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Key Takeaways

Generated from the text of customer reviews

PCLaw is legal practice management and accounting software. Lawyers, legal staff, and firm administrators use it for practice operations and financial management. It's particularly suited to small and mid-sized law firms. Users value its familiar, practical workflow, though some report data inconsistencies that could trigger problems. ‘PCLaw Payments’ now supports matter-level bank accounts, directing invoice payments to the designated account or the default account if none is set.

Our Verdict

PCLaw is a practical option for small and mid-sized law firms seeking an established system for managing firm operations. Its value is strongest for firms that prioritize established workflows and accounting capabilities over newer cloud-first systems. Pricing can be a consideration for firms with budget constraints. Overall, PCLaw is recommended for firms seeking one platform for legal billing, accounting, time tracking, and matter management.

PCLaw Specifications

  • Case Management
  • Document Management
  • Client Management (CRM)
  • Billing & Invoicing

PCLaw Features

Matter Management

The platform centralizes client information, files, documents, and calendars within each matter, with automatic data backup running in the background. Merge templates, generate precedents, forms, and documents from existing matter data, which helps reduce repetitive drafting and data entry. Matter details stay accessible in one place, giving staff a more structured way to manage case-related work.

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Billing

PCLaw helps firms track billable and non-billable time while assessing productivity along the way. Its LEDES-formatted bills and electronic billing capabilities support faster payments, while cash flow and vendor payment tracking give firms greater financial visibility. Customizable billing templates round things out, helping create organized invoices with less manual formatting. Firms end up with more control over billing activity and payment workflows overall.

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Legal Accounting

Compliant trust accounting runs with automation and reconciliation tools built in for managing finances. Built-in features assist with month-end and year-end closings, while multiple bank accounts can be set up for firm funds, client trusts, IOLTA accounts, and other needs. This keeps financial records organized across different account types, instead of scattered across separate systems.

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PCLaw Go

PCLaw features a mobile timekeeping app called 'PCLaw Go.' It lets users track billable hours and matters while away from their desks. Compatible with iOS and Android devices, it associates recorded time with existing cases, clients, and matters back in PCLaw. Users end up capturing billable time on the go, without manually matching entries later.

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PCLaw Verify

Running locally within a firm's network, 'PCLaw Verify' scans data files at login and through daily checks to catch and resolve discrepancies. It can automatically repair many types of data corruption without needing technical support, keeping PCLaw usable throughout. This lets firms address data issues proactively, while keeping sensitive data within their own network.

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PCLaw Payments

Powered by FeeWise, 'PCLaw Payments' lets firms securely offer online payment options to clients. Fully integrated with PCLaw, it supports financial management while simplifying billing processes and helping reduce errors along the way. This way, firms spend less time managing payment-related tasks, while clients get a convenient way to pay online.

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Pros And Cons of PCLaw

Pros

  • Integrated accounting and billing simplify daily financial management

  • Centralized matter management keeps client information readily accessible

  • Users feel that custom billing templates make invoice creation easier

  • Reporting tools provide useful financial and operational visibility

  • Timekeeping and billing functions handle firm requirements efficiently

Cons

  • Multiple screens can make information retrieval less convenient

  • Frequent freezes and slowdowns are reported by users, especially on networked setups

  • IT support responses could improve, as per some users

  • Interface feels outdated and unintutive for new users

PCLaw Reviews

Total 12 reviews

2.4

All reviews are from verified customers

Rating Distribution

5

Stars

8%

4

Stars

25%

3

Stars

8%

2

Stars

17%

1

Stars

42%

Share your experience

A

Anonymous

Not Specified, 1-10 employees

4.0
June 2022

“easy time tracking and billing”

Pros

Time entry system makes billing incredibly easy. I appreciate how everything's laid out, tracking fees, hours and client details feels simple. This covers pretty much everything I need as a lawyer in one place. Those ledgers are fantastic for monitoring completed work and handling payments or writing checks is surprisingly smooth.

Cons

Interface feels pretty outdated to me and they could really use a modern redesign. Some text is quite small to read, though I can customize most settings to fit my preferences.

Rating Distribution

Ease of use

7

Value for money

8

Customer Support

8

Functionality

9

GB

Gina B.

Not Specified, 1-10 employees

3.0
May 2022

“Great reporting but limited to Windows desktop”

Pros

The reporting features are fantastic for me and having budget tools alongside AP/AR monitoring makes everything so much easier. Being able to track all timekeepers and see originations from attorneys is really valuable. What I appreciate most is how it integrates easily with accounting, no need for seperate software to manage everything.

Cons

Being limited to Windows desktop is the only frustration for me, there's no cloud version or iOS support. After using this for over 20 years, we finally had to switch because our company moved entirely to Apple computers and this just wouldn't work for us anymore.

Rating Distribution

Ease of use

8

Value for money

6

Customer Support

7

Functionality

8

A

Anonymous

Not Specified, 1-10 employees

1.0
May 2022

“Inconsistent reliability”

Pros

At times it showed some reliability for my team but honestly that wasn't consistent enough to call it a real strength.

Cons

There's noticeable lag that can be frustrating and I've experienced some data loss which is concerning. The lack of cloud access is a major drawback since I can't work remotely and there's no mobile app available. I've also encountered several glitches that disrupt my workflow.

Rating Distribution

Ease of use

4

Value for money

2

Customer Support

3

Functionality

2

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PCLaw being discontinued?

The software itself has not been discontinued. However, support for older PCLaw versions is being phased out as the vendor continues to maintain and update current PCLaw products.

Is PCLaw cloud-based or on-premises?

PCLaw is an on-premises application.

Does PCLaw handle legal trust accounting and IOLTA?

Yes. PCLaw provides legal trust accounting capabilities, including trust ledgers, reconciliation, trust transfers, and reporting designed to support IOLTA requirements.

Does PCLaw integrate with other legal and accounting software?

The platform integrates with several Microsoft products. However, the vendor has not disclosed information about integrations with other legal and accounting software.

Is PCLaw suitable for small law firms?

Yes. PCLaw is suited to small law firms that need matter management, time tracking, billing, trust accounting, and financial management in one system, particularly firms that prefer an on-premises solution over a cloud-based platform.

Is PCLaw still supported?

Yes. PCLaw provides technical support, training resources, and professional services for its current software. Older unsupported versions may require independent support.

What is PCLaw?

PCLaw is an on-premises legal billing and accounting solution for law firms, with tools for time tracking, billing, trust accounting, and financial reporting.

What are the alternatives to PCLaw?

Users can consider Clio software, Smokeball, CARET Legal, CASEpeer, and MyCase as suitable options other than PCLaw.