Legal Software Report

Published by

2021Legal SoftwareReport

Contents4 Introduction to the 2021 Legal

Software Report

6 How to Choose the Best Legal Software for Your Firm

10 Law Practice Management Software

10 PCLaw

12 Tabs3

14 ProLaw

16 Time Matters

18 LEAP

20 Clio Manage

22 CosmoLex

24 Rocket Matter

26 MyCase

28 Practice Panther

30 Bill4Time

32 Zola Suite

34 Centerbase

36 Firm Central

38 Appendices

38 Appendix A. Document Management Software

39 Appendix B. Moving Your Software to a Private Cloud

41 Appendix C. Additional Resources

42 About Uptime Legal Systems

Introduction to the 2021 Legal Software Report

Barely a decade ago, if you were a law firm looking for software to manage your cases and bill your clients, you had a relatively short list of options to evaluate and implement. Today, there are over a dozen law practice management applications, both new and old, to choose from.

Choice is always a good thing in any industry, but having so many options comes with the caveat that research and decision-making has become considerably more complex. More and more, the law firms we serve at Uptime Legal are feeling confused about law firm software capabilities and overwhelmed with the potential options.

That’s why we’ve developed this, the first annual Legal Software Report.

Starting this year, we will assess the landscape of legal software. Every year we will distill what you need to know about law firm software into a single, definitive report. In this year’s report we’ll cover the top 15 practice management applications used by law firms today. For each application, we’ll provide:

• An overview of the application.

• A summary of stand-out features and highlights

• A complete list of features

• A little bit about the company

At Uptime Legal, we’ve spent over a decade helping law firms manage their technology. We’ve worked with hundreds of law firms, software publishers, resellers, consultants, commentators and experts. This report represents over a decade of analyzing law firm software and working in-the-trenches with the law firms that use them.

This report aims to aggregate all of that shared knowledge, curated and distilled into a single report. This report represents our best attempt to capture, interpret and represent aggregate data, opinions and viewpoints, and represents our subjective view on each software package.

We hope you find the 2021 Legal Software Report useful.

Onward and Upward!

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DENNIS DIMKACEO | Uptime Legal Systems

Below is a list of features commonly found in many, but not all, law practice management applications. Use this as your firm’s checklist, determine which of these are “must-have’s” for your firm, and which are more luxuries, or outright unnecessary.

Client & Contact ManagementManagement of your clients, vendors, related parties and other third-parties.

Case / Matter ManagementBasic management of the details for each case, matter or project. Information including the related client and particulars of each case.

CalendaringA basic firm-wide calendar, possibly integrating or synchronizing with your Outlook or Google calendar.

Conflict CheckingThe ability to check for specific names or subjects during a conflict-of-interest check.

Task ManagementThe ability to create, assign and manage tasks and to-do’s, including relating to specific matters.

TimekeepingThe ability to track and enter billable time on a given matter or for a specific client. This may include simple time entry into a spreadsheet-like interface, or mobile time entry from your smart phone.

Billing & InvoicingGeneration of client invoices. This may include customizable invoices, split-level billing, hourly billing, flat fee billing, contingency billing, and cost recovery.

Form/Document AssemblyAutomatic creation and population of specific forms and documents, including Federal and state-level forms.

Cloud Storage for DocumentsIncluded, inline basic cloud storage. For cloud-based practice management applications, this is usually provided in the form of allowing users to attach or upload documents to a specific matter.

Email ManagementThe ability to save specific emails to a matter, or otherwise associate emails (sent or received) to a particular case.

Business AccountingStandard business accounting functions, including General Ledger, management of bank/operating accounts, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.

Trust AccountingManagement of Trust/IOLTA accounts, including enforcement of trust accounting rules and generation of trust account audit reports.

Financial ReportsStandard business/accounting reports, including Profit & Loss statements, Balacne Sheets, and Cashflow Statements. This may include other law-firm-specific reports, such as Work-In-Progress (WIP) reports, and revenue by client/matter.

How to Choose the Best Law Practice Management Software

Before we dive into the particulars of the top law practice management software used by law firms today, we thought we’d begin by giving you some guidance on how to go about evaluating software for your firm.

There is no single best practice management platform for all law firms. In this report you’ll find that each product has a different take on practice management, and most applications have their own unique features or differentiators.

Software Capabilities & RequirementsWe advise our clients that it’s best to start by defining the specific features and capabilities that your firm needs in a practice management solution. We strongly advise that you discuss this with your entire firm, as the needs of one team or individual may vary drastically from another.

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On-Premise, Cloud-based or HostedFinally, as you evaluate practice management software for your firm, consider the deployment that best suits your firm’s needs. For this, you generally have three options:

When it comes to legal case management software, what kind and how to use the software, you generally have three options:

1. On-Premise Software (Server/desktop-based)

2. Web-based Software (Natively Cloud)

3. Hosted Software (Server-based software run within a Private Cloud)

On-Premise softwareare those legal case management applications that are designed to be run in-house, on your own onsite servers and desktop computers. These are the applications that, it many cases, have been around for decades, and as a result tend to have more rich, robust functionality and capabilities. The downside of these applications is that they require your firm to own and maintain a server, which comes with its own costs and headaches. The solution to this problem, however, is a private cloud, which we’ll explore shortly.

Web-based softwareare those applications that are natively-cloud, meaning you run them in a web browser. These applications, which tend to be newer than their on-premise counterparts, don’t require a server (or in many cases—any software installation whatsoever). This makes them low-maintenance and accessible from anywhere. The downside: These applications are generally more lightweight and basic, and generally do less than premise-based software. For solo and small firms, this can be a benefit. For midsized and larger firms, sometimes these applications feel watered-down by comparison.

Hosted software is not a third category of software; rather it’s the same On-premise software we touched on earlier, but hosted in a secure private cloud instead of your own on-premise servers. A private cloud is an IT platform that will host your legal case management software (along with, in many cases, your files/folders, email and more), giving you all of the upside of the

cloud (reliability, security, mobility) without the downside of servers (costs, headache, and IT management). Refer to Appendix B of this report for more information on hosting premise-based software in a Private Cloud.

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11

Moving PCLaw to the Cloud How PCLaw Works in the Cloud

Additional Resources

Full Feature List• Client & Contact Management• Case / Matter Management• Calendaring• Conflict Checking• Task Management• Timekeeping• Billing & Invoicing• Form/Document Assembly• Cloud Storage for Documents*• Document Management• Email Management• Business Accounting• Trust Accounting• Financial Reports

*Available within a Private Cloud

About the CompanyPCLaw is a product of the company PCLaw | Time Matters, which is a Joint Venture between LexisNexis and LEAP. PCLaw was acquired from its original developer by LexisNexis.

PCLaw in the CloudPCLaw is server-based, which means it can be run on your firm’s on-premise servers, or within a full-managed Private Cloud.

A Private Cloud, such as Uptime Practice, will host your PCLaw, documents, email and other applications in a secure cloud workspace.

• Eliminate Server & IT Headaches• Keep Your Data Secure• Manage Your Practice from Anywhere

Learn more about PCLaw in the Cloud.

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PCLawOverviewPCLaw is a popular, long-standing practice management, billing and accounting solution for small and midsize law firms. It includes lightweight practice management (clients, cases and calendars), coupled with robust time tracking, billing and accounting (including robust financial reporting). PCLaw is one of the few all-in-one solutions that doesn’t require separate software for bookkeeping and accounting.

Who PCLaw is Good ForPCLaw is a good fit for law firms that want an all-in-one solution for case management, billing and accounting, and for firms that need comprehensive billing and accounting functionality and reporting. PCLaw is especially well-suited for law firms that don’t want to manage accounting in separate software (such as QuickBooks), and need flexibility in billing structures and trust accounting.

Deployment: On-Premise or Private Cloud

Product Highlights• PCLaw is designed to be an all-in-one

solution for client and matter management, timekeeping, billing and accounting.

• PCLaw is straight-forward and easy to use, making it one of the easier applications to get started with. PCLaw, unlike other legal applications, doesn’t require a special consultant to implement and begin using.

• PCLaw has some of the most sophisticated and flexible billing options of any legal billing/accounting software, and includes options for fixed-fee, split billing and comprehensive billing and financial reporting capabilities.

• PCLaw can be used stand-alone, or in conjunction with Time Matters, LexisNexis’ practice management/document management application.

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Moving Tabs3 to the Cloud How to Run Tabs3 in the Cloud




About the CompanyTabs3 and PracticeMaster were developed and are owned by Software Technology Inc. (STI), the owners of both these applications as well as CosmoLex.

Tabs3 in the CloudTabs3 and PracticeMaster are server-based, which means they can be run on your firm’s on-premise servers, or within a full-managed Private Cloud.

A Private Cloud, such as Uptime Practice, will host your APP, document, email and other applications in a secure cloud workspace.


Learn more about Tabs3 in the Cloud.

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Tabs3 & PracticeMasterOverviewTabs3 and its counterpart, PracticeMaster, are a suite of robust case management, billing and accounting solutions for law firms. Tabs3 provides essential “back-office” functionality including time, billing and accounting; PracticeMaster provides powerful “front-office” capabilities including client and matter management.

Who Tabs3 is Good ForTabs3 and Practice Master are good fits for law firms that need both comprehensive billing and accounting (including trust accounting) along with a sophisticated solution to manage clients and cases. Since both front-office and back-office functions are managed by the Tabs3/Practice Master suite, the solution is good for firms that do not want to manage their practice and their accounting in separate software.


Product Highlights• The Tabs3/Practice Master suite is modular:

customers can purchase and use Practice Master for practice/case management, Tabs3 for billing and accounting, or both.

• Tabs3 has a network of talented and capable consultants that can help your firm implement and customize Tabs3 and Practice Master to fit the needs of your law firm.

• Tabs3 and Practice Master integrate with other law firm applications, most notably Worldox for document management.

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Moving ProLaw to the Cloud How PCLaw Works in the Cloud




About the CompanyProLaw is a product of Elite, which is a division of Thomson Reuters, which is the same parent company as WestLaw. The combined companies provide legal software and legal research to law firms across the world.

ProLaw in the CloudProLaw is server-based, which means it can be run on your firm’s on-premise servers, or within a full-managed Private Cloud.

A Private Cloud, such as Uptime Practice, will host your ProLaw, document, email and other applications in a secure cloud workspace.


Learn more about ProLaw in the Cloud.

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ProLawOverviewProLaw is a Legal Practice Management, Document Management and Accounting solution for law firms. ProLaw is server-based software, which means it can be run on-premise, on your own in-house servers or within a private cloud.

Who ProLaw is Good ForProLaw is a good fit for law firms that need practice/case management, full-fledged document management and complete accounting in a single software solution. ProLaw is effectively the only software platform that includes all of this three-legged stool of legal software. ProLaw is best suited for small and mid-sized firms, but not necessarily solo law practices or firms under 10 total employees.


Product Highlights• ProLaw is modular software,

customers can purchase and use the front-office (practice management and document management) module, the back-office (business and trust accounting) module, or both.

• ProLaw is powerful software. It does a lot, and as a result it requires a powerful, multi-server IT infrastructure, either on-premise or hosted in a private cloud.

• ProLaw integrates heavily with the Microsoft Office suite, including Word (for documents) and Outlook (for email). ProLaw also integrates with Westlaw and WestlawNext.

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Moving Time Matters to the Cloud




About the CompanyTime Matters is a product of the company PCLaw | Time Matters, which is a Joint Venture between LexisNexis and LEAP. Time Matters was acquired from its original developer by LexisNexis.

Time Matters in the CloudTime Matters is server-based, which means it can be run on your firm’s on-premise servers, or within a full-managed Private Cloud.

A Private Cloud, such as Uptime Practice, will host your Time Matters, document, email and other applications in a secure cloud workspace.


Learn more about Time Matters in the Cloud.

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Time MattersOverviewTime Matters is a long-standing, popular Practice Management and Document Management solution. Time Matters is unique in it’s mix of LPM and DMS capabilities, a well as being one of the most customizable practice management products on the market.

Who Time Matters is Good ForTime Matters is a good fit for law firms that need a sophisticated platform to manage clients, matters, calendars and documents. Time Matters is also a good fit for firms that need a high degree of customization to their software, including customization of matter management by practice area or case type.


Product Highlights• Time Matters offers robust case

management, including matter management, calendaring and billing, as well as document management capabilities.

• Time Matters is highly customizable. Matter screens, reports, workflows and more can be customized to meet the unique needs of a particular law firm.

• Time Matters can be used in conjunction with PCLaw or Juris for accounting.

• Time Matters has a network of consultants and resellers that can help your firm implement, customize and make the most of the software.

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Document & Email ManagementLEAP includes cloud storage with some document management features. If your firm has a significant amount of historical data, you may need to supplement LEAP with basic cloud storage such as OneDrive, or with a comprehensive Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

Full Feature List• Client & Contact

Management• Case / Matter

Management• Calendaring• Conflict Checking• Task Management• Timekeeping• Billing & Invoicing

• Form/Document Assembly

• Cloud Storage for Documents

• Document Management*

• Email Management*• Business Accounting• Trust Accounting• Financial Reports


About the CompanyLEAP is a legal software company based in Australia, and has a growing presence in Europe and the US.

Get LEAP for Your FirmReady to try LEAP? Uptime Legal can help.

Give us a call, our legal technology experts are ready to help you evaluate and implement law practice management solutions.18

LEAPOverviewLEAP is possibly the most robust of the web-based law practice management applications. It provides time, billing, client and matter management and calendaring. Where LEAP really shines is its comprehensive library of state and federal forms (document automation).

Who APP is Good ForLEAP is good for law firms that want a cloud-based solution, but need something more sophisticated than some of it’s other web-based counterparts. LEAP is also good for firms that have a need for form automation and document assembly.

Deployment: Hybrid (Cloud

w/ Desktop App)

Product Highlights• LEAP’s main stand-out feature it it’s

comprehensive library of state and federal-level forms, which can be automatically created and saved for your matter right from LEAP.

• LEAP is cloud-based, which means no servers to manage, but is primarily used via a desktop application, making it more robust than traditional web-based software.

• LEAP has integrated cloud storage for documents and a lightweight document management system built-in.

• LEAP has a sophisticated mobile app, giving you much of the software’s functionality from your Android, iPhone or tablet.

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About the CompanyClio was a pioneer in the early days of web-based law practice management software. The company, based in Toronto, Canada, has been developing Clio for over a dedicated, and is funded by outside investors.

Pricing• Clio Manage Starter: $39 / User / Month• Clio Manage Boutique: $59 / User / Month• Clio Manage Elite: $99 / User / Month• Clio Manage Suite: $125 / User /

Month (includes Clio Grow)

Pricing as of the publication date of this report.

Free TrialClio offers a free trial. Try Clio for free here.

Get Clio for Your Firm

Ready to try Clio? Uptime Legal can help.

Give us a call, our legal technology experts are ready to help you evaluate and implement law practice management solutions.

Document & Email ManagementClio Manage includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, Clio Manage is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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Clio ManageOverviewClio is amongst the first, and is the largest web-based law practice management application. Clio provides lightweight but effective practice management, and is know for it’s many integrations with other software.

Who Clio is Good ForClio Manage may be a good fit for solo law firms, startups, and law firms with less than 10 total timekeepers. Clio is a good fit for firms that need something that is simple, easy to get setup and easy to use.

Deployment: Cloud-Based

(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• Clio Manage has a clean, simple user

interface, making it easy to adopt in your law firm.

• Clio has an extensive App Directory, whereby users can connect Clio Manage to many other applications that they rely on.

• Clio has an Intake and CRM product, called Clio Grow (formerly Lexicata), that can be used alongside Clio Manage.

Full Feature List• Client & Contact Management• Case / Matter Management• Calendaring• Conflict Checking• Task Management• Timekeeping• Billing & Invoicing• Form/Document Assembly

• Cloud Storage for Documents• Document Management*• Email Management*• Business Accounting• Trust Accounting• Financial Reports


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About the CompanyCosmoLex is owned by Software Technology, Inc. (STI), the same company that makes Tabs3 and PracticeMaster, server-based law practice management software.

PricingCosmoLex - $79 / User / Month

(Annual Pricing)

Free Trial: CosmoLex offers a free trial. Try CosmoLex for free here.

Free TrialClio offers a free trial. Try Clio for free here.

Get CosmoLex For Your Firm

Ready to try CosmoLex? Uptime Legal can help.


Document & Email ManagementCosmoLex includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, CosmoLex is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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CosmoLexOverviewCosmoLex is a cloud-based law practice management and accounting solution. It includes client and matter management, time, billing, business accounting and trust/IOLTA accounting, thereby eliminating the need for QuickBooks or other accounting software.

Who APP is Good ForCosmoLex is good for firms that do not want to mange accounting in QuickBooks (or a separate application), and want practice management and full accounting in a single web-based product.


(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• CosmoLex includes full-fledged accounting,

including business accounting as well as TRUST/IOLTA accounting.

• CosmoLex has a financial-centric take on matter management. You can see balances due and total revenue for each matter at a glance.

• CosmoLex has built-in tools and reports for managing your trust accounts, including for managing an IOLTA audit.

Full Feature List• Client & Contact Management• Case / Matter Management• Calendaring• Conflict Checking• Task Management• Timekeeping• Billing & Invoicing

• Form/Document Assembly• Cloud Storage for Documents• Document Management• Email Management• Business Accounting• Trust Accounting• Financial Reports

https://www.cosmolex.com/register/

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About the CompanyRocket Matter was one of, if not the first cloud-based law practice management software company. Rocket Matter’s headquarters are in Boca Raton, FL.

PricingRocket Matter Essentials - $35 / User / Mo.

Rocket Matter Pro - $59 / User / Mo. (Annual pricing)

Free TrialRocket Matter offers a free trial. Try Rocket Matter for Free Here.

Get Rocket Matter For Your Firm

Ready to try Rocket Matter? Uptime Legal can help.


Document & Email ManagementRocket Matter includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, Rocket Matter is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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Rocket MatterOverviewRocket Matter was among the first, and is a popular cloud-based law practice management solution. Rocket Matter allows your firm to manage cases, time, billing and calendars. Rocket Matter takes a project management-esque approach to matter management.

Who Rocket Matter is Good ForRocket Matter is good for firms that need traditional law practice management plus classic project management capabilities. Rocket Matter is also a good fit for firms that frequently share documents back-and-forth with clients and third parties.


(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• Project-management style management of

matters, including a kanban board for case management.

• Document assembly: Easily create legal documents and store them within Rocket Matter. You can also add billable time to your documents as you create them.

• Two-way document sharing: Send documents to your clients with just a few clicks. You can also securely request documents from your clients that upload directly into your matters.



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About the CompanyMyCase is owned by Appfolio, a company that owns and develops cloud-based software across a variety of vertical markets.

PricingMyCase - $49 / User / Mo. (Annual pricing)

Free TrialMyCase offers a free trial. Try MyCase for Free Here.

Get MyCase For Your Firm

Ready to try MyCase? Uptime Legal can help.


Document & Email ManagementMyCase includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, MyCase is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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MyCaseOverviewMyCase was among the first web-based law practice management applications. It’s know for it’s ease-of-use, as well as for arguably having the best client portal among all case management systems.

Who MyCase is Good ForMyCase is good for many firms, but especially good for firms that need a strong client portal, or portal to share information and documents with outside parties (including clients and other attorneys).


(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• MyCase is one of the easiest cloud-based

case management applications to use, and one of the fastest to get up-and-running with.

• MyCase’s client portal is, arguably, one of the most comprehensive client/third-party sharing portal among all of the law practice management applications.

• MyCase has built-in intake and lead management software, streamlining the sales and intake process.



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About the CompanyPractice Panther is owned by ASG LegalTech, a holding company that owns a number of legal software companies including Bill4Time, MerusCase and Headnote.

PricingSolo - $39 / User / Mo.Essential - $59 / User / Mo.Business - $79 / User / Mo.(Annual pricing)

Free TrialPractice Panther offers a free trial. Try Practice Panther for Free Here.

Get Practice Panther For Your Firm

Ready to try Practice Panther? Uptime Legal can help.


Document & Email ManagementPractice Panther includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, Practice Panther is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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Practice PantherOverviewPractice Panther is a popular case management system for law firms. It provides client and contact management, matter management, time and billing, and includes a lightweight CRM for lead management.

Who Practice Panther is Good ForPractice Panther is good for solo and small firms, particularly firms that favor an easy-to-use and easy-to-follow user interface.


(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• Practice Panther has a clean, intuitive user

interface, which is likely to help you adopt it in your firm.

• Practice Panther has built-in payment processing, eliminating the need for a separate payment processing service.

• Practice Panther has a built-in CRM, allowing your firm to manage intake and prospective clients.



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About the CompanyBill4TIime is owned by ASG LegalTech, a holding company that owns a number of legal software companies including Practice Panther, MerusCase and Headnote.

PricingTime & Billing - $27 / User / Mo.Legal Pro - $45 / User / Mo.Legal Enterprise $85 / User / mo.(Annual Pricing)

Free TrialBill4Time offers a free trial. Try Bill4Time for Free Here.

Get Bill4Time For Your Firm

Ready to try Bill4Time? Uptime Legal can help.


Document & Email ManagementBill4Time includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, Bill4time is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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Bill4TimeOverviewWhat started as a stand-alone time and billing application, Bill4Time is now a full-fledged law practice management solution. It provides robust time and billing, matter management, ABA and LEDES billing codes and trust/IOLTA accounting.

Who Bill4Time is Good ForBill4Time is good for law firms that need additional flexibility, nuance or over billing (including split billing or complex fee agreements). Bill4Time is also good for law firms that need comprehensive Trust/IOLTA accounting.


(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• Robust, flexible and powerful time-tracking

with customizable billing options.

• Trust/IOLTA accounting with built-in IOLTA reconciliation reports.

• Built-in Task Management to track to-do’s and deadlines for each case.

• Bill4Time has several editions, including a low-cost ‘Time & Billing’ option for firms with more basic needs.



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About the CompanyZola Suite was created by Zola Creative, a website design agency that specializes in law firm websites.

PricingCore: $59 / User / Mo.Enterprise: $79 / User / Mo.Enterprise Plus: $89 / User / Mo.

Free TrialZola Suite offers a free trial. Try Zola Suite for Free Here.

Get Zola Suite For Your Firm

Ready to try Zola Suite? Uptime Legal can help.


Document & Email ManagementZola Suite includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, Zola Suite is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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Zola SuiteOverviewZola Suite is a cloud-based legal practice management application. While it has many of the standard fare for legal case management, it also boasts a built-in email client for better managing the relationship between matters and communication, and a slick, minimalist design.

Who Zola Suite is Good ForZola Suite is a good fit for firms that have a heavy reliance on email management, and need and need to save many outgoing emails to a matter file frequently. Zola Suite may also be a good fit for firms that need an all-in-one practice management and accounting solution.


(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• Zola Suite has a built-in email client, where

users can send email right from Zola, making saving emails to matter easy.

• Zola Suite has a built-in CRM, allowing your firm to manage intake and prospective clients.

• Zola Suite has built-in accounting, which eliminates the need for separate accounting software, and keeps all of your data in a single application.



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About the CompanyCenterbase is privately held, and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.

PricingStaff: $59 / User / MonthTimekeeper: $79 / User / MonthBilling + Accounting: $99 / User / Month

Free TrialCenterbase does not offer a free trial.

Get Centerbase For Your Firm

Ready to try Centerbase? Uptime Legal can help.


Document & Email ManagementCenterbase includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, Centerbase is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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CenterbaseOverviewCenterbase is a cloud-based Law Practice Management system. It includes time and billing, case and client management, and full-fledged accounting. Centerbase is arguably one of the most customizable LPM applications, though that customization may require an outside consultant.

Who Centerbase is Good ForCenterbase is a good fit for firms that cannot use out-of-the-box law practice management software, and need their practice management software highly customized. Centerbase may also be a good fit for firms that need an all-in-one practice management and accounting solution.


(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• Centerbase is highly customizable, allowing

you to create your own matter-specific workflows, and customize the look and fields for your matter screen.

• Centerbase has built-in accounting, which eliminates the need for separate accounting software, and keeps all of your data in a single application.

• Centerbase includes options with and without accounting, so your law firm can use what it needs (and leave what it doesn’t).



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About the CompanyFirm Central is a is a product Thomson Reuters, which is the same parent company as WestLaw. The combined companies provide legal software and legal research to law firms across the world.

PricingCore: $40 / User / MonthEssential: $65 / User / MonthPremier: $105 / User / Month

Free TrialFirm Central does not offer a free trial.

Get Firm Central For Your Firm

Ready to try Firm Central? Uptime Legal can help. Give us a call, our legal technology experts are ready to help you evaluate and implement law practice management solutions.

Document & Email ManagementFirm Central includes basic inline cloud storage with rudimentary document management features. This may meet your firm’s need, however, Firm Central is not a complete Document Management System (DMS). If your firm needs more comprehensive document and email management, your chosen law practice management software may pair well with dedicated document management software. See Appendix A at the end of this report for more information and recommendations on document & email management.

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Firm CentralOverviewFirm Central is a law practice management application made by Thomson Reuters, the makers of WestLaw legal research. The application has been around for some time, and naturally integrates with the WestLaw web site.

Who Firm Central is Good ForFirm Central may be a good fit for any solo or small law firm, but may be especially well-suited for law firms that rely heavily on WestLaw for legal research.


(Web Browser)

Product Highlights• Deep integration with WestLaw legal research,

allowing you to associate case law with your individual matters.

• Firm Central has built-in accounting (including business and Trust/IOLTA accounting), which eliminates the need for separate accounting software, and keeps all of your data in a single application.



Appendix A:

Document Management SoftwareIn our list of the top Law Practice Management Software, we touched on how some products include basic inline cloud storage, or some rudimentary document management features.

This often confuses law firms, as Practice Management software is very different from Document Management software.

Many law practice management applications list “Document Management” as a feature of their software (alongside features like time tracking, billing, and calendaring), when what they really mean is basic document linking and/or uploading, not the sophisticated document and email management tools that one would expect in a full-fledged Document Management System (DMS).

Document Management CapabilitiesFull-fledged Document Management software typically provides a rich set of tools and features to manage documents (and email), including:

• Matter-centric organization• Full-Text Search• Integrated OCR• Microsoft Office Integration• Document Version Management• Document Check-Out/In• Document Profiling (Metadata)• Document Tagging• Unique ID for Each Document

Email ManagementModern Document Management Systems also provide tools for managing email, including:

• Save Emails to a Matter• Email De-duplication• Share & Organize Email with Folders

With perhaps just a few exceptions, most Practice Management applications don’t provide the full DMS feature set. Many law firms complement their Practice Management software with stand-alone document management software.

LexWorkplaceLexWorkplace is document & email management software, born in the cloud and built for law firms.

With LexWorkplace, your firm can get organize, keep your data secure and work anywhere.

LexWorkplace works natively with Windows and Mac OS.

Learn more about LexWorkplace document & email management.

Appendix B:

Moving Your Software to a Private CloudWeb-based software is becoming the easy-button for many solo and small law firms.

However, many law firms are committed to their existing premise-based legal software (such as PCLaw, Time Matters, ProLaw, Tabs3 or even Worldox), but need the mobility and security that a cloud provides.

Midsize and larger law firms similarly are looking for the advantages of the cloud, but need the robust, rich functionality of premise-based legal software.

For all of these firms, a private cloud may be the solution. Law firms can move their existing, server/desktop-based software to a private cloud, eliminating the need for onsite servers, enabling their team to work from anywhere, and keeping their data secure.

Server-based Software for Law FirmsThe mature, premise-based practice management applications, by their nature, require a server. The server hosts the database and back-end for each of these applications.

Historically, this meant that to use these applications, law firms had to buy a server and hire a local IT consultant to set up and manage the server.

Today, we have private clouds.

These applications, still favored by many law firms, require a server. And in the case of a private cloud, the private cloud is the server. Much like the server your firm may have it its copy room–but a server provided,

managed and supported by a Cloud Service Provider (CSP).

A Private Cloud for law firms is a server that will host server-based software in the cloud, which the end users–your firm’s employees–access from anywhere via a virtual desktop.

The Virtual DesktopSometimes called Desktop-as-a-Service, or DaaS, a cloud service provider replaces your law firm’s server and IT platform with a hosted and managed Virtual Desktop. You and your staff utilize the Virtual Desktop to access your applications and documents.

From an end user’s perspective: A user can login from any device (a PC, a Mac, an iPad, and so forth). Within the Virtual Desktop, she will find Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook email, your firm’s practice management, and billing software. And since all of these applications, along with the user’s documents and email, are hosted by a Cloud Service Provider, she can connect from any device, anywhere in the world.

Aside from the benefit of working from anywhere, the real benefit of a Virtual Desktop and a Private Cloud: the service provider administers all system maintenance and software updates. You, the law firm, can focus on what you do best, and leave IT to the service provider.

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What Software Can Be Run in a Private Cloud?A Private Cloud can host virtually any Windows-based software. This is especially useful to law firms who run Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, WordPerfect, and a myriad of practice management, calendaring, billing, accounting, and document management applications. Software that is commonly hosted in a Private Cloud for Law Firms includes:

• PCLaw• Time Matters• Tabs3 / PracticeMaster• ProLaw• Worldox• Needles• QuickBooks• Timeslips• TrialWorks• iManage

Should My Law Firm Use a Private Cloud?Now that you understand what a Private Cloud is and its purpose–should your firm implement a Private Cloud? Ask yourself:

• Am I committed to a traditional Practice Management application?

• Do I have a combination of devices including Windows PC’s and Apple devices?

• Do I need access to all of my practice (software, documents, and email) from anywhere?

• Am I tired of managing servers and IT?

If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, the answer to whether your firm should move to a Private Cloud is: Probably.

How Do I Find the Right Cloud Provider?Today, there are many providers offering Private Cloud solutions. Most serve any industry and host any application—offering limited know-how of legal-specific applications. We recommend that you seek a Cloud Service Provider that knows and supports your firm’s practice management software, and understands the workflow and the culture of law firms.

To aid you, we recommend reading our Law Firm Cloud Due Diligence Checklist.

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Appendix C:


https://uptimepractice.com/raising-the-bar/

https://uptimepractice.com/remote-working-survival-guide/

https://uptimepractice.com/private-cloud-for-law-firms-a-primer/

https://uptimepractice.com/financial-case-cloud-law-firms/

https://uptimepractice.com/virtual-desktops-for-law-firms/

Uptime Practice is part of the Uptime Legal family. We help law firms manage and grow their practice with cloud services, legal technology, and marketing programs.

LEGAL TECHNOLOGY EXPERTSUptime Legal is the only cloud service provider that can help you host, manage and grow your practice. Thousands of attorneys manage and grow their practice with Uptime's suite of cloud, legal technology and internet marketing services.

CLOUD-FIRST, LEGAL-FIRSTUptime Legal is the only cloud service provider that can help you host, manage and grow your practice. Thousands of attorneys manage and grow their practice with Uptime's suite of cloud, legal technology and internet marketing services.

EXPERIENCE MATTERSUptime Legal has been providing technology services to law firm since 2005. We've helped hundreds of law firms manage their technology and grow their practice.

REPUTATION MATTERSUptime Legal has more awards, accolades and recognition in the legal, technology and business communities than any other legal technology provider.

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