand materials to ensure the brand is accurately and consistently presented.

Branding Stylescape

A branding stylescape, also known as a brand mood board or visual identity board, represents a brand's aesthetic and visual direction. It is a collage or composition of various design elements, including color palettes, typography, imagery, patterns, textures, and other visual cues that capture the essence and personality of a brand.

Deliver Logo Pack

The deliverable logo pack is a comprehensive resource for clients or stakeholders to effectively use and apply the logo in different contexts and across various platforms. It empowers them with the necessary files and guidelines to maintain consistency, protect the integrity of the brand identity, and ensure the logo's proper representation.

Logo Mockups

Logo mockups are a valuable tool in the design process, allowing designers and clients to assess the logo's effectiveness in real-world applications. They help bridge the gap between a conceptual logo design and its practical implementation, enabling informed discussions and decision-making.

Vectorize Logo

When a logo is vectorized, the original design or raster logo is converted into a vector format. This conversion process involves tracing the original logo using vector software or redrawing it using vector tools. The result is a logo that can be scaled to any size without pixelation, making it suitable for various applications, such as print materials, signage, websites, or promotional products.

Revisions

Logo design revisions are crucial to the design process, allowing our clients to provide input and shape the outcome. Through effective collaboration and iterations, our designers strive to create a logo that reflects your brand's identity and values and satisfies the client's expectations.

Logo Sketches

EVERNET will work with our clients on a hand-drawn or digital drawing that represents an initial exploration of ideas for a logo design. It is a rough and simplified representation of the logo concept and serves as a starting point for further development. Designers typically create logo sketches during the ideation phase of the design process.

Logo Concept

At EVERNET, we collaborate with our clients to bring their logo ideas and design direction to life. Our team uses a creative and strategic approach to develop logo concepts that represent the brand or organization visually. These concepts are crucial in the logo development process before the final design is selected.

Introductory Meeting

An introductory meeting for a branding project with EVERNET is a gathering or discussion that marks the initial stages of collaboration between a client and our agency. Its purpose is to establish a foundation for the project, allowing both parties to exchange information, align expectations, and explore the goals and objectives of the branding initiative.

Page Localization per page

Page localization per page refers to adapting or customizing individual web pages to suit a specific target audience's language, culture, and preferences. Instead of translating an entire website, page localization focuses on specific pages or sections relevant to a particular market or region. It involves modifying a webpage's content, design, and functionality to cater to the particular needs and expectations of the target audience.

Multivariant Testing

Multivariate testing, also known as multivariable testing, is a technique used in marketing and web development to simultaneously test multiple variations of elements or factors on a webpage or within a marketing campaign. It allows businesses to evaluate the combined impact of various variables and their interactions, providing insights into which combination produces the best results.

A/B Testing

A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method used in marketing and web development to compare two or more variations of a webpage or element to determine which one performs better in achieving a specific goal. It involves dividing the audience into separate groups and showing each group a different version of the webpage or element to measure and analyze their response and behavior.

Sales Funnel/Lead Gen Pages

Sales funnel/lead gen pages are designed to capture leads and guide potential customers through sales. They are vital to online marketing and sales strategies, aiming to convert visitors into qualified leads and eventually into paying customers.

Revisions/Adjustments

Revisions or adjustments to a webpage refer to the modifications or changes made to a web page's content, design, or functionality. These revisions are typically done to improve the overall user experience, address issues, or update the webpage to reflect new information or requirements.

 

Web Page Translator

A webpage translator is a tool or feature that enables web content translation from one language to another. It allows users to view a webpage in their preferred language, even if the original content was written differently. Webpage translators are designed to make websites more accessible and user-friendly for a global audience.

Web Page Chat Bot

A webpage chatbot, also known as a web chatbot, is a type of conversational agent or virtual assistant designed to interact with users through a website. It is typically integrated into a webpage or application to provide real-time assistance, answer questions, and engage in conversations with visitors.

Web form creation refers to the process of designing and building interactive forms that are embedded in websites. Web forms are digital forms that allow users to input and submit information through various fields and elements.

Template Contact Form 

A template contact form refers to a pre-designed and pre-built form layout that can be used as a starting point or foundation for creating a contact form on a website. It provides a structured framework with the necessary fields and design elements commonly found in contact forms.

Privacy Policy Page

Termageddon privacy policies generator and management tool that helps website owners comply with various privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The tool provides customizable templates for privacy policies, terms of service agreements, disclaimers, and other legal documents that businesses may need for their websites.

Analytics & Search Engine Connection 

Analytics and search engine connection refer to integrating web analytics tools and search engines, typically Google Analytics and search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. This connection allows businesses to gather valuable data and insights about their website's performance, user behavior, and search engine visibility.

Client Portal Integration

Client portal integration refers to incorporating a client portal into a business's existing systems or website, allowing secure and streamlined communication, collaboration, and access to resources between the company and its clients.

Competitive Keyword Research $/KW

Competitive keyword research is identifying and analyzing the keywords that competitors target in their digital marketing strategies. It involves researching and understanding the keywords your competitors are ranking for in search engine results pages (SERPs) and using that information to inform your keyword targeting strategy.

Google Reviews Carousel

The Google Review Carousel is a feature in Google search results that displays reviews for a specific business or entity.

Blog Integration

Blog integration refers to seamlessly incorporating a blog into a website or other digital platform. It involves integrating the blog functionality, design, and content management system (CMS) with the existing website infrastructure, allowing for a unified and cohesive user experience.

CRM Integration

CRM integration refers to connecting a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system with other software applications or platforms to enable seamless data sharing, automation, and enhanced functionality. Integrating the CRM system with various tools, such as marketing automation software, email marketing platforms, e-commerce platforms, help desk systems, and more.

Copywriting/SEO

In web design, copywriting and SEO work hand in hand to create a visually appealing, engaging website optimized for search engines. Copywriters collaborate with SEO specialists to conduct keyword research and strategically integrate relevant keywords into the website's content, headings, and meta tags. They create persuasive copy that captures the target audience's attention and aligns with SEO best practices.

Custom Designed Page/Section

A custom-designed page/section is a uniquely tailored layout or structure created to meet specific design requirements and align with a brand's visual identity or individual preferences. Unlike a basic designed page/section, which often relies on pre-existing templates or standard layouts, a custom-designed page/section offers higher creativity, originality, and personalization.

Basic Designed Page/ Section

A basic designed page/section refers to a simple and straightforward layout or structure that serves as a foundation for content creation. It typically includes essential elements and a minimalistic design approach, focusing on clarity and ease of use. Primary designed pages/sections are commonly used in various contexts, such as web development, document creation, and graphic design.

Template Page/Section

A template page/section refers to a pre-designed layout or structure as a starting point for creating consistent and cohesive content within a larger document or website.

vCMO - Marketing Business Review 

A vCMO can be a valuable resource for businesses that lack in-house marketing expertise or need additional strategic guidance. Developing and implementing effective marketing strategies that drive business growth can be easy with a dedicated marketing team or chief marketing officer.

Advertising Management

With EVERNET's advertising management services, we take the burden off your shoulders by handling your advertising needs across various platforms. From social media and web advertising to print and billboard campaigns, we've got you covered. Our experienced team of professionals ensures that each venue receives dedicated attention, with an estimated time of 1 hour per venue.

Email*: Newsletter

Our team understands the importance of keeping your subscribers updated and entertained with valuable content. From industry insights and trends to company news and exclusive offers, our newsletters are designed to captivate readers and foster a sense of connection.

Email*: Product & Services Promo

When it comes to promoting your products and services, EVERNET excels in crafting compelling email campaigns. Our team specializes in creating attention-grabbing and persuasive email content that effectively showcases your offerings. Whether you're launching a new product, announcing a service upgrade, or running a promotional campaign, our tailored emails will captivate your audience and drive conversions.

Email* Company Post

With EVERNET's expertise in email marketing, we offer tailored company posts that are perfect for holiday promotions or sharing quick news items. Our team crafts engaging and personalized emails, ensuring your message resonates with your audience during festive seasons or when you have important updates to share.

Email*: Blog/Press Release

At EVERNET, our team of experienced copywriters excels at crafting specialized blog posts and press releases that cater to your business needs, delivering captivating content on any topic you desire.

Social Image/Graphic/Non-Produced Video Post

EVERNET creates captivating and tailored social image/graphic/non-produced video posts for its clients, ensuring that the visual content aligns with the unique requirements and characteristics of the social media platform on which they market their business.

Social Text Post 

EVERNET leverages its expertise to curate and distribute compelling social text posts on behalf of its clients, tailoring the content to suit the specific social media platform they utilize for marketing their business.

WP Rocket

WP Rocket is a premium caching plugin for WordPress websites designed to improve the website’s speed and performance by reducing the page loading time, minimizing HTTP requests, and optimizing code.

Workstation Backup

Backup and disaster recovery are two separate but connected concepts that organizations should always consider together. Backing up data is storing a copy of a business’s data in a cloud or physical environment, such as an external hard drive. 

 

General Copywriting/ Blog Press Release/ Content Page

EVERNET specializes in creating content that resonates with your target audience and drives engagement, whether you’re looking for blog posts, press releases, social media text, or email marketing.

Zoho Social Brand Management

Social media management tool helps businesses and agencies manage their social media presence more efficiently.

SEMRush Listing & Reputation management

SEMrush is a popular digital marketing tool that provides insights and analytics for SEO, PPC, social media, content marketing, and more. It helps businesses optimize their online presence, improve search rankings, and increase website traffic.

Termageddon

Termageddon privacy policies generator and management tool that helps website owners comply with various privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

SiteGround Website Hosting

EVERNET can assist your business by selecting the best web hosting platform based on your company’s specific needs and budget. Our experienced team can help migrate your site to a new hosting platform, configure the hosting environment, and provide ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the site is always running smoothly.

Managed Advertising Support

At EVERNET, we understand the importance of advertising your brand, services, or products to the right audience. That is why our industry professionals are here to help you optimize your advertising campaigns to achieve your advertising goals and increase your ROI.

Managed CRM Support

EVERNET is a third-party implementation partner; we work with trusted software customer relationship management (CRM) vendors to provide software and technology solution services to help your business grow. We provide expertise, support, and resources to help your company deploy and maintain third-party solutions.

Managed Social Media Support

With EVERNET Social Media Support, we provide a comprehensive suite of services tailored to your business needs. From developing a custom social media strategy to community management, advertising, and analytics tracking, we offer a personalized approach that ensures your success on social media.

Managed Listing and Reputation Support

EVERNET offers comprehensive managed listing and reputation support services to help businesses establish and maintain a positive online presence.

Hosted Phone Service (VoIP)

A VoIP phone service eliminates the need for expensive hardware, lowering the setup fee more than traditional phone systems. VoIP won’t cost as much as you think for everything from virtual numbers to video conferencing.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 suite is a family of productivity software, collaboration, and cloud-based services designed to make teamwork effortless. It includes Microsoft Outlook for email, OneDrive cloud storage, Microsoft Teams, and cloud applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Corporate Password Manager

Password Management is a service that utilizes software that stores and manages online credentials. This allows individuals and businesses to save and manage their passwords from one safe space.  

Virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO)

A vCIO, or virtual Chief Information Officer, is a professional who provides technical leadership and strategic guidance to an organization on a part-time or contract basis.

IT Maintenance

IT maintenance refers to ensuring that an organization’s information technology (IT) systems and infrastructure are operating smoothly and efficiently. This involves performing routine tasks such as installing software updates and patches, monitoring system performance and security, and repairing or replacing hardware.

Email Advanced Threat Protection

Email Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is a security solution designed to protect email systems from advanced threats such as phishing, malware, and zero-day attacks.

Security Awareness Training

Security awareness training educates employees on how to protect the organization’s computer systems. Its goal is to help prevent cyber attacks from impacting a company’s database and day-to-day operations. 

Patch Management

Patch Management is a service that involves identifying, acquiring, testing, and installing patches or code changes to the software. 

Antivirus (EDR)

Antivirus is software used to prevent, scan, detect, and delete viruses from a computer. Antivirus software typically runs automatically in the background and provides real-time protection against virus attacks.

Device Health & Security Monitoring

24/7 Device Health Monitoring is a service that allows our IT team to keep a finger on the pulse of your IT Solutions, keeping your network running without interruption.  

Vendor Management

Vendor Management Service is a service EVERNET offers that helps clients manage their vendors. We do this by creating a unique email address for every client on EVERNET’s mail server, and we point this email address to our Client Portal.

Managed IT Support

With expertise in everything from Microsoft 365 to hosted phone services, backup and disaster recovery, 24/7 device health and security monitoring, and everything in between, EVERNET will manage all aspects of your IT systems. Keep your focus on confidently running your business, knowing EVERNET has your IT Solutions covered.