CARET Legal Reviews

“Website and app are easy

Pros

In my experience both the website and the mobile app are easy to navigate, responsive and laid out in a way that makes sense. Searching for information is simple and I can usually find what I am looking for quickly, while entering data doesn't feel overly complicated. Our office does not rely on Zola as a complete, all-in-one platform, yet for the portions we use day to day which still cover most of its core features. I am also satisfied with how polished the software feels. Customer support has been impressively quick to respond and I genuinely get the sense that the team is ready to put time into solving problems. It also matters to me that my feedback seems to be heard when new product updates are released. The mobile app, in particular, has come a long way and now sits in a really strong, usable place.

Cons

There are still a handful of bugs and some missing features as the platform continues to mature, but none of these issues stop the product from working for our needs. I've been using Zola for roughly 18 months as many of the things that bothered me half a year ago have already been fixed or improved, which I appreciate. From my perspective the email interface is the area that needs the most attention, though it's not terrible overall. I would like tagging messages to cases to be more obvious and moving emails between folders could feel snappier and reflect changes faster. One small irritation is having to juggle multiple browser tabs to access the functionality I use most at minimum I tend to keep the Dashboard, Email and Calendar open because switching between those areas within the app isn't as seamless as I'd like. It's not a showstopper, just an annoyance that interrupts workflow occasionally. Lastly and this is very minor but I'd welcome a visual refresh across the entire site. It's clean and not cluttered, which I value but it doesn't give off a particularly modern or up-to-date aesthetic in my opinion.

“Simple to keep track of everything

Pros

For me, it's really easy to keep all documents, messages and other essential information organized in a single place.

Cons

I've noticed that some features aren't immediately obvious, but whenever I've reached out, customer support has always replied and clarified any questions within about two hours.

“Well designed and organized software

Pros

In my experience, the software is thoughtfully laid out and tidy and it even lets me open emails in a separate window so I can draft messages while still looking at matters and my calendar and handling related details inside the email. I also appreciate that accounting is built in for both trust and non-trust accounts, which means I don't have to juggle QuickBooks and re-enter or log checks, costs and other details.

Cons

I'd like a direct link on a Task that opens a new Phone Call so I can grab the message from the task and, with a click or two, have the Phone Call window pop up. That way I could assign the call to a matter and have the timer start automatically for the call. It would cut out a few steps of copy/paste when I'm returning calls.

“Ease of use and easy to train

Pros

I am really happy with how easy this is to use. Also it was simple to train our team, the interface feels user friendly, it aligns with how we operate at our firm and the mobile app is exceptionally easy to use.

Cons

Because I use the GTD system, I'd really appreciate the ability to add categories into the tasks feature so I can set up clear next-action lists as category support would make organizing my actionable items much easier.

“Email integration is a revelation

Pros

After using Zola for a while, the email integration genuinely feels like a revelation to me. It not only lets me keep every email neatly organized by matter, but the automatic timer that creates a time entry for each email essentially covers the cost of the subscription on its own. I find the document management and automation features to be exceptional. The user interface is superb as every screen is thoughtfully organized, loaded with the information I want to see at a glance and pleasant to look at and believe me, that visual appeal matters. If an interface is annoying to stare at, I won't want to use it. The built-in accounting tools are top-notch as well, including the capability to write checks directly from Zola. Everything about the platform gives me the impression that it handles the usual practice management essentials while also having the foresight to add innovative features that could become industry standards and rethink how routine tasks are done more efficiently. The option to create a custom-branded app for my practice is just one example of what makes Zola stand out. Another standout is the email integration with R-Post, which lets me send encrypted, registered email that provides proof of delivery and receipt. After trying all the major players in the market, I finally feel like I have found a solution I can rely on for the long term.

Cons

A few areas could be smoother. For example, the workflow for sending an invoice could be more streamlined so you can create and deliver an invoice entirely from one screen. right now you have to jump to the accounting tab to finish things and a clearly labeled send button would be more user-friendly than the tiny share icon. Still once I've learned the steps, the current process does work. The client portal is still new and fairly basic the optional smartphone app aside, so it only supports limited document sharing and doesn't include private messaging or some of the other features I've seen with other providers. I do think it's likely Zola will expand and refine this secure communication tool over time. Finally, the email integration has been a bit glitchy at times but tech support has been responsive and has fixed any issues that have come up.

“User friendly but switching is not smooth

Pros

Overall Zola feels very user-friendly and simple to navigate and I appreciate that the customer support team replies quickly and professionally whenever I need help.

Cons

I find it frustrating that I have to open the Matters tab every single time I want to jump to a different case I'm working on as it would improve my workflow a lot if Zola let me search for or access new matters from anywhere within the site without extra clicks.

“Caseway edge app is a plus

Pros

For me, I think the Caseway Edge App is a huge benefit. It leaves a strong impression on clients and the client portal itself is really well done too.

Cons

Would love more features specific to real estate law as for example, I really want important dates to automatically populate the shared calendar as deliverable dates and/or timely reminders for the team and clients.

“Love that it's all-in-one

Pros

I am thrilled this is an all in one solution. After my billing became a mess trying to marry a case management platform with a separate billing system, having a single place to handle everything feels like a huge relief. The way email ties in makes logging time and tracking tasks effortless. The design is attractive and easy to follow and from one dashboard I can view my whole practice at a glance.

Cons

There is a slight lag with the email handling which gets on my nerves. That delay is why I gave four stars rather than five. Often while I'm zipping through my inbox, messages I've deleted will reappear unexpectedly. I'm also really looking forward to adding live calendar syncing and a bank feed to complete the workflow.

“Fast, user friendly and easy

Pros

Well I am impressed by how fast, user friendly and easy it is to use. Honestly there is no need to sit through hours of tutorials to get started. Clearly built by lawyers who understand lawyers needs. Plus it covers the core tasks a modern law firm requires and the email tools are wrapped in a clean, user-friendly interface.

Cons

To embed logos into invoices or add signature blocks to outgoing emails, I have to rely on the vendor's support team. Fortunately, their response time has been excellent, so that dependency hasn't been a major pain. They're currently rolling out two-way syncing between Zola and Outlook for calendars and contacts. Since email sync already works smoothly, I expect the calendar and contact synchronization will be just as reliable.

“Graphical interface and email integration

Pros

I use this every day and really enjoy it. The graphical interface, email integration, ease of use and customization options make it dependable.

Cons

I wish the mobile app had email integration. Occasionally it acts glitchy but I report issues and they usually get resolved within a day.

“Outlook integration and automated timers

Pros

One thing I appreciate is the Outlook integration, which keeps my emails connected to cases. The automatic timers that bill straight to a Matter save me time and cut down on manual entries. It's very easy to use and when I need help their customer support responds quickly and with a friendly attitude.

Cons

I'd really like Zola Suite to support SMS or texting features so I can manage client messages inside the platform without juggling separate apps. Also, moving over from a different case management system has been tough for us because Zola's data migration team doesn't transfer our documents, which means we end up manually uploading files and it slows the whole transition down.

“Able to see important information

Pros

Being able to see my most important information all in one place is something I really appreciate. Once I got the hang of it, moving between the different parts of a case or 'matter', as they call it felt very smooth.

Cons

For me, not seeing all my matters sorted alphabetically is frustrating and I don't feel the billing side offers enough flexibility or options. On top of that, I find a number of the functions to be a bit clunky and more cumbersome than they need to be.

“Ease of use and flat pricing

Pros

Using the platform is really simple and I like that the flat-rate pricing even covers trust accounting.

Cons

I honestly can't think of any downsides, I haven't come across any problems while using it.

“Neat features help my workflow

Pros

There are so many handy features that genuinely improve my workflow

Cons

I still encounter occasional bugs here and there, but I recognize Zola is under active development. I do miss certain TimeMatters capabilities, particularly the option to link files and contacts across records.

“Features and ease of use

Pros

I've found the range of features impressive and the whole app really easy to use.

Cons

So far, I haven't run into any downsides.

“The easy access

Pros

I have found the access very simple and easy to use.

Cons

I have no complaints.

“Ease of use and interface

Pros

The interface is super user friendly and I find the whole app really easy to use.

Cons

I haven't run into any issues there really aren't any drawbacks I've noticed.

“Sleek and easy to use

Pros

I think it looks sleek and is really simple to use, not overly complicated.

Cons

There are some minor bugs and I noticed a few features were taken away as since it's a new product, it still needs a number of tweaks and improvements.