THE PRACTICE of law may have remained unchanged for years but the way law firms do business is changing. Technology is disrupting the practice – and it’s a change for the better.
In this blog, we’ll be taking a closer look at software for law firms – the benefits and the use-cases – as well as the best legal office software on the market.
What software do law firms use?
Legal firms juggle a lot of day-to-day tasks – billing, invoicing, reviewing legal data, signing contracts and documents – so need a software system that enables them to manage all these responsibilities. While some legal offices may opt for a dedicated law firm software tool, others may prefer an all-in-one platform that combines a range of features designed to increase efficiency in different areas of business (i.e., project management, automation, and resource management).
How can law firms take advantage of automated software solutions?
To really get the most out of automated software solutions, law firms should use a tool that enables them to improve business workflows and tasks – from all angles. Instead of purchasing software that is limited to one specific function, legal offices should try opting for tools that offer a wider variety of features that can assist them in their day-to-day.
Benefits of using automated software solutions include:
- Increased efficiency and productivity
- Enhanced collaboration and communication
- Increased idea-sharing among team-members
- Securely stored data within one app
- Birds-eye of projects and tasks
- Increased employee retention
How to choose virtual law firm software?
With so many different options on the market, choosing the right software for your law firm can seem a little daunting. As well as taking your budget into consideration, you’ll also want to think about the following factors:
- How secure is it?
- Does it come equipped with manual updates?
- Does it have good customer support?
- Is it relatively easy to set up and integrate into existing workflows?
To help, we’ve created a list of some of the best law firm software tools available. We’ve also broken each of the tools down into separate sections – so you can get to the solutions you need straightaway.
All-in-one software for law firms
1. Scoro
Scoro is an end-to-end work and time management software for law firms that combines time billing, CRM, and legal case management in one comprehensive solution.
Easily bring structure to every aspect of your legal work from cases, tasks, calendars, customers, and quotes to budgets. You don’t even need to change the way you work – you can customize almost any aspect of Scoro to fit your workflow, and save more than 55% of the time that you’re currently spending on reporting, meetings, and double data entry.
Try Scoro’s 14-day free trial today!
2. Lex Machina
What’s the biggest fact of life today for attorneys in private practice? Competition.
Competition to get the client, to provide the most efficient legal services, and competition with the opposing counsel. In the past, lawyers have competed by combining two key skills: legal research and reasoning.
Lex Machina helps you save time on that legal research. It mines litigation data, revealing insights about judges, lawyers, parties, and the subjects of the cases themselves – culled from millions of pages of litigation information.
3. Boxcryptor
Keeping your personal data safe is important, but keeping your client’s data safe is a necessity. It doesn’t have to be difficult – as long as you keep the sensitive stuff, like contracts, wills, or records, encrypted and under your control.
Boxcryptor is a free cloud encryption service for your Mac or PC that works with Dropbox, Box, and other cloud storage providers.
4. Dictation
With Dictation, you can use the magic of speech recognition to write emails and long documents in a browser without touching your keyboard.
Dictation uses your browser’s local storage to save all the transcribed text automatically as you speak. This means you can close the browser and it will resume from where you left off.
5. Skype
Skype is a Swiss Army knife for inexpensive communication. If you haven’t used it in a while, try it again. You’ll be blown away by the call quality.
For no cost, you can call, instant message, video conference, and share your computer desktop with other Skype users. For additional fees, you call non-Skype phones and add a Skype Online Number that allows you to receive calls from other phones.
6. CrashPlan
CrashPlan makes computer backup simple. Even when you step away, CrashPlan is busy at work protecting all your important documents and files, automatically – so you can get back to whatever life throws your way.
7. FindLegalForms
High-quality legal documents don’t have to come with a high price. FindLegalForms provides good, basic-level legal forms, and a crude checklist of elements that you might want to consider including in various documents you have to draft. Tweak them, and your work is made much easier.
8. GoToMeeting
You know that work can happen any time, anywhere. And when it does, GoToMeeting steps in.
Hold online meetings with clients when there is a need to discuss documents or talk about things that need to be shown as well as spoken. Attendees can participate by Mac, PC, iOS, or Android device, and the presenter can show their webcam, and record the session as well.
9. Evernote
Inspiration strikes anywhere. Evernote lets you capture, nurture, and share your ideas across any device.
Create a project to-do list. Jot down a reminder. Or snap a picture of a sketch. A note can be anything you want it to be. And once you make a note, it’s accessible wherever you go, forever. You can even search for handwritten words buried deep within your notes!
10. Cornerstone
To deliver stellar client service and high-quality billable hours, you need to attract and retain the top talent.
Cloud-based Cornerstone software helps law firms implement the talent management best practices that drive employee performance, development, engagement, and retention. And it gives HR, managing directors, and partners the employee performance data they need to make effective staffing decisions.
11. SenditCertified
SenditCertified enables you to easily communicate online while maintaining attorney-client privilege. Safely send and receive email messages and documents – as well as audio and video files – while maintaining control over who can view, print, save or download your messages and files.
It’s the ideal law firm software for receiving confidential information – with a link to your SenditCertified inbox, clients, judges, and outside counsel can send you encrypted messages and files – without needing to register for an account or download any software.
12. Logikcull
Logikcull‘s cloud-based Legal Intelligence platform makes complex processes like eDiscovery, internal investigation, and public records response simple. It’s the leading provider of cloud-based legal intelligence.
Imagine uploading 1,000 internet pages of aged contracts, then employing the engine to uncover the correct types that are relevant to the situation. Or uploading a 20 GB email database of messages and narrowing it down to only the messages between people today appropriate in your situation – you get the stage.
13. Access
Law firms and other legal practices such as lawyers, solicitors, and intellectual property management companies rely on efficient time and billing software. They also need confidence that their accounting activities are robust with the power to deliver timely business intelligence and monthly reports. And with Access, they can achieve just that.
14. HelloFax
HelloFax is a virtual fax tool for your virtual law office. A hosted digital fax solution replaces expensive fax machines, fax servers, and supporting infrastructure. HelloFax lets you send, receive, and manage digital faxes from the desktop, the web, or smartphone. You can do away with your old fax machines and streamline your workflow with a PDF-based, paperless office.
Everything about your business, one click away
Further reading
- How to Find the Best Software that Suits Your Needs
- 79-point Guide to Getting Started with New Software