AbacusLaw Reviews

“Very user friendly and easy

Pros

My time using Abacus was brief but from what I experienced, the program felt very user friendly and easy to navigate.

Cons

I could not find a single thing to complain about which means I really have no issues with it.

“Awful service and lack of transparency

Pros

The software is pretty basic, so it only works well for simple jobs. As per my experience, you can find much more powerful systems for a better price.

Cons

Stay away from them, the customer service and complete lack of transparency were awful and I was utterly disgusted by how they treated me when I tried to cancel my subscription after more than ten years, even though I was switching to another product owned by the same company. They ignored me, charged my account without permission. So I would strongly advise any law firm to use literally any other software and service provider.

“excellent customization & organization

Pros

I really valued AbacusLaw's ability to create our own custom templates and organize files exactly how we wanted.

Cons

Our main problems were not being able to access our own system when theirs had an outage and it was always a challenge to reach their support team.

“Not ideal for small ones

Pros

It prompts all the right inquiries and gathers a substantial amount of information on behalf of the client.

Cons

I find the layout is not very simple, and the fact that the system lacks online accessibility is frustrating.

“Customer service is really disappointing

Pros

I appreciate the ability to search for contacts and communications easily.

Cons

The web functionality feels complicated, and the overall experience is lacking.

“Nothing good about it

Pros

Abacus functioned reasonably well at first as a server-based platform for a small number of users. Back then, few systems offered integrated accounting with the LPM main product. However, new features were often overstated and not fully developed.

Cons

Over time, I noticed that both tech support and customer service have diminished significantly. The systems crash regularly, and Abacus doesn't provide reliable answers regarding tech updates from Microsoft.

“The software has really declined

Pros

This program aims to help with case management, billing, and accounting, all in one platform, but it significantly falls short of achieving these objectives.

Cons

This program is by far the most inefficient, time-consuming, and ineffective one I have ever used. After over 12 years of dealing with it, things seem to be getting worse instead of better. I've lost more money due to wasted time than what I've spent on the program itself. Customer service is dreadful as well, with no responses to emails, missed calls, and scheduled appointments. Glitches in the program are a daily occurrence that hampers my productivity. Unfortunately, since all our records are tied to this program, switching to a different one seems complicated. My best advice is to steer clear of ABACUS!

“Fantastic tool

Pros

Personally, I find that the software operates smoothly. It has numerous functions, some of which I haven't fully explored yet. The scheduling tool is excellent and adapts well to my needs. Most features are easy to learn. Thanks to this software, I can take my work with me wherever I go. Also, it includes a fantastic client database with notes.

Cons

I find the software to be effective overall. The only downside I can point out is that updates can sometimes be a nightmare.

“AbacusLaw makes life easier

Pros

It offers a variety of helpful features for legal work, allowing me to keep files and data well-organized.

Cons

The graphical interface feels quite outdated, and the support leaves much to be desired.

“One tool, multiple legal uses

Pros

I genuinely appreciate how it organizes cases and how easy it is. Learning to use it was easy without requiring extensive training.

Cons

I believe the process of entering client information into the system could have been a bit simpler.

“Not recommended for PI practices

Pros

I have nothing positive to say about it. It's inadequate software for PI cases.

Cons

There was nothing good about it; it simply didn't function well.

“Good option for legal software

Pros

It's relatively easy to set up and use. It calculates trials and deadlines for various reports and court filings efficiently.

Cons

What bothers me the most about AbacusLaw is that generating new reports requires more technical knowledge than it should.

“A bit outdated but it works

Pros

I have never had any issues with this software. I can genuinely say it's very dependable and accomplishes what I need. It is also quite easy to use, requiring minimal to no training or guidance.

Cons

My sole complaint is that the interface looks rather antiquated. If that doesn't bother you, then this software might suit your needs. However, I personally prefer not to work with a program that appears to be from a bygone era.

“Regret choosing this

Pros

The organization of case information is exceptional, bringing together everything about a client into a single location.

Cons

I find it unusable, and it has made other software like Office365 dysfunctional. To make matters worse, it takes over your Office365 account, forcing you to go through them. Dealing with their bureaucracy feels Kafkaesque, as different departments handle various Abacus issues, including Office365. I have invested over two dozen hours setting up this program, my staff has spent countless hours, and it still doesn't function properly. Also Office365 doesn't work at all on some of my computers anymore.

“Paralegal perspective

Pros

Creating a docket is very easy. We can quickly review the attorney's notes and provide updates to clients without needing to involve the attorney.

Cons

I was not part of any training sessions, so I suspect there are many features our office is not leveraging.

“Decent software choice

Pros

The ease of navigation stands out. The software is quite accessible. I also appreciate the various features, such as pre-bills.

Cons

Entering data takes a huge amount of time. This seems to be a common issue with any software, but the time required to input detailed billing information is considerable.

“Easy and simple to use

Pros

It's fantastic for organizing time off and planning my calendar for workload and time off. I can easily keep track of the attorneys' schedules.

Cons

Sometimes, the scheduling view can appear cluttered when the calendar is packed. It becomes difficult to read when everyone is off or located in different places.

“Some parts are great, some need improvement

Pros

It provides the billing format necessary to bill specific companies.

Cons

Since our office requires an easy calendar view, we find ourselves having to reset the windows and browsers every single day.

“Quality product

Pros

The process of setting everything up is quite simple and easy to use, which makes it significantly more manageable for us. Furthermore, it streamlines the billing process for our clients, allowing us to handle their billing needs with greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Cons

I honestly don't have anything I dislike about this program.

“Abacus keeps our firm's calendar organized

Pros

I enjoy not having to enter a case number more than once, once it's in, it remains there without needing verification. I also appreciate the ability to clone entries instead of re-entering the information.

Cons

I wish there was an automatic spellcheck for events added to the calendar upon saving, rather than having to manually check each entry. Even better, it would be great to have a way to spellcheck all events on the weekly calendar at once when I print it.

“The interface could use some work

Pros

I like that I can add names similar to a firm rolodex and identify them as needed within a matter.

Cons

There are several options that we choose not to utilize because we don't find them particularly easy to navigate.

“Avoid this software�support is terrible

Pros

The software sounds incredible when pitched by the sales team. Unfortunately, they tend to overpromise and underdeliver.

Cons

The cloud features don't function properly, and the billing software has glitches. It fails to sync with Outlook. The process of getting released from the contract is a nightmare. We invested $5,000 for upgrades and customization that we never received. Now, we're being charged $750 just to retrieve our data after making the switch.

“Recommended for solo attornies

Pros

The bottom line is that Abacus does everything I need and has added extra features that would be beneficial for my practice. Once I learn how to use a function, it generally works well for me. While adjusting my working style to fit Abacus Law has posed a challenge, I recognize that this is more of my issue than the software's. I've figured out how to use certain functions that are valuable to me, but I haven't fully integrated them into my routine. I doubt another application would serve me better. Ultimately, Abacus meets all my needs and offers extra features that are beneficial to my practice.

Cons

This software feels as if it was created two decades ago, with no updates to enhance the interface. I would love a simple app for my smartphone. While Abacus may have that for its cloud product, the cost difference has led me to lose interest. The online help is overwhelming, but the telephone support is excellent. It strikes a decent balance. I really wish there was a way to export billing data to QuickBooks since my accountant is familiar with QB. I can't ask him to learn Abacus accounting. I'm currently using a program that tracks my computer usage by application and even captures screenshots. A feature like that would be a fantastic addition.

“Enjoyed using this software

Pros

Abacus Law is accessible (even for lawyers), simple to set up, and provides a central case management solution that encompasses everything our practice requires, including document generation and management, diary/calendar (with rules-based features to aid in case workflow), and email integration. It's versatile enough to keep us on top of our litigation work, which constitutes 95% of our practice, while also allowing us to customize features for our estates and real estate files. Keep up the excellent work.

Cons

I generally dislike software that demands ongoing subscriptions or nickel-and-dimes you for every extra feature, but I find AbacusLaw tolerable in this regard.

“Been using it for a long period now

Pros

I have utilized the calendar and database features for years without encountering significant issues. I appreciate its strong compatibility with law offices.

Cons

Typically, I need to hire our computer technician to come into the office when we implement significant changes related to integrating with other programs or working within our computer network. We're a small office without anyone on staff with those skills. But we see this as a business expense and have not had any major issues once the work is completed.

“AbacusLaw links important info seamlessly

Pros

Once client information is input, other details can be linked, which is extremely helpful when searching for a memo, phone message, email, etc., for each client. When an appointment is scheduled, it's also linked to the events feature, allowing the program to provide multiple ways to ensure that critical information is stored and accessible.

Cons

Currently, the features offered are working well, allowing for easy messaging, linking client information, and researching stored client data.

“Could be better in a few areas

Pros

It captures all the necessary data effectively. The queries function well. Your support team tends to respond fairly quickly, and when they do, most of the representatives I have interacted with communicate effectively in English. As someone with hearing difficulties, this aspect is crucial for me.

Cons

The emailing feature needs many updates. I constantly face issues when trying to add links, photos, logos, or graphics, and I can't attach files. We send out a monthly mass newsletter, and we almost always encounter problems. We aim for our newsletters to be more visually appealing, but with this program, we can only send bland, basic emails that lack the ability to capture readers' attention. To include graphics, logos, links, or attachments, we must run a query and export the email addresses into an Excel spreadsheet, then send batches of emails via Outlook. This is our primary complaint with Abacus.