Legal Project Management Software Buyers Guide
Last updated: September 23, 2023
The legal industry is constantly evolving, and as it grows, law firms face increasing demands to manage a higher volume of cases, clients, and paperwork. These demands can make it challenging for attorneys to manage their workload efficiently. This is where legal project management software comes in.
Legal project management software offers advanced tools and features to streamline workflows and increase productivity. These technology-driven tools can help firms become more efficient by automating day-to-day processes such as tracking billable hours, organizing case information, and calendaring.
However, with many legal technology solutions in the market, finding the most suitable software for a law firm's unique needs can be overwhelming. That’s why we have created this comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you navigate the legal project management software landscape for making an informed purchase decision.
What is Legal Project Management Software?
Legal project management software are specialized tools designed to help law firms and legal professionals manage their projects efficiently. They provide specific features tailored to the needs of the legal industry, such as case management, document management, time tracking, budgeting, and billing.
Legal project management apps have become essential for modern law firms looking to streamline their operations and provide better client service. These apps offer a centralized platform that allows legal professionals to manage their projects, track case data, and collaborate with clients and colleagues more efficiently.
With advanced tools like task automation, deadline tracking, and reporting, legal technology solutions enable attorneys to focus on their core responsibilities while improving their overall productivity.
Is Legal Project Management Software Different from Generic Project Management Software?
Legal project management software are different from generic project management solutions. The former cater to the unique requirements of law firms. They incorporate legal-specific workflows, processes, terminology, reporting features, and billing capabilities to streamline and optimize legal project management.
In contrast, generic project management software are designed for various industries and businesses, with features and functionalities that may not be relevant or useful to lawyers. Their tools may lack the customization and integration capabilities required for legal project management.
In our Features section below, we will dive into the specific functionalities of legal project management applications and how they can help users deliver successful projects.
Why Do Lawyers / Law Firms Need Project Management Tools?
Managing legal projects can be demanding, with many moving parts that must be carefully coordinated. This includes managing multiple tasks, deadlines, and clients, often necessitating specialized software to ensure efficient work execution.
Here are some compelling reasons why legal teams should consider using project management software:
1. Streamlined Case Management
Legal project management software centralizes all case-related information, including documents, emails, notes, and tasks, making it easier to manage cases and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
2. Improved Task Coordination
These tools help ensure efficient delegation of tasks and management of deadlines among attorneys and support staff, allowing law firms to deliver high-quality services and meet client expectations.
3. Paperless Workflow
Project management software for law firms facilitates document digitization, making it easier to store, search, and retrieve case-related documents. This feature helps users reduce the time and resources spent on paper-based document management, improving efficiency.
4. Informed Decision-Making
Lawyers can analyze case-related data, including time spent on tasks, costs incurred, and outcomes achieved, to identify trends and improve processes over time. Project management software programs also help lawyers make data-driven decisions and improve the overall efficiency of legal practices.
5. Better Time Management
Legal project management tools help attorneys track time and expenses in real time, assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress, contributing to better time management and increased productivity.
6. Improved Client Communication
Legal practitioners can keep clients informed on the status of their cases, provide timely updates, and share documents more efficiently, leading to better communication and satisfaction.
7. Better Team Collaboration
Law firm project management software enables lawyers to collaborate more effectively by assigning tasks to team members, sharing documents, and collaborating on cases through a centralized platform.
It helps keep everyone in the loop and ensures quick delivery of client work.
8. Balanced Resource Management
These technology-driven tools empower law firms to manage their staff's workloads in real-time and allocate tasks effectively. This results in better productivity, improved decision-making, and increased opportunities for growth and success.
Common Features Needed in Legal Project Management System
When it comes to legal project management software, some specific features are critical for success. These tools need to be tailored to the unique needs of law firms and legal departments, with functionalities that address the complexities of legal work, such as document management, time tracking, and task delegation.
Let's explore some key features when evaluating legal project management programs.
Case Management
Billing and Invoicing
Calendaring and Docketing
Document Management
Time Tracking
Contact Management
Document Assembly
Client Portal
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How to Decide Which Legal Project Management Software is Best for You?
We have devised five-point criteria to help you decide which software is best suited for you.
What you need to do:
- Put a tick against each of these basic legal project management software design benchmarks.
- Shortlist your top-five contenders; test them individually or collectively.
We have also compiled a list of the top-five legal project management tools a few sections down. They can serve as a good starting point for your analyses.
See the checklist below and remember, the software with the most checks wins (our recommendation is to go ahead to the next stage with the steps listed below).
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Legal Project Management Software Evaluation List
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Next, you need to narrow your choice to one legal project management app. Visit its product profile page – use our search bar above – to book a demo or get pricing (accurate, updated, custom plan figures for your workplace) so you can get subscribed quickly.
Legal Project Management Software Pricing
Legal project management software is typically priced on a per-user, per-month basis. The average price range for these systems falls between $25 and $120, depending on the software's capabilities and the number of users. The pricing can vary based on customization, implementation, training, and support services. Advanced or enterprise-level solutions can be more expensive.
For more pricing information, download our comprehensive project management pricing guide 2023.
Best Legal Project Management Software
Legal firms have various project management software options, making it challenging to identify the best one to meet their needs. To help you with this, we have curated a list of the top-five solutions, highlighting their features, pricing, and benefits. Let’s look at them!
BQE Core
BQE CORE is a cloud-based legal project management software with a centralized location for managing front- and back-office operations. It enables legal teams to monitor matter workflows, client expectations, practice tasks, events, billing, and firm financials from anywhere on any device.
Legal professionals can gain actionable insights to make informed project decisions with BQE CORE’s business and artificial intelligence tools. The software also allows for seamless monitoring and delegation of assignments to improve efficiency and increase profitability.
Pricing
BQE CORE pricing varies depending on the required modules and the number of users. However, the vendor does not share the exact pricing details.
To obtain custom pricing figures suited to your law firm, go to BQE CORE Software and click the ‘Get Pricing’ button.
Key Features
- Time and Expense Tracking: Track billable hours and expenses related to legal projects, ensuring accurate billing and time allocation.
- Billing and Invoicing: Generate invoices and manage payments for legal services rendered, providing a streamlined and efficient billing process.
- CRM: Maintain client information and interactions, enabling better client management and relationship building.
- Reporting and Analytics: Generate reports and analyze data related to legal project management, providing insights into project progress, profitability, and potential areas for improvement.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Centralized data management | Steep learning curve |
| Customizable reporting capabilities | Expensive compared to other options |
| Integration with other software |
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Monday Software
monday.com is an all-in-one project management software that provides a comprehensive suite of solutions to manage legal cases. The cloud-based platform allows attorneys to track deadlines, collaborate with team members, and communicate with clients within a shared workspace.
Additionally, it allows users to share documents, checklists, comments, and more, facilitating efficient communication among team members. With the Monday.com software mobile app, legal professionals can get real-time updates on their cases, while external stakeholders such as clients can also access and track cases for transparency purposes.
Pricing
- Free: $0 for up to two seats
- Basic: $8/seat/month
- Standard: $10/seat/month
- Pro: $16/seat/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Key Features
- Document Management: Store and manage legal documents in a centralized location, making it easy to access and share with team members as needed.
- Security Measures: Protect sensitive legal information with robust security measures that ensure confidentiality and compliance with data protection regulations.
- Time Tracking and Invoicing: Track time spent on legal tasks and generate client invoices, ensuring accurate billing and accounting.
- Collaboration Tools: Communicate and work together seamlessly to stay up-to-date and informed on case updates.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Integrates with other legal software | Steep learning curve for new users |
| Dashboard and reporting features for easy progress monitoring | |
| Customizable workflows for legal project management |
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Wrike Software
Wrike is a versatile project management software well suited for legal case management. It provides robust reporting, budget tracking, and project management tools to help legal professionals achieve better client outcomes. Wrike also streamlines workflows with customizable request forms and templates, enabling users to save time and improve efficiency.
Whether managing large-scale litigation or small-scale transactions, Wrike software provides legal professionals with the tools to effectively manage their projects and achieve their goals.
Pricing
- Free: $0/user/month
- Team: $9.80/user/month
- Business: $24.80/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Pinnacle: Custom pricing
Key Features
- Project and Resource Planning: Plan and manage legal projects with timelines, task management, resource allocation, and budget tracking.
- Dashboards: Customizable dashboards visually represent project progress, financial data, and team performance. This enables legal professionals to make informed decisions and identify areas for improvement.
- Mobile App: Access and manage legal projects on the go with a mobile app that includes task management, time tracking, team collaboration, and real-time updates.
- Templates: Save time and standardize legal workflows with pre-built templates for contract management, case management, and document review.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Customizable workflows and templates | Can be overwhelming for small teams |
| Comprehensive resource management features | |
| Integrates with various third-party tools |
ClickUp Software
ClickUp software is a comprehensive project management solution designed to help professionals manage their projects efficiently. The software provides various tools tailored to legal workflows, such as contract feedback, case note management, and time tracking for client billing. It comes loaded with advanced work management tools that automate day-to-day administrative tasks, enabling legal professionals to devote their time and energy to their cases.
Overall, it is designed to help legal teams manage tasks, deadlines, documents, and communications in one centralized platform.
Pricing
- Free Forever: $0/user/month
- Unlimited: $5/user/month
- Business: $12/user/month
- Business Plus: $19/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Key Features
- Document Management: Centralize and organize all legal documents in one location for easy access and sharing with team members.
- Integrations: Streamline workflow and share work data in real-time by integrating ClickUp with various third-party legal project management tools.
- Kanban Boards: Visualize legal project tasks and progress to manage and prioritize tasks, track project status, and improve team communication.
- Time Tracking: Accurately bill clients for legal services, track team productivity, and manage legal project budgets.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| User-friendly interface | Limited customization options for user roles and permissions |
| Customizable task statuses and fields | Occasional glitches |
| Robust reporting and analytics features |
Smartsheet Software
Smartsheet software is a cloud-based project management tool with robust features to enhance legal project management processes. The software enables legal teams to collaborate seamlessly on tasks, allocate resources effectively, monitor project timelines, and generate detailed reports. Its user-friendly interface is highly customizable, allowing legal professionals to tailor workflows to their requirements.
Integrations with Microsoft Office 365 and Google Apps and advanced automation capabilities make Smartsheet an ideal tool for managing complex legal projects.
Pricing
- Free: $0/user/month
- Pro: $7/user/month
- Business: $25/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Key Features
- Real-Time Collaboration Tools: Facilitate collaboration and coordination among team members, clients, and stakeholders with comments, alerts, and notifications.
- Legal Matter Templates: Streamline legal matter management and save time with customizable templates tailored to specific legal matters.
- Budget Monitoring: Ensure better financial control and visibility by monitoring legal project expenses and keeping them within budget.
- Legal Project Management Resources: Enhance legal project management skills and productivity through access to various legal project management resources, such as articles, webinars, and case studies.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Comprehensive task management features | Limited offline functionality |
| Allows for seamless collaboration among teams | Occasional glitches |
| Intuitive and user-friendly interface |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is legal CRM?
Legal CRM is a customer relationship management software designed for law firms and legal professionals. It is a tool that helps law firms manage their interactions and relationships with clients and potential clients. It assists in tracking leads, cases, and other important information.
Do lawyers use CRM?
Yes, lawyers use CRM (customer relationship management) software to manage their client interactions and relationships and streamline processes within their law firms. Legal CRM systems provide lawyers with a centralized client information database, including contact details, case information, and communication history.
What software do large law firms use?
Large law firms typically use enterprise-level project management solutions, which are software and tools designed to meet the needs of large and complex organizations. These solutions can handle high volumes of data, support large user bases, and integrate with other systems used by the firm.
What are the tasks of a legal project manager?
Legal project managers oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of legal projects within a law firm or legal department. They support whole project budgeting and monitor costs and fees. Their role is crucial in ensuring that legal projects are completed successfully.
What program do attorneys use?
Attorneys use a variety of software programs to manage their practices, organize case materials, conduct research, and communicate with clients. Some of the most commonly used software programs in the legal industry include document management systems, project and practice management systems, legal research databases, and billing and timekeeping software.
In Conclusion
Investing in a relevant legal project management technology solution is crucial to keep up with the modern demands of running a law firm. Factors such as ease of use, customization, security, and scalability should be carefully considered when selecting a software solution. Our comprehensive buyer's guide provides essential information for any legal professional looking to make an informed decision about legal project management software.
Following the information in this guide, you can confidently navigate the software market and choose the product that best meets your requirements.
To learn more about project management software for law firms, schedule a consultation with one of our experts and get personalized recommendations based on your unique needs.
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