The pandemic has ushered law firms into an era where going digital has turned more into a requirement than an option. With remote legal bookkeeping becoming demanding, you first must be aware and up-to-date with the current legal technologies in the market when selecting the right legal practice management software for your law firm. This article points out everything you need to consider when choosing the right one for your law firm.
What is a Legal Practice Management Software?
A legal practice management software is used to store and manage day-to-day records of your law firm – case filings, billings and many more. It is a complete system where you can keep all your data for your staff to access at any time of the day. A legal practice management software makes work easier and safer for your staff or your hired legal bookkeeper.
- Accounting
Legal trust accounting basics for attorneys is essential. With the help of a credible bookkeeper, legal practice management softwares can take care of it on your law firm’s behalf and let your staff have enough time for law practice.
- Document Management
No more files and papers piling up on the office floor! All the data required for your staff’s case management can be stored in one place – organized and updated.
- Digital Payments
Track your payments made online with legal softwares – make it easier for your law firm to clear invoices by going digital.
- Tracking Expenses
Make sure expenses on the law firm are tracked and recorded appropriately.
- Insights
Plot your next plan on monthly or yearly insights, made easier with the use of a legal software. Efficiently cut down on your law firm’s expenses and boost your revenue.
Here are a few considerations you must come upon before deciding on what legal software to use:
- The difference between cloud vs on-premise legal softwares
It is important that you know the difference between cloud-based softwares and softwares that is maintained on the premises.
An on-premise software follows the traditional way of maintaining legal softwares – the software is installed on staff computers, which are then linked to a server computer for back-up. You have to be physically present in the office to modify or update your data, or go through the strenuous process of connecting to a VPN.
Cloud-based softwares follows the newly adopted way of legal practice management. They are remotely accessible through a valid and secured password – your hired bookkeeper and your staff can access the files when needed without the requirement of being physically present on the premises. Legal softwares, such as Quickbooks Online and Leap, provide this clear advantage and ease of use. Cloud-based softwares is what we will be discussing.
- Values and support
The software that you choose for your law firm must add value to your law firm. Since it
is going to be used by your staff daily and for important tasks, features and functionality are necessary and should be taken into consideration.
The legal practice management software has to have active support at all times. If a bug or a glitch starts showing up and hampering the system, it might turn into a huge concern since it involves documents and files. A live support line is recommended.
- Considering maintenance and calculating cost
Cloud-based legal practice softwares runs subscription-based, often on a monthly basis. This cuts down the cost and expensiveness of maintaining any other forms of legal practice softwares. They are non-intrusive upon any other office technologies, easily accessible through a browser and can be updated through official software updates and kept safe with regular security patches.
- Remotely accessing the software
With the advancement of technology, being able to remotely access your files is more of a necessity than a convenience. Most lawyers require access to their files while in the courtroom, and a cloud-based legal practice software enables that. Make sure your chosen software has remote accessibility. A mobile app to go with it is a bonus.
- Future-proofing
It is important for your law firm to be able to move your files around with ease. When choosing a legal practice management software, make sure migrating is as seamless for your staff as learning how to operate the software.
In this day and age of digitalization, the right cloud-based legal software for your law firm is important – clients will want to stay connected to their solicitors at all times. Adaptation is the one and only key.
