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Legal Case Management Software

Legal Case Management software is used by lawyers to coordinate the operations of their firm. Case management programs for law firms coordinate documents, scheduling, conflicts, contacts, and reporting associated with legal cases. Whether your business needs attorney case management or litigation case management software, these tools enable an integrated solution to automate case management, client history tracking, and contracts as well as billing and accounting. Legal Case Management solutions for lawyers also often include database management, electronic discovery, and automatic document template editing features, enabling organizations to manage, distribute, and update key case-related data. Legal Case Management software is related to Legal Document Management software, Law Practice Management software and Legal Billing software. Browse our legal case management directory to find the best tool for your practice in Canada.

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CosmoLex is the only cloud-based, total practice management, billing, and accounting system (no QuickBooks® required). Learn more about CosmoLex
Thousands of law firms have switched to CosmoLex - the only cloud-based, law practice management software with built-in, compliant legal accounting (no QuickBooks needed). CosmoLex eliminates the struggle of juggling separate systems for law practice management, billing, and accounting. LawPay credit card processing is also built-in with no fixed monthly fee. Simply log into CosmoLex Cloud - anytime, anywhere - to get everything you need to run your entire law practice. Try free today! Learn more about CosmoLex

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
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Ranked #1, Clio is the leading legal case management software with the most 5-star reviews. Schedule a live demo to learn more. Learn more about Clio
Ranked #1, Clio is the leading legal case management software with the most 5-star reviews used by 150,000+ lawyers from large, small & solo firms. Work the way you want with flexible solutions for multi-practice firms and manage your law firm securely from anywhere. Personal Injury, Real Estate, Family Law, Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Immigration + more. Access and manage your work in one central system - with matters, contacts, billing, and everything you need in one place. Learn more about Clio

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
The highest-rated, easiest-to-use legal case management software on the market. Automate tasks & streamline case progress from anywhere Learn more about PracticePanther Legal Software
PracticePanther is the highest-rated, easiest-to-use legal case management software on the market. Effortlessly automate and streamline your firm’s operations from anywhere with our intuitive, user-friendly platform—enabling your firm to get more done in less time. Built for small to large practices specializing in areas including bankruptcy, personal injury, family, divorce, estate planning, litigation, criminal law, and many more. Join the tens of thousands of law firms across 170+ countries relying on PracticePanther to optimize workflows and boost productivity. Try it free today, no credit card required, and experience the difference. Learn more about PracticePanther Legal Software

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
A comprehensive suite of legal-tech solutions powered by AI, providing an all-in-one platform of Matter and Contract management. Learn more about Lexzur
Lexzur is a comprehensive suite of legal-tech solutions powered by AI, providing an all-in-one platform including Legal Practice Management System, Matter Management System, Contract Lifecycle Management & Document Automation System, Time Billing, Litigation Management System, Task Management System, Client Portal, and much more. Lexzur platform is designed to streamline and elevate legal-tech operations for teams of any size in law-firms, in-house legal departments, procurement departments, HR departments, and in any team consuming legal-tech products. It leverages the power of AI to automate tasks, documents and data, enhancing decision-making, and improving overall efficiency. Lexzur platform is modular, highly configurable and customizable, multi-language, multi-currency, and available on-cloud, on-cloud with Local Data Residency, on private-SaaS and on-premises. Learn more about Lexzur

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Award-winning legal case management system with built-in Artificial Intelligence tools. Learn more about SmartAdvocate
Automated Procedures allow for the creation of repeating tasks, the ability to send automated text messages or emails to contacts, the automatic generation of documents, and much more - all triggered by various events of a case. A user-favorite includes the birthday trigger, which automatically sends a message on a client's birthday. WorkPlans act as a high-level, automated checklist that ensures staffs have an established process to follow in each case. Learn more about SmartAdvocate

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Filevine's all-in-one platform simplifies case management from intake to settlement. Customizable, secure & trusted by 125,000+ users Learn more about Filevine
Filevine is the #1 legal tech platform in America. Manage the entire lifecycle of your cases, from intake to settlement, with Filevine's comprehensive suite of features trusted by 125,000+ users. Track deadlines, manage documents, collaborate with clients, & handle billing and invoicing seamlessly. Firms everywhere also love how they can customize Filevine to their unique business as it grows. We have users from every practice type including personal injury, immigration, family law, criminal defense, government, and so much more Filevine's cloud-based platform ensures secure access to your data from anywhere, anytime. Store unlimited documents, video, audio & image exhibits all within Filevine - for free, forever. Utilize Filevine's AI capabilities to generate documents in minutes & summarize cases in seconds. Integrate Filevine with your favorite tools, including Outlook, Gmail, Quickbooks & more Filevine ensures your data is protected with SOC 2 Type II and CJIS certification Learn more about Filevine

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
monday.com is a cloud Work OS, where teams run their projects and everyday work, whether they are in the office, home or on-the-go.
monday.com is the best legal case management software to help you manage every single case! Coordinates documents, scheduling conflicts, contacts, and any reporting associated with each of your legal cases. Share files, comments, checklists, and more to stay up-to-date throughout every case's development. Get updates in real-time with our mobile app, and invite external stakeholders, clients, and more to track your cases and promote transparency. Learn more about monday.com

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Boost productivity with customizable Docs, Reminders, Goals, Chat & more. Over 3 million teams have joined. Streamline workflow today!
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform that eliminates work silos. It's the hub where teams come together to plan, organize, and collaborate on work using tasks, Docs, Chat, Goals, Whiteboards, and more. Easily customized with just a few clicks, ClickUp helps teams of all types and sizes deliver work more effectively. By replacing inflexible and overlapping tools, ClickUp helps teams save one day each week! Learn more about ClickUp

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Wrike's legal case management software has reporting, time and budget tracking, and automation. Track progress and simplify invoicing.
Wrike is trusted by 2.3M worldwide and can be easily used as legal case management software. Use Wrike's powerful reporting, budget tracking, calendars, and project management to drive better results for your clients. Save time by automating your processes using custom request forms and templates. Track legal case progress with shared team dashboards, store documents, and simplify invoicing with easy-to-use time tracking. Learn more about Wrike

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
The BQE CORE Legal cloud for client and matter management utilizes business and artificial intelligence and a robust mobile app.
CORE Legal's cloud practice solution provides management tools in a centralized location with anytime anywhere access on any device. Monitor client expectations, matter workflows, events, tasks, billing, and firm financials by connecting front and back office operations. Business and artificial intelligence provide an intuitive user-friendly interface for ease of data entry and real time updates. Seamlessly monitor and delegate assignments to improve efficiently and increase profitability. Learn more about BQE CORE Suite

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
MyCase is a top-rated, complete legal case management solution with all the tools firms need to run a better practice, from anywhere.
MyCase is a top-rated, end-to-end legal case management software that helps firms run efficiently from anywhere, provide an exceptional client experience, and easily track firm performance. Streamline day-to-day firm processes in one, easy to adopt solution -- lead tracking, client intake, case management, eSignature, billing, payments and more. Start your free trial (no credit card required) today! Learn more about MyCase

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
New realities call for new solutions. We are the #1 time and billing, and payments software for law firms. Try for FREE now.
At HALF THE COST of other solutions, TimeSolv provides the robust time and billing needs law firms demand, without the extra features you never use. Store payment information using TimeSolvPay and run hundreds of payments in seconds on YOUR timeline, achieving ZERO AR! For over 20 years, our web-based solution has helped lawyers increase their billable time and get paid faster, whether at home or in the office. Integrate with LawPay, QuickBooks, Office 365, and more. Try for FREE for 30 days! Learn more about TimeSolv Legal Billing

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Freshsales is packed with features and a highly intuitive UI so that you don't have to juggle multiple tools to run your business.
Freshsales is a full-fledged sales force automation solution for sales teams. It provides everything a salesperson needs to— attract quality leads, engage in contextual conversations, drive deals with AI-powered insights, and nurture customer relationships. With built-in email, phone, chat, and telephony, Freshsales empowers sales teams with more time for selling by automating the sales process and increases efficiency and productivity in their daily activities. Learn more about Freshsales

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
AbacusLaw is a turn-key, fully integrated Case Management Solution for firms of all sizes, in all practice areas and jurisdictions.
AbacusLaw gives you all the tools you need to grow your firm - including case management, time, billing, and full G/L accounting operations. Automatically capture critical case and client details, prevent important deadlines from falling through the cracks, and gain complete visibility into your practice. Learn more about AbacusLaw

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Quickbase helps customers see, connect and control complex projects that reshape our world.
Big ideas aren’t simple to execute. So we’re here to help you tackle any project, no matter how complex. We’re Quickbase. Quickbase helps customers see, connect and control complex projects that reshape our world. Whether it’s raising a skyscraper or coordinating vaccine rollouts, the no-code software platform allows business users to custom fit solutions to the way they work – using information from across the systems they already have. Learn more about Quickbase

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
LEAP is a legal practice and case management software that allows firms to manage and store client and matter information in one place.
LEAP is a legal practice and case management software for small to medium sized law firms wishing to become more efficient, more productive and make more money. It allows you to manage and store all of your client and matter related information in one electronic file that can be accessed from your desktop computer or mobile device. Features include automatic time recording, pre-configured matter files for major areas of law and automation of client and matter data entry. Learn more about LEAP

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Logikcull (a Reveal technology) transforms the traditional approach to discovery, legal holds, and investigations.
Logikcull (a Reveal technology) transforms the traditional approach to discovery, legal holds, and investigations by allowing thousands of in-house legal teams, Fortune 500 companies, U.S. Government and Educational entities, and Am Law 200 firms to cull the noise and find the signal. Join them to dramatically reduce legal spend- without increasing headcount. Learn more about Logikcull

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Smokeball helps you be more more productive, accurate & profitable, so you can focus on what matters.
Smokeball legal practice management software helps you be more productive, accurate, and profitable. Automatic time capture records every billable minute. Revolutionary client intake allows firms to turn prospects into clients and start matters faster. A seamless Microsoft Office integration, robust document automation, and a library of 20,000+ pre-loaded forms helps staff create documents with a few clicks. Smokeball is installed locally and, with our browser app, you can work anywhere. Learn more about Smokeball

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Rocket Matter gives busy lawyers one single source of truth that empowers them to grow their firms and increase their profitability.
Find everything you need to grow your firm in one place. Rocket Matter provides the most flexible, cloud-based legal practice management software on the market, with innovative features and exceptional customer support. Voted by Forbes as Best for All Sizes. Visit http://rocketmatter.com to start your free trial. Learn more about Rocket Matter

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Practice Management software that integrates your information into a single system for improved efficiency and profitability.
Amicus Attorney is an intuitive case management solution that tracks and invoices billable time, automates important documents, and provides easy access to all your clients and case files. Work from your desktop or in the private cloud while integrating with QuickBooks and other applications. Learn more about Amicus Attorney

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Bill4Time is a cloud-based law practice management software designed to boost your bottom line with robust time tracking and billing.
Bill4Time is a cloud-based law practice management software designed to boost your bottom line with robust time tracking and billing. Manage your billing, expense tracking, invoicing, and payments on our simple interface. It’s easy to use and made for legal practices of all sizes. Work faster by automating your operations, client communications, and reporting. We’re here to make sure your billable time is tracked, organized, invoiced, and accessed securely from any computer or mobile device. Time is money and it’s important to keep track of both. We are dedicated to streamlining your billing system with industry-leading features and an award-winning customer support team. Learn more about Bill4Time

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Tabs3 Software is a reliable, easy-to-use, seamlessly integrated suite of products for legal professionals.
Tabs3 Software provides intuitive, fully integrated legal billing and practice management solutions that combine privacy, security, and advanced performance with fast, flexible, work-anywhere functionality. Developed with law firms in mind, Tabs3 Software simplifies managing matters, calendars, contacts, and documents. Choose from Tabs3 Cloud, hosted, and on-premises server options; all include outstanding US-based support. Set up a demo and learn more at Tabs3.com. Learn more about Tabs3

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
CASEpeer is the only personal injury case management solution built for you, not by you.
CASEpeer online case management software is built for personal injury law firms. Easy to use, and easy to implement. Designed for personal injury law firms, CASEpeer streamlines your practice from intake to settlement. Every account comes with ready-to-use reports and management screens, so you can make faster and smarter decisions. Our law firms convert more leads, see better results, and have more insight into their cases. Maximize the potential of your attorneys and staff with CASEpeer. Learn more about CASEpeer

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Cloud-based solution that helps process servers send email notifications, manage job routes, create invoices, and more.
The most-used process server software on the market. ServeManger is a full-featured software solution for management of service of process designed for law firms and process servers. Generate affidavits, manage billing, payments to servers, update jobs from the field, client portal and much more! Learn more about ServeManager

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software
Integrates with LawPay, Word, Excel, Outlook, Evernote, QuickBooks, Acrobat, Calendar/Court Rules, WordPerfect & Google.
Web-accessible - Keep your data in house or in the Cloud. Provides matter, contact, email & doc management. Includes doc assembly, workflow automation, billing & trust, task scheduling, group calendaring, 1 click PDF generation, document & email templates, full-text search including documents, email & email attachments, collaboration tools, customizable fields forms & list. Integrates with Word, Excel, Outlook, Evernote, QuickBooks, Acrobat, Calendar/Court Rules & Google. Learn more about HoudiniESQ

Features

  • Billable & Non-Billable Hours
  • Trust Accounting Software
  • Electronic Signature
  • Communication Management
  • Conflict Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Client Portal
  • Workflow Management Software
  • Case Notes
  • Task Management Software

Legal Case Management Software Buyers Guide

Introduction

Legal case management software is a category of software solutions that have been designed to assist lawyers, paralegals, other legal professionals, and law firms with the management of information and operations related to legal cases. Ultimately, they are intended to serve as an integrated solution, allowing users to collect, store, access, and amend relevant data. Additionally, they provide the means for client tracking, case management, contract management, and accounting activities to be carried out from one place without needing to switch between applications.

The central database contained within legal case management software allows relevant data to be stored and organized in logical ways, making it easier for users to find what they are looking for. At the same time, most best-in-class solutions within this category will provide automation tools, allowing some of the more predictable, foreseeable, formulaic or repetitive activities carried out by legal professionals and law firms to be performed automatically, with minimal or no human involvement. This then frees users up to focus their efforts on other areas that need attention.

Aside from keeping important information secure and structuring it in logical ways, legal case management software is intended to improve efficiency, assist with calendar management, and aid both coordination and collaboration between legal firms. Due to the nature of the software’s features and its intended uses, it is often categorized alongside similar software solutions, including legal document management software, law practice management software, and legal billing software. There is often significant crossover with such programs, especially in terms of features, and in many cases, these solutions can be integrated with legal case management software as well.

The features that are included within different legal case management solutions on the market can vary, as can the quality of those features and the ways in which they are actually implemented. With that being said, there are a number of core features, which buyers can expect to see in the vast majority of high-quality software packages of this kind, and which help to define the legal case management software category itself. Therefore, as a general rule, users of these solutions should expect to be able to achieve all of the following actions or activities:

  • Create, store, and manage case notes, containing important information about legal cases
  • Manage information about clients and manage communications across multiple channels
  • Generate and send invoices, and store relevant data related to financial transactions
  • Utilize calendar management tools to manage appointments, deadlines, and important dates

Legal case management software describes software solutions that are intended to assist those involved in law and related fields with the management of information and activities that are linked to legal cases. This includes managing case notes, client contact details, contracts and other important documents, financial information, and much more. Software of this kind typically serves as an integrated solution and is used by lawyers, paralegals, law firms, and others.

A significant part of legal case management software is centred around keeping important data secure and organized in a logical way, so that specific pieces of information can be found easily. Keeping data in one place also assists users looking to improve overall efficiency. The software can also help to enhance communication internally and with external clients while simultaneously enhancing collaboration within a law firm or across multiple organizations.

For the most part, legal case management solutions will primarily function as a centralized database, which can be used for securely storing, accessing, editing, and removing relevant information. However, artificial intelligence (AI) powered automation features are also often included, helping legal professionals by ensuring that the more foreseeable or repetitive tasks are carried out without the need for them to intervene and perform the tasks manually.

Generally speaking, legal case management software is offered as a standalone solution. Yet, it may also be possible to find many of the same features within a more comprehensive law practice management package.

The benefits of legal case management software are largely centred around its ability to consolidate data that would otherwise be spread across different software solutions, making it easier for those working in law firms or within the legal profession to access what they need, when they need it. However, there are additional benefits too, and it is useful to examine the full range of ways utilizing legal case management software can help individuals and law firms:

  • Organization of data: Legal case management software can help with the organization of all of the relevant information and data linked to legal cases so that it can be easily found and accessed in the future. Having case notes, contract information, client contact details, appointments, scheduling information, invoices, and billing information all in a single place is extremely valuable for law firms and legal professionals alike, because it eliminates unnecessary friction and provides a sense of structure to organizations that deal with extremely large volumes of data. Organizing data within a single package can also be useful for providing a level of consistency and standardization to this data.
  • Greater efficiency: Through the use of a good legal case management package, work performed by legal professionals can become much more efficient, and this occurs for a number of reasons. Firstly, the aforementioned centralization of data means law firms, lawyers, and paralegals will be able to find what they are looking for much faster because all of the relevant data is accessible from within the software. However, beyond this, the best software solutions in this category also provide a variety of options for automation. As a result, many of the more unnecessarily time-consuming activities and tasks can instead be performed automatically, with minimal human intervention, freeing up much more time to be spent on the activities and tasks that really require a human touch.
  • Improved data security: Keeping information about legal cases in one place can also provide law firms with benefits in terms of data security, ensuring that information is always available and protected from corruption, accidental deletion, or external cyber threats. Cloud-based solutions can help to protect data because they make it quick and easy to restore data to a previous state. Meanwhile, on-premise deployment options can still protect data via regular backups. Of course, regardless of which deployment option is used, information can be protected so that only those who are authorized to use the software are able to access the data contained within.
  • Scheduling benefits: Through the use of built-in calendar management functionality, it becomes much easier for law firms and legal professionals to manage their schedules and ensure that they do not accidentally miss important deadlines or overlook important actions that need to be taken at particular times. Users can arrange appointments and meetings, add them to the calendar, and manage their schedule more effectively, with options for alerts or notifications to be set up for when the most important events, activities and deadlines are approaching. Beyond this, many solutions will also include time tracking features, which can help legal professionals to manage their time while allowing law firms to understand which cases are taking up the most time, which cases require more attention, and when more resources need to be allocated to a particular legal case or task.

The features of legal case management software are designed to assist legal professionals with the management of data that is relevant to cases they are involved with. This is primarily achieved through database functionality, which enables data to be easily added, removed, organized and searched for. With that being said, it is also important to break down the list of features contained within software of this kind so that individual components can be fully understood. With this in mind, the most important and common features buyers can expect are outlined below:

  • Case notes: Make notes on individual legal cases and then store these notes securely within the built-in database. Through the use of case notes, legal professionals can track case activities, view updates, access important information, and stay on top of each individual case they are working on. Case notes also have a valuable role to play in helping legal professionals to get to grips with an existing case that they have not previously been involved with. High-quality legal case management software will typically allow case notes to be stored, amended, added to, and sorted in logical categories so that they can be easily found.
  • Client management: Add database entries for each client and store important data about each of them. Data collected about legal case clients may include contact details, information about their particular legal case, and a record of any and all communication between the law firm and the client. This then makes it much easier for legal professionals to pick up where they left off with a client or to access past emails or information collected via other communication channels. It may also be possible to include database entries for other legal firms—or other legal professionals working for those legal firms—which is valuable in instances where collaboration is required.
  • Document management: Create, store and manage documents through a centralized document management function. This may include documents related to legal cases, documents related to specific clients, contracts with individuals or organizations, financial documents, and much more. The best solutions will provide tools allowing documents to be categorized or assigned keywords, and this can then make it much easier to find specific documents when the time comes. Additionally, some solutions will offer full text search functionality, providing legal professionals with the ability to search for specific words or phrases within all documents stored in the database.
  • Billing and invoicing: Calculate how much clients owe, generate invoices, and then send the invoices so that clients receive their bills and ultimately pay for the services they have accessed. Almost all information related to financial transactions between clients and law firms can be managed from one location. Past invoices and billing information can also be accessed, which may be important for managing company finances. The top software packages will include tools that will automatically generate invoices based on the services being offered, the number of hours spent on a particular legal case, and the established rate clients are charged for legal services. To achieve this kind of automation, billable activities and actions can be defined within the software.
  • Calendar management: Maintain a work calendar, highlighting all of the important dates coming up for a law firm. In particular, the calendar management function can be used to schedule appointments with clients or other meetings related to legal casework. Through the use of the built-in calendar tool, amendments can be made, allowing organizations to track any appointments that are rescheduled and remove any appointments that are cancelled. Furthermore, notifications are provided within many solutions, and this can ensure users are alerted when a scheduled activity is coming up, even if the software is not being used at the time.
  • Client portal: Provide clients with their own dedicated space within the application to access their own data, read information about their case, and view past communications. The client portal may also include a calendar so that clients know when they have appointments or important dates, along with financial information, where they can access bills and potentially even make payments. Allowing clients to engage with law firms in this way can enhance communication, provide them with a greater sense of direct involvement, and make it easier to collaborate.
  • Task management: Plan, schedule, and update the status of individual tasks or activities that need to be carried out. Each task can be defined and even broken down into daily actionable activities. The status of tasks can also be updated, and this status can then be made visible to all authorized users. Such a feature can be useful for senior staff who need to check progress but may also be important in law firms where multiple employees have access to the same pool of tasks. High-end solutions may also provide the tools required for legal professionals to establish an order of priority for tasks so that the most critical or time-sensitive actions are performed first. This can then help to ensure lawyers and paralegals make the most effective use of their time and avoid missing deadlines.
  • Time tracking: Monitor the amount of time that is spent on each legal case or on specific tasks associated with a case. Time tracking can be beneficial for those working in legal professions for a number of reasons. Firstly, it allows lawyers, paralegals, and law firms to gain a better understanding of which cases are occupying the most time and how much time is being invested in each case. Related to this, time tracking can also be crucial for calculating the number of billable hours being worked, so that accurate invoices can be sent out. In this sense, the time tracking functionality can also double as an expense tracking feature within many software packages of this kind.

Using Capterra's legal case management software directory, it is quick and easy to sort through the available options based on the specific features they provide. This means buyers can filter out options that are unlikely to be suitable and begin their search by focusing only on those that provide the most essential features.

When purchasing legal case management software, there are many things that need to be considered or contemplated in order to ensure buyers find the best possible solution for their specific needs. While legal case management solutions will share many of the same features and functions, it is important to understand that these options do still vary significantly in terms of who they are aimed at, what they are designed to achieve, and how advanced they are. A good way to find the best software package is to ask a series of questions, such as:

  • How much does legal case management software cost? Any time software is being purchased, the price should be a major consideration. After all, legal firms are like any other organization and must operate according to the budget they have available. Yet, while price should always be contemplated, decision-makers need to think more holistically and consider the overall costs associated with each solution they are interested in. More specifically, it is essential to think about the total costs associated with acquiring, deploying, and utilizing the software, including any costs linked to training employees or accessing technical support and software updates. Of course, the issue of cost also needs to be viewed within a wider context. Ultimately, a purchasing decision should be based around weighing up what the software can offer against what it will cost. It may be worth investing in a more expensive solution if it will provide clear benefits over cheaper options on the market. Similarly, it may be worth sacrificing some features or some level of functionality in order to acquire a more affordable solution.
  • What are the most essential features for a legal case management solution? Next, buyers need to consider what the most essential features are for their legal case management software. While most options will share similar core functions, not every law firm, legal department, or legal professional will have the same priorities, and not all of these features will necessarily be essential for everyone. In this sense, buyers should think about the features they specifically need and try to find the most suitable solution for them. This may even mean overlooking a solution that is objectively superior if many of its features are not actually going to be used.
  • What is the best software deployment option? When exploring the different legal case management solutions on the market, buyers will find that there are two main options in terms of how the software is deployed. On-premise deployment involves paying to acquire the software license and then installing the software on company systems. This option has high upfront costs, but the long-term costs may end up lower, and there is a greater sense of control. However, companies are also responsible for handling the data and keeping it secure. The alternative is cloud-based deployment, which involves a third-party service provider taking responsibility for deploying the software - using cloud infrastructure for secure data storage. This has extremely low upfront costs, and there are advantages in terms of data security. In most cases, it is also possible to access the software remotely, from anywhere in the world, using a wide range of different internet-enabled devices. However, there will usually be a monthly or annual subscription fee to pay, and this means the long-term costs may end up higher. Buyers will, therefore, need to weigh up the pros and cons of these two approaches and consider which option is most compatible with their needs, budget, infrastructure, and wider strategic objectives.
  • Can legal case management solutions integrate with other software? Finally, it is worth taking the time to consider whether the options on the market can integrate with other software packages and, more specifically, whether the software is compatible with the solutions that are already in use within a law firm. The best solutions will provide options for integration with third-party calendar applications, database software, time management applications, task management applications, and CRM solutions. This kind of integration can help to avoid unnecessary duplication of data while also making sure data is consistent across applications. Of course, integration can also save considerable time and effort, meaning that more work tasks can be performed through the use of the legal case management software alone, and this can then result in further productivity benefits.

The most relevant legal case management software trends, as well as trends within this field in general, are also worth thinking about prior to making a purchasing decision. Understanding these trends can provide the foundation upon which to make decisions because buyers need to know that software has been designed with an awareness of the current legal landscape in mind. Furthermore, software developers who have factored in the most relevant trends are more likely to produce tools that remain useful over time, and this is crucial for future-proofing an organization. With this in mind, some of the most significant trends related to legal case management software include:

  • Improvements to artificial intelligence: One of the biggest trends to be aware of when exploring legal case management software options is the improvements that have been made to artificial intelligence (AI) technology over recent times. Across a wide range of software categories, AI is now being used to carry out complex tasks that would once have required human users to perform them. Within the context of legal case management solutions, AI can provide a variety of tasks and processes, including electronic discovery, contract renewals, and analytics, helping legal firms to identify trends or better understand performance. It is recommended that buyers explore the available options with an awareness of how artificial intelligence can be used so that they invest in a solution that maximizes the use of this technology, along with the many advantages it can deliver.
  • The growth of digital signatures: With more and more business being carried out entirely online and across wider geographic regions, it is no longer sufficient to rely on paper-based contracts and physical signatures for important legal documents. Digital signatures are considered equally valid across North America, the United Kingdom, and mainland Europe, and many other parts of the world, and software used by legal firms needs to be designed with an awareness that paper-based work is in decline. In fact, digital signatures should be encouraged as much as possible because research shows that they can greatly improve document turnaround times. This means deals can be concluded much faster, progress with legal cases can be sped up, and overall efficiency will increase. Capterra’s article lists the top 5 digital signature software in Canada.
  • Hybrid and remote work models: Improvements to electronic communication, especially in terms of video communications technology - along with the growth of cloud-based software deployment - have helped to make remote and hybrid work models much more viable. The process of actually adopting these work models was greatly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and companies are going to continue to reap the rewards. Logically, this means that law firms and legal professionals need to be investing in software solutions that have been designed to facilitate such work models. A 2021 Capterra survey found that 34% of Canadian employees are more productive when working from home. Remote accessibility in legal case management software is going to be essential in any law firm where remote or hybrid work occurs, and mobile accessibility may also be extremely valuable here too.

Sources:

The features highlighted were identified based on their relevance and the percentage of products in Capterra's directory that offer them. The following sources were used for this document:

  1. Legal Case Management Software - Capterra Canada (Date accessed: Sunday, February 27, 2022)

  2. Why Digital Signatures Should Be Used In Every Legal Department - Capterra Blog (Date accessed: Sunday, 27 February, 2022)

  3. 5 Top online signature making software and their key benefits - Capterra Canada Blog (Date accessed: Wednesday 4, 2022)

  4. Productivity when working from home: 7 insights from Canadian employees - Capterra Canada Blog (Date accessed: Wednesday May 4, 2022)