Legal billing software that gives you time and money back

Legal billing software, such as PracticePanther, helps lawyers track their time, work, and expenses, enabling them to accurately bill clients. PracticePanther allows users to run custom reports, which can help law firms quickly gain billing insights and identify missed or delayed payments. With advanced filtering and tagging capabilities, firms can confirm that they are maximizing their collections and minimizing mistakes.
 
In addition, PracticePanther’s built-in online payments processor, PantherPayments, allows law firms to offer multiple payment options such as credit card, eCheck, and ACH, making it easy for clients to pay. Firms can also create custom payment links that can be placed on websites, email signatures, intake forms, and other places where hyperlinks are accepted, enabling clients to have multiple opportunities to pay your firm.

Billing can be a time-consuming and error-prone process, but PracticePanther helps users track their time, work, and expenses, which allows law firms to bill clients accurately and efficiently. Legal billing software, like PracticePanther, helps improve cash flow management by providing innovative features for tracking payments, generating invoices, and reminding clients of outstanding balances. 

In addition, a secure client portal can help enhance client communication by allowing clients to view their invoices, make online payments, and view their payment history. Law firms can maximize their billing efforts by creating customized invoices and intake forms to boost overall client satisfaction and the law firm’s brand reputation. By streamlining billing and payment operations, law firms can reduce administrative costs and increase collections, resulting in improved profitability.

When it comes to legal billing management software, it’s essential to choose a solution that meets your firm’s specific needs and goals. PracticePanther is a comprehensive software that helps law firms streamline their billing processes and stay compliant. 

With PracticePanther, you can easily track billable hours, generate invoices, and monitor payment transactions with automated features. Trusted by thousands of legal professionals and approved by over 50 bar associations, PracticePanther is widely regarded as a top choice in the industry, with a rating of 4.7/5 on GetApp, Capterra, and G2 Crowd. Whether you’re looking to increase efficiency, reduce errors, or improve cash flow, PracticePanther can help.

At PracticePanther, we understand that every law firm has unique billing needs and preferences. That’s why we provide users with full customization capabilities for their invoices. With PracticePanther’s custom invoice feature, users can design as many invoice templates as they need, giving them flexibility and control over the billing process. 

Law firms can also white label their invoices to add their branding, which can help improve their brand reputation. PracticePanther covers all aspects of invoicing, whether you need a simple, straightforward invoice template or a more complex, customized invoice.

It is essential to consider factors such as the size of your firm, your current billing operations, and how the software can improve efficiency. Some key features to look for include:

• Multiple billing options: Legal billing software should allow you to bill in various ways, such as by the hour, flat fees, or contingency fees. 
• Custom hourly rates and fees: The ability to set different hourly rates for different lawyers in your firm and different flat fees for specific activities is a must-have feature. 
• Time and expense tracking: It is useful to have a system in place to track time spent on tasks using timers or manual time entries, as well as expenses such as mailing costs, transportation fees, and filing fees. 
• Accounting integration: Legal billing software that integrates with your firm’s accounting software can facilitate three-way reconciliation. 
• LEDES invoicing: The option to easily format bills according to LEDES requirements can be useful for many firms. 
• Invoice generation: Automated invoice generation based on billable hours and expenses is a significant time-saver. 
• Customizable invoice templates: Being able to create professional invoices with your firm’s branding can enhance your brand image and presence. 
• Payment reminders: The ability to send payment reminders to clients when invoices are past due can help improve your cash flow. 
• Payment plans: Custom payment plans for each client based on their needs can help reduce the financial burden on your clients. 
• Custom financial reports: Being able to run reports on accounts receivables, outstanding balances, and payment history for each client, matter, or attorney can help you track your firm’s financial performance. 

It is worth noting that PracticePanther provides a range of features (including those listed above) that can help streamline the productivity, efficiency, and operations of law firms.

Yes, PracticePanther allows users to generate a range of reports that provide in-depth insights into their billing and financial performance. For example, reports like the Billed vs. Billable Time Entries Report can help law firms compare the amount of time billed to the amount of billable time recorded. PracticePanther’s Payments Report provides a breakdown of payments received and outstanding balances. By using insights from these reports, law firms can gain a clearer understanding of their financial situation and use data to better predict future cash flow.

Yes, PracticePanther plays by the books. Our payment processor, PantherPayments, is 100% compliant with IOLTA, ABA, and all 50 state bar guidelines.

PracticePanther’s legal billing software and PantherPayments are seamlessly integrated to help law firms manage their time, work, and expenses, as well as accept a variety of online payments from clients. With PantherPayments, law firms can accept credit card, eCheck, and ACH payments at the industry’s lowest transaction rates while maintaining compliance.

In addition to multiple online payment methods, PantherPayments also offers convenient options for law firms to accept online payments via OneLink, QR codes, and SMS text messages. To further accommodate clients’ financial needs, PracticePanther’s custom payment plan feature allows law firms to offer flexible payment options in smaller installments. Overall, PantherPayments is a comprehensive and flexible payment processing solution for any law firm.

A legal billing system is a comprehensive approach that law firms use to track work hours, manage invoices, and process payments. It’s the backbone of a firm’s financial health. Modern practices typically leverage legal billing software to streamline these tasks rather than losing time to manual processes.

When considering the implementation of legal billing software, law firms should evaluate the following:

• Compatibility: The software should work with both Macs and PCs, catering to the diverse technological preferences of legal professionals. You should also look for the added benefit of software integrations to further enhance functionality.
• Customer Service: You need a solid customer service team on your side, as they will guide you through any needs you have throughout your use of their software. As you start to interact with the team for a given software, consider how well they answer your questions. Ideally, you want a dedicated person who will assist you during the onboarding process and be ready to answer any queries.
• User-friendliness: It needs to be easy for all staff members to learn and use. The longer it takes for your staff to get comfortable with a legal billing system, the less time they can spend on billable hours.
• Customization: The system should allow for custom rate settings, unique billing arrangements, firm branding, and much more.
• Security: The American Bar Association (ABA) notes that around a quarter of law firms have experienced a data breach in recent years. Be sure that the legal billing software you choose has security features like IP address restrictions, two-factor authentication, and role-based permissions at a bare minimum.

By employing legal billing software, law firms can enjoy increased accuracy, better time management, and heightened client trust. This, in turn, can reinforce a firm’s reputation for professionalism and reliability.

In a law firm, the billing process often involves a collection of software. Traditionally, firms may use separate systems for each step of the billing cycle, such as:

• Law firm time tracking software to log billable hours.
• Legal invoice software for creating and sending bills to clients.
• Online payment processing systems to manage and reconcile received payments.
• Trust accounting software for lawyers to manage the firm’s trust accounts.

This segmented approach can create inefficiencies and increase the risk of errors as data moves between systems. It may also lead to significant administrative overhead, consuming time that legal professionals could otherwise dedicate to their clients’ cases.

To address these issues, leading law firms are turning toward integrated solutions that combine these functionalities into a single platform. This shift helps in several ways:

• Streamlines data management by housing all billing-related information in one place.
• Enhances accuracy by reducing the need for multiple data entries across platforms.
• Saves time by cutting down on the need to learn and navigate different software systems.

PracticePanther is the one option that offers an all-in-one solution for law firms, aiming to reduce the complexity of legal billing with a unified platform. This simplification can help firms focus more on their legal work and less on administrative tasks.

You can get legal billing software for as low as a monthly subscription fee of $49 per user when paid annually. Overall, the cost of legal billing software will vary depending on the size and needs of your law firm. So, the answer to “How much does billing software cost for a small business?” will be quite different from the answer to “How much is billing software for a large firm?”

To break this down further, legal billing software costs are often structured into subscription tiers to accommodate the varying needs of different law practices. Subscription billing allows firms to pay for only the features they use. Most legal billing platforms offer a range of tiers, typically including:

• A basic tier for those who need legal billing software for a solo practitioner or small firms needing fundamental features.
• Mid-range options for growing practices that require additional functionality.
• Advanced tiers for large firms with complex billing and reporting needs.

This tiered approach gives law practices the flexibility to select a plan that matches their size, caseload, and budget. It also enables them to scale up as their practice grows without switching to a new platform.

Visit our case management software pricing page for a breakdown of PracticePanther’s subscription options.

The best billing software for making an invoice depends on several factors, which may leave you wondering, “How do I choose an invoicing software?” When selecting invoicing software, it’s important to focus on features that directly impact your firm’s invoicing workflow. Here’s a detailed look at what you should consider:

• Automated Time and Expense Capture: Lawyers often work on multiple cases simultaneously, making it easy to lose track of billable hours and expenses when switching between cases. Software that automates capturing this data ensures you don’t miss any billable time or expense. This feature increases billing accuracy and reduces the time spent on manual entries.
• Batch Invoicing: The ability to generate multiple invoices simultaneously is a significant time-saver, especially for those who need legal billing software for large firms with many clients. Batch invoicing reduces administrative workload, allowing more time for client-focused activities.
• Template Customization: Each law firm has its own branding and billing format. Customizable legal invoice templates allow firms to maintain their professional image, increase brand awareness, and meet specific client requirements.
• Approval Workflow: Invoices often need review and approval by senior lawyers or partners before going to the client. Legal workflow solutions can streamline the invoicing process as well as many other procedures around your law firm.
• Flexible Billing Structures: To truly cater to clients, support for different alternative fee arrangements is essential. Look for software that offers customization for hourly rates, fixed fees, and retainer-based billing.
• Part of Practice Management Software: Choosing invoicing software that’s part of a larger practice management software is highly beneficial. This integration ensures that billing is closely tied to case management, client records, and scheduling. It simplifies your workflows as data flows seamlessly between different aspects of your practice, reducing the need for multiple standalone applications.

These details collectively contribute to a more efficient, accurate, and client-friendly invoicing process, which is why PracticePanther includes all of these features and more. From customizable invoices to time tracking, PracticePanther is the best solution for managing your practice. See it for yourself by signing up for a free trial.

Choosing the right e-invoicing software for your law firm hinges on a few specific features. These features should streamline the invoicing process while also tailoring it to the unique demands of your profession. 

In addition to all the other features outlined on this page, here’s what you should specifically look for in e-invoicing software:

• Based in the Cloud: Cloud-based legal software ensures that your invoicing system is accessible from anywhere, which is crucial for lawyers who often work outside the office. This flexibility allows for quick invoice generation and management through any device, like your laptop or the software’s e-billing app.
• Multiple Sending Options: You’ll want the flexibility to dispatch invoices through email, PDF, and other digital methods to meet diverse client needs.
• Client Portal Access: Offering clients round-the-clock access to their invoices and payment records via a client portal for law firms promotes transparency and trust.
• Automated Billing for Recurring Charges: This feature automates invoices for clients with a recurring payment plan, like monthly retainer agreements, saving time and reducing errors.
• Secure Online Payment Options: Did you know that seven out of 10 transactions are now made through digital payment methods? To accommodate people’s desire to pay digitally, you need e-invoicing software with an online payment system for law firms. With an e-payment option, your clients can settle their bills conveniently at any time.
• Automated Invoice Follow-up: Forgetting to pay a bill is the biggest reason many people fail to meet their financial obligations. E-invoicing software should combat this issue by sending reminders for unpaid invoices, which improves cash flow with little to no effort on your part.
• Audit Trail Capabilities: It’s important that your software maintains a log of all invoice modifications for compliance purposes and to maintain clear visibility into your billing history.

PracticePanther distinguishes itself as the best e-invoicing software by offering intuitive design paired with the powerful functionality of all these features. It adapts to the detailed billing needs of law firms, from solo practitioners to large firms, ensuring that your invoicing is as efficient as your legal work. Schedule a live demo to see how it can transform your billing process, enhance your client relationships, and free up your time.

While there may be free legal billing software out there, it often comes at a hidden cost. Legal professionals, in particular, should be wary of these particular issues:

• Security Risks: With sensitive client data and client confidentiality obligations, you can’t afford the risk of breaches that free software might pose. 
• Limited Features: A free invoice software download often has extremely restricted functionality. For legal billing, you need robust features like trust accounting, which is rarely included in free packages.
• Lack of Customization: Tailoring invoices to include your firm’s branding is a must. Invoicing software that’s free typically limits customization, which could affect your firm’s professional image.
• Inadequate Customer Support: When issues arise, having reliable customer support is crucial. Free software usually comes with limited or no support, leaving you to fend for yourself during critical times.
• No Automation: Time-saving features like recurring billing are a must for efficiency. Free programs often lack these time-saving automation features.

As you can see, free billing software may cause you more headaches in the long run than it’s worth. Considering this, it might be worth exploring an option like PracticePanther. PracticePanther offers a 7-day free trial without requiring credit card information. This trial can give you a hands-on experience of a more secure and feature-rich billing system tailored for legal professionals.

You must include certain elements about the services you provide in a legal invoice. PracticePanther makes the whole process much easier by guiding you through the following steps for invoice creation:
 

Step 1: Customize Your Invoice’s Appearance

Choose a PracticePanther template that aligns with your firm’s brand. Update the invoice settings to include your firm’s logo, address, and contact information, which should be consistently presented in all communications.
 

Step 2: Begin with Client and Matter Details

Navigate to the Invoices tab in PracticePanther, where you can generate a single invoice or multiple. Once you select the client and their associated matter, PracticePanther will automatically input the client’s name, address, and other identifying information onto the invoice.
 

Step 3: Detailed Descriptions of Services

For each service provided, you must include a detailed description. List the date, the nature of the service, who performed it, and how long it took. Because PracticePanther supports real-time time tracking, you’ll likely already have this step done when you go to create an invoice. PracticePanther will then automatically input all of your billable hours, dates worked, and descriptions into the invoice, tallying up the amount owed according to your hourly rate.
 

Step 4: Include Expenses and Disbursements

Record all expenses related to the matter. This can range from filing fees to travel expenses. PracticePanther allows you to add these expenses directly to the invoice, ensuring they’re not overlooked.
 

Step 5: Add Discounts or Adjustments

If you agreed on a discount with your client or need to make adjustments, these should be clearly itemized on the invoice. With PracticePanther, you can easily discount an invoice by whatever percentage you want.
 

Step 6: Payment Information

Detail the payment terms, including due dates and any late payment penalties, to ensure your client knows when and how to pay your invoice. PracticePanther offers a client portal option and a native ePayments system, so your client can click a link on their digital invoice and pay online.
 

Step 7: Finalize and Send

Review the invoice for accuracy, then use PracticePanther’s emailing feature to send it directly to your client. Alternatively, you can download the invoice as a PDF and send it to your client in a separate email or another method of your choosing.
 

Step 8: Use Follow-up Features

Utilize PracticePanther alerts to track when your client views the invoice and set reminders for automated follow-ups on outstanding payments.
 
With PracticePanther, your law firm can create transparent, professional invoices that are easy for clients to understand and for your firm to manage. Whether you need legal billing software for small firms, in-house operations, large firms, or anything in between, PracticePanther has you covered. Sign up for a free demo today to see it in action!