The evolution of integrated case & practice management systems has changed the face of legal practices and their conduct. Investment in Legal Software Solutions has been increasing tremendously and it is likely to continue in the future years to come. These programs are designed to manage both business and individual legal issues, offering huge potential to optimize efficiency, enhance processes, and provide better management of legal services.
Globally, law firms and lawyers are in a pressure to complete their everyday services with greater precision and efficiency. It is critical to adopt technology to automate several functions. An efficient legal software solution can come of great help.
This article includes detailed information about the legal case management software solutions that are used and recommended by the experts.
Evolution of Legal Case Management
During the mid-20th century, when legal practices came into existence, typewriters and telephones were used to perform most of the jobs.
Law firms began to experience the technological advances from the early 1950s with the invention of Dictation Machine, and these machines were first explicitly marketed in 1953. In 1970, Lexis and Word Processing Computers entered into the legal industry with a more advanced approach.
Then, there emerged the concept of Case Management during the 1990s, when some exceptional case management principles and authorities were established to handle legal matters in compliance with operational benefits to the legal firms and organizations. Later on, the hi-tech legal case management software solutions marked their significant presence into the industry at the beginning of the 2K era and have proved to be the powerful and most revolutionary tools ever invented in the litigation arena.
Till date, AI-based legal software programs are finding their way to support the lawyers and clients. Incorporating such technologies will save time and money, and also improve the case outcomes. Let us check how Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Assistance are supporting the legal industrial applications:
- AI-based apps and software programs help lawyers to perform research and due diligence.
- They provide shortcuts through analytical systems and additional insights for further legal approach.
- They automate creative processes like writing in legal proceedings.
Legal Software Market in the USA
Statista reports that there were 1.34 million lawyers in the US in 2018. It includes the Corporate Lawyers, Tax Attorneys, Medical Lawyers, IP Attorneys, and Trial Attorneys as the professionals who make the most money.
The legal services industry in the country has marked revenue of $331 billion in 2019. It majorly covers commercial law services, civil negligence and personal injury, real estate law, labor and employment, and criminal law services.
Recent studies indicate that the total spending on Corporate Legal Technologies in the United States alone to touch nearly $235 million in the coming year. It includes a significant investment in e-billing software.
Legal Case Management Software – Its impact on Legal Firms
The introduction of legal software programs in the industry became revolutionary soon. Today, most of the law firms and legal departments use them as the most imperative tools to operate their business. The majority of law firms have started investing in such software systems to provide better client service and improve their own efficiencies. Let us check out through an exemplary scenario how the workspaces look and representatives experience the workload with and without using a good legal case management software system and how it affects their business.
1. Firm A without a Legal Case Management Software
(Source: Google Images)
2. Firm B with a Legal Case Management Software
(Source: Google Images)
Firm A believes that they do not need a unified system of operations. They are reluctant to invest even in the free legal software programs, but want to get immediate ROI besides spending a huge amount of their valuable time and effort in the daunting paper work. On the other hand, Firm B believes in the long-term valuable investment in a legal software system. This technological approach helps them in maintaining their highest efficiency level, in addition to total client satisfaction. Legal software programs enhance collaboration, clarity and accountability in the legal organizations.
Here are some important features of the best practice management software systems that benefit the organizations like Firm B with effective management of their cases and litigation operations:
- Time Tracking Software (For Billing)
- Case Management (databases, checking statutes of limitations and conflicts of interests)
- Document Assembly
- Client Communication
- Contact Management
- Calendaring
- Docket Management
- Court Case Status Tracker
- Contract Management
Some firms also use the modified versions of free and open source legal software programs to be easily integrated with your current system and allow you to get your business app to streamline processes throughout the firm.
What is the significance of using a Legal Software Solution?
Technological advancement is having an impact on every industry today. The way we live and conduct business is phenomenal today. Tech-enabled solutions are helping us align well with the demands. Let us see the significance of using a legal software solution;
- Team Collaboration: Modern day’scase management systems are excellent in team collaboration, scheduling meetings and appointments and so on.The online system informs participants in advance about the meeting schedule and so, there remain least chances of schedule clashing. Legal software can simplify the things as you can integrate it with your Outlook or any other calendar system you are using. It brings you the following benefits:
- Easy calendar appointments creation.
- Easy reschedule of the appointment for a new date and time with a simple drag-and-drop facility.
- A quick warning message pops up when a schedule collides with another.
- Automated meeting reminders to never miss a meeting.
- Easy task switching from one task to another, such as from scheduling meeting to billing.
- Deadlines Management and Improvement in File Organization: Advanced legal software systems hint users about each of their deadlines. Constant reminders on their mobile and web apps help them track their schedules and deadlines. The software also helps with quickly storing and retrieving client’s documents. The individual client data stored in an area can be accessed and shared easily.
- Coordinating Communication and Document Retrieval: An efficient database management helps in quick and easy access and retrieval of information at anytime and anywhere. Many of the legal case management solution come with database management module.
- Work Anytime and from Anywhere: Every legal software system needs reliable internet connection system to operate. Accessing it from remote locations facilitates comforts while working, especially during the travel time where you can remain productive.
- Billing and Time Tracking: The legal practice management software comes with the feature of tracking your time and bill on the go. It reflects that you will be less likely to lose track of your billable time. The billing details are automatically integrated to the client case, thus making it easy to track.
Let us go through a list of the best free and open source legal software solutions.
All software solutions have different features other than their standard functionality. Their functions can be compared based on some common sub-functions such as device compatibility, the platform supported, benefits to a specific type of business, and so on. Let us have a look at the comparison chart given below to understand them deeply.
Now, let us check out all of the software programs in detail.
1. Cliniccases
Cliniccases is a free and open source web-based case management software that is specifically designed for law school clinics. The software is installable on your server or can be hosted online. The latest release of the software is Version 7.3.3, and the software is regulated as per MIT license and norms.
(Source: Cliniccases)
Highlights:
- Cliniccases software is easy to download and run on your server.
- Other than law school clinics, the software is also used by small law firms and non-profit organizations.
- The software facilitates all essential features like calendaring, time reports, data export (to PDF, CSV, and text), case queries, time management and many more.
- It works great on small screens that make the software more accessible to the users.
2. ArkCase
ArkCase is a popular platform for adaptive case management that dynamically supports your business solutions. Established in 2002, the firm provides modern, scalable, and flexible software that is specifically designed to cater to some key areas of the industry such as incident management, complaint management, human resource management, etc. It is a trusted software program used by many government and private officials. The latest release of the software is ArkCase 3.3.1.
(Source: Arkcase)
Highlights:
- ArkCase is an adaptive legal case management platform that is dynamic, secure and easily customizable.
- The software facilitates business process improvement, document management, time and expense management, collaboration, and contact management etc.
- It facilitates the cloud-based and web-based solution that can easily and securely manage the cases of your law firm.
- ArkCase integrates with several record management software programs, and one of them is Alfresco that is only document, and record management platform that is compliant to open source DoD 5015.2.
3. Jarvis-Legal
Jarvis-Legal is a cloud-based law practice management software exclusively designed for lawyers, legal professionals & consultants. It helps in scheduling emails, streamlining clients’ information & their legal matters, and also manage billing and payments. This legal case management software also helps in managing calendars and tasks so that you don’t miss out on an important court hearing or a meeting. This software includes a free demo so that you can try it before making a purchase decision.
Also, Jarvis-Legal offers a free version known as Jarvis One, which is specially designed for lawyers who have started their practice 2 years ago. Just check the free legal case management software features and deploy it if it suffices your business needs.
(Source: Jarvis-Legal)
Highlights:
- Allows tracking the time spent on each case, billing, collecting payments, and scheduling reminders for the pending payments.
- Includes analytical dashboards showing real-time figures about your business that allow you to make the right decisions at the right time.
- Enables team collaboration that helps manage legal matters in sync, allocation of tasks, and monitoring performance, ultimately resulting in improved productivity and efficiency.
- Allows creating documents in a single click and storing them in a shared and secure document storage space easily accessible by the authorized users.
- Includes a client portal and video conferencing tool, allowing you to strengthen your relationships with the clients and improve the reputation of your business.
4. CaseFox
Established in 2011, CaseFox is a California based legal case management firm that majorly deals in billing management and cloud-based timekeeping. The firm provides rich as well as easy-to-use software to its clients at a reasonable cost. Its stable version 1.1 and previous ones operate on Android, Linux, Mac, UNIX, and Windows. The software comes with free usage for two users and up to 4 cases.
(Source: CaseFox)
Highlights:
- While timekeeping and generating invoices, the CaseFox software facilitates the law firms to set different hourly rate for a case for selected users.
- The software tracks different types of discovery requests and responses.
- It facilitates automatic personal data backup into Excel WorkBook containing different worksheets.
- Easy one-click invoicing makes the billing process painless.
- It creates calendar items and tasks for different cases.
- The software can be accessed from anywhere and using any gadget with up to 256bit encryption and storage of critical user data in different databases.
- It logs phone messages and case notes for all staff members and cases.
5. Dibcase
Dibcase is a Jacksonville, FL based company that provides legal case management services to its customers. It started in 2013, and its software is specifically tailored to the Social Security advocates & attorneys. It is a freemium version of the software that comes with the free trial facility and can be deployed to SaaS, web, cloud, and on mobile using react native technology.
(Source: Dibcase)
Highlights:
- The Dibcase software provides secure and responsive cloud-based practice management facility.
- The software includes standard functionality such as calendaring, task management, employee management, etc.
- It is a robust case management software that lays particular emphasis on the Social Security practice area.
- For record management, task management, time tracking, document management, expense tracking, and client management, it is a suitable software system.
- Law firms and government organizations majorly use Dibcase software.
6. MyLegalNet
Developed by Shriya Innovative Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (ShriyaIS) – MyLegalNet is an ISO 9001-2008 certified company that headquarters in Mumbai, India. It has been founded in 2004 and is the best in assisting organizations to become more efficient through deploying IT solutions and services. This app system works on Windows 8 Mobile and supports English (United States).
(Source: MyLegalNet)
Highlights:
- MyLegalNet app/software performs all standard functions like managing case files, documents management, invoice management, expense management, matters, and appointments & calendaring, etc.
- The software provides the users with a robust API to integrate it into the Court System. The customizations to API can be made as per the court requirements.
- The app software involves an in-built ticketing system on the dashboard for any support or technical issues.
- The digital diary maintains your day to day appointments with clients with listing court matters in it.
7. CaseWizard
CaseWizard is the legal case and practice management software for modern law offices. The company is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and offers you easy time and billing software services.
(Source: CaseWizard)
Highlights:
- CaseWizard software assures better data and better tracking.
- The software generates beautiful and easy-to-read invoices and editing pre-bills is also quicker and more comfortable.
- The software produces easy to review timesheets, including the status of payment, total hours, billable hours, and bill amounts, etc.
- Document management & automation, calendar & docketing, monthly subscription support, and practice ready software are its additional features.
We have included Clio as a popular Legal case management software for the robust features it offers.
Clio
Clio is cloud-based legal case management software that helps you in automating legal tasks and reducing unnecessary paperwork. It organizes cases efficiently and allows lawyers to collaborate with their clients from anywhere. It follows all regulatory compliances.
Highlights:
- Organizes the case subject matter, letters, and other documents.
- This software lets you track the status of unpaid bills and add automated interest to late payments.
- Get an insight into your law firm’s finances, tasks, and appointments from a single dashboard.
- Store documents securely in the cloud.
- Unlimited Document Storage
- Store text, image, audio, and video files
- Advanced document editing features
- Compile documents with in-built templates.
- Categorize all kinds of costs — Reimbursable and others to maintain records.
- Create professional invoices with detailed activity list.
- Easily organize contact details and communication logs.
- Sync to third-party accounting systems.
- Assign and track tasks to other members.
- It provides a detailed report on task progress.
- It accepts online credit card payments.
- Legal-specific features like Court Rules.
- Billing becomes easy and accurate with multiple features for enhanced expense tracking.
MyCase, Smokeball, Filevine, Legal Files, Rocket Matter, Cosmolex, andCASEpeer are other leading legal software solutions available in the market.
If you are already using one from the software solutions listed above, you can freely share your reviews here.
Conclusion
The best legal case management software solutions available today are equipped with features to help law firms to stay on top. AI software-based algorithms are helping to speed up the document processing by way of detecting errors and other issues in a predictive way. Hence, most of the legal organizations are ready to invest in a good legal case management software solution to manage their caseloads and reduce the turnover rates.
