Legal case management software streamlines the complex and time-consuming tasks that legal professionals face daily. It’s a platform where case details, documents, deadlines, and client communications converge in a single, organized space.

Think of it as a central hub for all case-related information. For lawyers juggling multiple cases, the software offers a clear view of each case’s status. This visibility reduces the risk of missing critical deadlines, a constant worry in the legal profession. Features like automated reminders and calendar integrations ensure that important dates are front and center, minimizing the chances of oversight.

In essence, legal case management software is a solution that addresses the real-world challenges legal professionals encounter, offering an efficient approach to case management and client relations. From streamlined workflows to seamless billing processes, legal case management software tracks the status of each stage of a case and ensures law firms are not missing any billable hours.

Legal case management software supports numerous law firm activities. Let’s walk through a typical day for an attorney and how legal case management software, like PracticePanther, serves that attorney throughout their daily operations.

• Facilitates Remote Work: The attorney begins their day working remotely from home, which they can easily do on PracticePanther, a legal software for home use or use anywhere in the world.
• Gives a Workload Overview: They start out by reviewing their schedule. It’s easy to see their schedule in PracticePanther via an organized dashboard showcasing today’s meetings, court appearances, and deadlines. With a few clicks, the attorney reviews the specifics of each case scheduled for the day, including recent updates and client communications.
• Offers Comprehensive Search Functions: During a morning client consultation, the attorney quickly retrieves relevant case files from PracticePanther. The comprehensive search function saves time, pulling up documents in seconds. The attorney makes notes directly into PracticePanther, which automatically updates the case file, ensuring no detail is overlooked.
• Streamlines Task Management: Later, the paralegal notes a new task on their to-do list that was automatically assigned to them via a PracticePanther workflow automation. The attorney wants them to draft a pleading for the client they met with that morning. While the paralegal is drafting the pleading, they easily access the attorney’s client notes in PracticePanther.
• Strengthens Internal Communication: The paralegal is relieved to read typed notes, remembering the days of deciphering their attorney’s barely legible handwriting. Neither party needs to waste time meeting to discuss the case, as the attorney’s knowledge of the client and the client intake form are all recorded within PracticePanther.
• Improves Client Accessibility: After lunch, the attorney receives a notification from PracticePanther on their phone. A time-sensitive document from a different client has arrived via the client portal. They review it immediately and send the client a text message with their thoughts, all within the PracticePanther platform. This seamless process eliminates the need for physical paperwork and speeds up case progress.
• Assists In the Courtroom: The attorney makes their way into the office to prepare for a court appearance. They access a pre-compiled brief, complete with all necessary documents and evidence, organized efficiently within PracticePanther. In court, the judge asks a question that the attorney doesn’t have an answer for off the top of their head. They quickly access the PracticePanther mobile app and search the notes for that client, finding the pertinent details they need to respond to the judge sufficiently.
• Simplifies Time Tracking: As the day winds down, the attorney reviews their time entries. It’s been easy to track their time with PracticePanther’s built-in timers. They mass-edit a few of their entries, add some more details, and submit their time for the day, all in a matter of minutes.
• Boosts Billing Efficiency: The attorney’s billable hours shot up this year when the firm adopted PracticePanther, all due to how easy it is to track billable time. Plus, billing is incredibly straightforward, as  PracticePanther automatically compiles their time into invoices, ready to be sent.
• Enhances Work Environments: The attorney also notes that other attorneys in the office have generally been in better moods lately. Even though caseloads are up, everyone’s leaving the office at reasonable hours. While the firm was worried about high levels of burnout among the attorneys earlier this year, that issue now seems to be a distant memory. They believe it’s due to the firm’s adoption of PracticePanther earlier in the year, which has made everyone’s work life easier and improved the firm’s bottom line.

All of this — and so much more — is what legal case management software can do for your firm.

Law firms use a variety of software to manage cases, communicate with clients, handle documents, and research. For example, many firms use Microsoft Word for document creation, Outlook for email communication, and services like Dropbox and Google Drive for storing and sharing files.

Billing and time tracking represent another category where law firms utilize software, as dedicated software helps log billable hours, process payments, and send invoices. Research tools also play a critical role, offering a repository of legal precedents and regulations. And many firms also employ secure communication platforms to ensure privileged information remains confidential.

However, the need for multiple software solutions can be cumbersome and time-consuming. PracticePanther steps in as the all-in-one platform designed to consolidate these diverse functions. With PracticePanther, firms get comprehensive case management, timekeeping, billing, and more within a single interface.

For firms that have established workflows around specific applications, PracticePanther doesn’t force a choice between convenience and preference. We offer integrations with popular platforms like Google Calendar, LawToolBox, Quickbooks, and more, providing the flexibility firms need to grow.

Case management software acts as a comprehensive repository for all vital case components. It securely stores diverse data types, ranging from initial client intake forms to ongoing email and text conversations with clients. Client contact details, specific case information, and relevant legal documents stay organized for easy access. It also keeps track of important dates, including court appearances and scheduled meetings, ensuring these critical commitments are always at the forefront for legal professionals.

Additionally, legal case management software provides features for managing financial records, allowing lawyers to track billable hours, expenses, and client invoices with ease. Having these financial management capabilities enhances the efficiency of legal practices by simplifying revenue tracking and client billing processes.

Essentially, any information you want to store for a case can usually be stored using case management software.

When information is stored in the cloud, it’s housed on internet-connected servers rather than on local computers or physical storage devices. This approach is rapidly gaining traction, with Gartner reporting that end-user spending on public cloud services surged from $491 billion to $597.3 billion in the past year. For legal professionals, this trend highlights the growing importance and utility of cloud storage in their field.

Cloud storage offers several advantages for lawyers, like:

• Flexibility: Cloud storage provides flexibility to access files from anywhere, which is vital in today’s remote and hybrid work environments.
• Data Loss Prevention: It reduces the risk of losing important data due to computer malfunctions or physical damage to hardware.
• Better Collaboration: Collaborating on documents becomes easier, too, as multiple users can work on files simultaneously, regardless of their location. This feature greatly benefits team-based projects.
• Scalability: As a law firm’s storage needs grow, the cloud can easily expand to meet this demand without heavy investment in physical infrastructure. So, if you’re looking for legal case management software for small firms but have every intention of growing, then cloud storage is a must-have feature.

If you’re concerned about security in the cloud, you don’t have to be with PracticePanther. Our 256-bit military-grade encryption means you can be confident that your firm data is safe from cyberattacks.

Trusted by tens of thousands of legal professionals and approved for use by over 50 bar associations, PracticePanther is widely regarded as the best cloud-based legal case management software, with a 4.7/5 rating on Capterra, GetApp, SoftwareAdvice, Trust Pilot, and Lawyerist.

The cost of a legal case management system can vary depending on the type of solution you choose. Cloud-based solutions are often more cost-effective for law firms, with their low monthly pricing models, free support, and free updates. Be wary of free legal case management software solutions, as they typically lack the compliant security, customer service, and functionality found in subscription-based offerings.

At PracticePanther, we offer a range of pricing plans starting at $49 per month per user to accommodate firms of all sizes. We understand that every law firm has unique requirements, and we strive to provide a solution that meets your specific needs and budget.

A recent ABA survey revealed that solo practitioners spend less than $3,000 annually on software, small firms spend between $1,000 and $9,999 annually, and large firm respondents typically weren’t sure what their exact software spend was (likely over $10,000 annually).

Such spending habits underscore the recognition within the legal industry of the importance of technology for efficient practice management. The increasing or maintained tech budgets in 90% of law firms further reflect a commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and client service through technology. A law firm’s technology budget is now a strategic investment to be a part of society’s growing digital infrastructure.

Legal case management software offers a comprehensive suite of features tailored to streamline the day-to-day tasks of legal practitioners. When selecting legal case management software, here are some key features to look for:

• Automation: Automation is one of the biggest legal case management system examples that law firms look for. This feature reduces repetitive tasks through custom workflows, automatically moving cases along predetermined paths and alerting you to important deadlines. Automation features should also be able to manage communication, send out automated messages and reminders to clients, and ensure consistent engagement. This automation frees up valuable time, allowing lawyers to concentrate on client representation and case strategy.

• Client Relationship Management: Managing client relationships is key to successful firm growth. The right software should streamline your intake process and offer efficient ways for your team to communicate with clients. PracticePanther offers digital intake forms that are compatible with any device, allowing clients to provide their information in a convenient way. You can also easily communicate with clients, assign them tasks, and exchange documents through the built-in client portal.

• Legal Document Database Management: Did you know that manually filing a single paper document can cost your firm around $20 on average? This is one of many reasons that the American Bar Association (ABA) has been recommending that firms go paperless since 2019. What does a law firm document management system do to help with this, exactly? By adopting legal document management software, your firm can store all its documents in one place, readily accessible from any location. You can easily link documents to specific contacts or matters, and quickly retrieve them using efficient search functions. PracticePanther also integrates with popular storage solutions like Google Drive and Box.com, eliminating the need to move files around when you start using PracticePanther.

• Time Tracking and Billing: Whether you’re looking for the best case management software for family law, personal injury, or even in-house legal billing software, PracticePanther does it all. PracticePanther simplifies time tracking, allowing you to capture every billable moment with a start-and-stop timer or manual entry. Invoicing is just as effortless — you can generate detailed bills reflecting all your work and expenses while strictly following IOLTA, ABA, and state bar guidelines. PracticePanther can also automate payment reminders, helping maintain cash flow. For firms requiring LEDES and UTBMS codes, PracticePanther supports these standards, streamlining billing for clients and ensuring compliance.

• Advanced Calendaring: Modern legal practices thrive on advanced calendaring solutions. PracticePanther streamlines all scheduling needs, syncing with your existing calendars to keep you ahead of every meeting, appointment, and court date. It simplifies deadline management with court rules-based events, eliminating the time spent on manual date calculations and cross-referencing with local rules. Plus, PracticePanther allows you to convert calendar entries to time entries, ensuring you capture all your billables.

• Software Integrations: If you’re already using platforms that work for you, there’s no need for a complete overhaul. Legal case management software should enhance your existing setup, integrating with applications you rely on daily. In PracticePanther, you can easily sync your Outlook or Gmail inboxes, your Exchange calendar, or even your Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive accounts. And because PracticePanther is the all-in-one legal case management software, you may discover efficiencies that reduce the need for multiple applications, potentially decreasing costs over time.

• Robust Security: Cyberattacks rose by 7% when comparing the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2022. Of those attacks, one out of every 40 was targeting a law firm or insurance provider. In a world rife with data breaches, identity theft, and the potential for blowback against your firm — you need military-grade protection. PracticePanther offers 256-bit encryption to keep your firm safe and covered. You can limit data access by location, choose role-based access levels, and feel secure with HIPAA-compliant document storage.

• Built-In ePayments: Many firms are used to having a separate platform for financial transactions, but with the best case management software, this isn’t necessary. PracticePanther’s built-in ePayment system — PantherPayments — allows for smooth financial operations within the same ecosystem where you manage cases, contacts, and documents. This system supports direct payment methods such as credit cards, eChecks, or ACH, offering industry-low rates without additional third-party costs. It also facilitates creating payment plans with automated reminders for clients, streamlining the collection process. With a native ePayment system, firms can boost their collections by offering an easy, secure payment experience for clients and reducing time spent on financial administration.

• Native eSignature Capabilities: Just as many firms have separate software for electronic payments, many also have separate software for eSignatures. PracticePanther has a native eSignature feature that allows you to request and electronically sign an unlimited number of documents, all in one place. You can bulk-send documents for electronic signatures, and you can also add a payment link to a signature request, knocking out two steps at once.

The best legal document management system is one that offers robust security, easy accessibility, and seamless integration with case management functions. Ideally, this system will be included in a comprehensive software that combines these features with other case management functions to create an efficient workflow. This allows legal professionals to access and organize case-related documents within a single platform, enhancing productivity and collaboration.

PracticePanther stands out as a top choice in this regard. Users can easily manage documents alongside numerous other case management features, from client communication to calendaring. This all-in-one approach simplifies firm processes, making PracticePanther an efficient solution for legal professionals seeking streamlined and effective document management integrated with broader case management capabilities.

Legal assistants and paralegals generally use the same software that their attorneys use. This typically includes case management systems, scheduling tools, document management applications, and more.

Utilizing identical software across the board enhances the productivity of the entire firm. A single, centralized software platform like PracticePanther enhances efficiency even further, as all team members have access to the same information and tools. Plus, having a unified system reduces the need for training on multiple platforms and eliminates data discrepancies. It also reinforces the team’s ability to provide coordinated and informed client support.

By working on a singular software system, legal assistants, support staff, and attorneys can maintain a streamlined process from case initiation to resolution.

With many options available in the market, it is important to consider your firm’s needs and priorities to find the right law case management software. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind: 

• Practice Area: Evaluate whether the software offers features that are tailored to your specific practice area and internal processes. Internal processes will vary based on your practice area.

• Ease of Use: Consider how easy it is to use and implement the software and how it will fit into your day-to-day operation.

• Pricing:  Evaluate the value that the software provides and consider the return on investment. While it may be tempting to choose the cheapest option, it’s important to consider whether it will meet your long-term needs and whether it requires additional third-party integrations that could drive up the cost.

• Support: Look for software that offers comprehensive support to ensure you have the help you need whenever you need it.

By considering these factors, you can find the right legal case management software for your firm’s needs.

PracticePanther’s legal case management software is designed to work on both Mac and PC computers. It is a cloud-based solution and can be accessed through a web browser, so it can be used on any device with an internet connection and a compatible browser. Some software may also offer native applications that can be installed on your computer, but these may be platform-specific and only available for Mac or PC.

PracticePanther also offers an intuitive mobile application — available in both the App Store and Google Play — that allows users to access important case information on the go.

To choose the best case management software, you must first identify any gaps in your current internal processes. Find out what is missing and how you think software can help streamline the various tasks in your case management lifecycle.

For example, if you’re struggling with stacks of paperwork, find software that allows you to store all files and documents in one place with unlimited storage. On the other hand, if you’re facing a lot of human errors due to manual processes, find software that helps identify problem areas and alerts law firm managers whenever there are discrepancies.

Additionally, consider your technology budget, which 90% of law firms plan to increase or maintain in the coming year. Compare your needs with the PracticePanther pricing page to find the best plan that suits your firm. If you’d like to see PracticePanther legal software in real-time and get a customized demo designed for your law firm, you can schedule a demo today!