Best Back Office Software and Tools for Law Firms in 2022
Being a successful law firm in today’s legal market is more than just winning lawsuits and knowing the state’s laws. In truth, the most successful law firms are those that know how to optimize the rapidly evolving technology, incorporate efficient legal software into their firm, and know which technology the firm needs to succeed. However, many law firms have no idea where to even start when it comes to this technology.
That is why in this post, we want to go over some of the best legal software on the market that can help enhance your firm’s productivity, fill in the firm’s gaps, and better serve your clients.
What is the Typical Software Used by Law Firms?
With so many different types of tools and software available for firms, it can be challenging to figure out what kind of software a law firm actually requires.
However, the software that law firms generally tend to most benefit from include:
- Law Firm Practice Management Software
- Legal Task Management Software
- Legal Document Management Software
- Legal Docketing Software
- Legal Intake Software
- Accounting and Billing Software
- Knowledge Management Software
- Law Firm Reporting Software
- Legal Timekeeping Software
For instance, Clio, Practice Panther, and Filevine tend to be some of the favorites when it comes to software for managing law firm operations.
What Time Keeper Software is Used by Law Firms?
Keeping track of time is critical for attorneys, not only, so they know how much they need to charge their clients but also for determining the productivity of their attorneys and how the firm can improve their systems.
That is why time tracking software can be a game-changer, as it can be the solution these firms need to quickly answer some of the firm’s crucial questions, such as:
- Are the lawyers working efficiently?
- Is there a way to improve the attorney’s productivity?
- How much time does an attorney spend on each task?
- Is there a way to allocate costs to each client?
- Is there a way to calculate profit per each client?
For these reasons, many firms today use timekeeper software such as Clio, Smokeball, or Zola Suite.
If you make this incorrect assumption, it can end up with you wide-eyed gawking at an invoice billing you two to three times the amount you anticipated. Bookkeeping, transcription, and document drafting might be more straightforward. But certain LPOs such as legal research or case evaluations might be better kept either in-house or outsourced locally. It’s important to develop an open and honest relationship with a potential service provider. Unless they are specialists in the niche task that you’re intending to dish off, you are running the potential risk of running up your bill. In this case, paying a flat rate can be safer.
What Kinds of Technology Do Lawyers Use?
Considering that technology is constantly changing and improving how we do things and even our processes, it is no surprise that even lawyers have learned to pick up on this technology to make their lives easier.
As a result, lawyers use various technologies, including dictation devices, secure communication methods, document and filing services, cloud-based organizational software, word processors, scanners, and even research tools to optimize efficiency, limit costs and maximize profits.
For instance, legal case software Fastcase has one of the largest online law libraries in the world, giving lawyers the ability to get remote access to documents like statutes, regulations, case law, and constitutions whenever they need.
What is the Upcoming Online Legal Software for Lawyers?
While new tools and software for lawyers are constantly evolving, there are some types of software that may be better suited for your firm. For example, the Clio legal software is especially beneficial for those running a small law firm or solo practitioners. However, if you are only looking for basic document management needs, Google Drive and Dropbox may be all you require to be efficient with your processes.
That is why it may be in your best interest to reach out to a consultant who can help you figure out which back-office software and tools are best suited for your firm or whether back-office outsourcing can help your firm become the most efficient and profitable version of itself.
