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For Law Practice Management Software, the following are essential features, and you should therefore expect to see a check in every box in this section.
Matter management is the defining feature of law practice management software, of course. However, some software is targeted at specific practice areas and may implement case management in different ways in order to manage information specific to those practice areas.
Managing clients and other contacts is a core feature of law practice management software.
Basic task management includes creating tasks with due dates that can be associated with cases/matters and assigned to different lawyers. Some products stick to pretty basic task management, while others offer enough features to make any Getting Things Done devotee happy.
As with email, this feature means a full calendar client, not just an integration with Outlook or Google Calendar.
Timekeeping is a core feature of practice management software, essential for lawyers who bill by the hour but useful even for those who don't.
An actual conflict checker is more than just a search box. This applies to software that actually has a conflict checking feature. Implementation varies, but at a minimum you should be able to search the entire database for matching names. It should check for conflicts accurately and intuitively, allow for a lateral hire to input their conflict database into the system, work quickly when new clients call, and comply with the rules of professional conduct for checking conflicts.
Does it include a full email client? (Alternative solutions that don't amount to an email client, like plugins for Outlook or Gmail, do not earn a check for this feature. See software integrations, below.))
Can you send and receive text messages and associate them with your matters?
Basic document management allows you to add documents and associate them with your cases/matters.
Loading your firm’s document templates into your law practice management software can save time and ensure consistency. This check means basic document assembly suitable for form letters, invoices, etc. For advanced document assembly, you’ll probably need additional software.
This means basic checkbook register–style bookkeeping, which is more limited than full accounting. You should be able to keep track of your operating accounts and reconcile your balances, but you may still need full accounting software.
This means you can track your client trust accounts, including expenses and payments. It is normal to see trust accounting without basic bookkeeping or full accounting, in which case you will need something else for accounting.
Some software includes full double-entry accounting features, making additional accounting software unnecessary.
Does the software allow you to send bills or invoices?
Payment processing is increasingly offered either as an included or add-on feature, especially with cloud-based law practice management software.
Based on 20 Reviews
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As a cloud-based law practice management platform, you can access your files from any modern web browser. Additionally, MyCase has both iPhone and Android apps for users on the go.
MyCase has a one log-in, one price billing model. There are no separate tiers to review, no enterprise options, or "freemium" upgrades to review. If you pay annually, they charge you $49.00 per-user-per-month, whereas, a monthly billing package price will run you $59.00 per-user-per-month. Each user gets all the features MyCase offers.
MyCase software is built on Amazon’s EC2 cloud servers. These are in anonymous locations in the United States, and are protected by military-grade perimeters. As you can imagine, Amazon also strictly controls physical access to these sites. MyCase utilizes these servers for storage, data redundancy, and information backup. Your data, and your client information, is secured in-transit (moving from computer to computer) and at-rest (sitting on the data servers) with “bank-grade” encryption, and the option of two-factor authentication (2FA).
Yes, it has two-way synchronization with Outlook, Outlook Online, and Microsoft Exchange servers. This brings all of your email actions inside the platform so there is no need to install add-ons. It also syncs with Outlook 365 calendars.
Yes, there is a two-way sync with both Gmail, and Google Calendar.
Yes, the application can handle all but the most complex trust accounting. Although, attorneys who are subject to frequent audits will want to review MyCase's capabilities carefully.
MyCase Payments lets you charge for consultations, take payments in your office, and set up payment plans with auto-billing (or reminders, if you prefer).
No, it does not integrate with Zapier.
Yes, law firms can use MyCase Document Writer to create documents and templates that can be populated using merge fields within the software application.
MyCase is cloud-based software. Mac, PC, or even Linux users should be able to use it with ease. All your law firm needs is a modern web browser.
Integrated Leads Management. Although it may not be as robust as some stand-alone products, MyCase ships with a client relationship management (CRM) system already built into the application. Which means you don’t have to spend any time setting up the integration or choosing a system that works-and-plays-well with your other software.
Intake forms and appointment scheduling. Attorneys, or their staff, can build intake forms from within the system. They can then embed them directly on your website and allow potential clients to enter their contact information directly into your system for you. Additionally, you can set up your website to let clients schedule consultations and other appointments without the need to call your office.
Client Portal. The MyCase Client Portal allows for cloud-based, secure communication between your firm and your clients through email, instant messaging, and commentary on uploaded files. It may not be the easiest thing to get your Clients to use (which is the case for most Client Portals), but it offers much of the ease of texting without the additional security risks.
Email. MyCase now includes a full email client. It syncs up with just about any email provider, so you can continue to use Gmail, Office 365, etc. However, you can also use the built-in MyCase email client and associate your emails with matters. Additionally, MyCase is also smart enough to remember those associations, so the same contacts will automatically be associated with the relevant matter without further review.
Shared Documents. Although you can integrate with DropBox, MyCase will also allow you to store your client documents within the system. You can then share these documents with your clients, make commentary on them, or even allow your clients to upload their own documents.
E-signatures. MyCase includes built-in e-signing for retainer agreements and other documents. You can increase your efficiency without adding any third-party software or integrations.
Smart Time Finder. If you bill by the hour, MyCase’s Smart Time Finder will help you keep track of your time. Whenever you take an action in the system, the software automatically creates a draft time entry, so your attorney billing is simplified. Ideally, you’ll simply need to periodically review what MyCase has documented in order to track your time.
Backup. As a standard cloud-based security measure, MyCase regularly backs-up your data to its own servers. However, it is always good practice to have your own back-up protocol. To that end, you can download a .CSV file once-a-day. This can include all of your firm’s data, and all of your firm’s open files. Or, it can just include cases linked to a particular user. This gives you the freedom to set-up different data management based on specific users, and with your own storage limits in mind.
Migrating. MyCase offers self-service and assisted data-migration at no additional cost to new customers. This is extremely helpful, however, as with most practice management software, you probably won’t be able to import all your data. This new system may not have the same fields as the software from which you are importing. But, with its assisted support, mapping and importing your data into MyCase isn’t as daunting as it may seem. MyCase, for its part, recommends importing a maximum of 2000 records at a time, so you may want to build in some time to transfer all of your data.
Josh C.
“Better Price, Fewer Unnecessary Bells, and Easy to Use”
February 23, 2018 11:55 AM
I have been using MyCase since 2012 when I opened my firm. The software is easy to use and does everything we need. It has one feature that no other software seems to be able to handle: it allows a third-party to be designated the billing contact and receive/pay all invoices. The down side to MyCase is that it lacks many of the tie-ins that Clio and other alternatives offer. Beyond calendar, email, and Quickbooks synchronization, there isn't much. No Dropbox, Zapier, Ruby, or LawPay. But this lack of tie-ins also makes MyCase incredibly easy to use. They have their own payment platform with competitive rates and no monthly fees. Possibly most important: MyCase is almost half the price of Clio and other competitors, assuming you have an ABA discount. Even without the discount it is still a better value.
Joan G.
“MyCase Review”
July 7, 2020 3:20 PM
My team and I have been using MYCASE since 2016 and we were easily able to go paperless. I tried out several options including CLIO. I chose MYCASE as it is user friendly and really has helped us move our cases forward. It is reasonable and accessible and I highly recommend.
MLehutsky
“MyCase - Intuitive and Evolving”
July 9, 2020 9:25 AM
I've been using MyCase as the practice management solution for my office for two years or more. Its intuitive lay-out made the transition simple and got me up and running in a virtual environment without problem. Time keeping and billing has become a snap with clients receiving timely and professional invoices. Electronic messages and e-mails have reduced administrative time and expense and the system provides a audit trail of case activity. E-signatures are a snap and payments via credit cards and e-checks are processed effortlessly right into the appropriate bank account. When COVID hit, my "office" was shut down but my practice continued largely uninterrupted. MyCase was instrumental in making the transition to working from home. The MyCase app even makes it possible to work from my cell phone. The people at MyCase are responsive and work constantly to improve the product. It's a great product at a great price and it is the platform I choose for taking my practice "virtual" in the post-COVID business environment.
Jose R.
“A fantastic tool from fantastic people.”
July 13, 2020 8:40 PM
I have a small law firm in Puerto Rico. Because we are a US Territory, our procedural legal system is exactly as in the mainland, with the terms and deadlines that come with the career we chose. I am also a CPA, and very familiar with computers. Our CPAs society has been pushing paperless audits for awhile, and because of that, about 8 years ago, I decided to become paperless. I gave my firm 3 years. After reading all the recommendations of lawyerist.com, I went with a very popular case management, cloud based software (not My Case). I found it useful, powerful, resourceful and adequately priced, but the learning curve for my staff was too steep. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, my clients did not understand it and never used it. After 4 years, and many cases, only 4 clients had used it. Furthermore, my paper files continued... So, without giving up the former, I tried My Case. The response from my staff and clients was unanimous, they LOVED IT. And so did I. That was at the end of 2016. Since then, ALL of my cases have been managed by My Case. My Spanish speaking staff and clients, have had no problem following the super user friendly software of My Case. Since then, My Case has continued to improve. Every month something new is added, and a great program becomes better. The integration with Outlook, with Dropbox, the ability to send text messages from the platform, the ability to accept payments by E-check (no charge), the ability to obtain electronic signatures, the ability to generate reports using the custom fields, are just some of the improvements of the last year... and again, they keep improving. The most amazing part is the fact that their staff is available and they actually listen and implement our suggestions. Not only that, they are human. On September 20, 2017 we were hit by Hurricane Maria and our beautiful island was devastated. We had no power, no communications, and of course, no internet. The My Case people did not bill us for three months, without us asking. That was humane!!! I had no way to access My Case, and when I finally logged on, about a month later, from the side of the road in San Juan, it was great to see what they had done. There are a still a couple of things that My Case needs to improve, for example, entering data into custom fields after the case has been created, and, they have increased their prices several times over the last four years with little advance notice, while the other case management software has not... I believe they should announce at least 3 months in advance. Regardless of those small misgivings, if you want a software that your clients and your staff will use, My Case is the best case management software for the price right now.
Janaan H.
“I Switched and Never Looked Back”
January 11, 2021 4:55 PM
Pros: What's not to like about this software?!? It's user-friendly interface makes it a joy to work, keep an eye on the progress of your case, communicate easily and securely with clients, and most importantly, let's me spend more time with my passion - practicing law. Cons: I have two least favorites about this software. First, when I work with another co-counsel or Of Counsel on a case, these partners in work cannot access the client's folder unless I pay for them, even if they have their own MyCase account. Thus, I can only afford to give them the much limited Client access. The other thing is that only recently MyCase started making suggestions within various fields, I wish they did this more and that, perhaps, they post a video or blog post on suggestions of ways to set up a case. This would be useful for those setting up shop for the first time. Overall: With MyCase, I'm much better able to track the progress of the law firm, assess its growth and trends and from there strategize for the firm's future growth.
Deborah E.
“This applications has made a MAJOR difference for our Firm”
January 11, 2021 5:09 PM
Pros: We LOVE having all of our Client information in one place and easily accessible. The application is very easy and intuitive to use, and I love that we can customize different areas ourselves! Our Clients love that they are able to securely communicate with us! We love love LOVE the ability to send invoices from within the application and setup payment plans where the invoices are automatically sent out, along with wonderful reminders...AND they can pay via the app!! We also LOVE that we can setup future court dates and invite the Client and their families to the Event and that we can send several reminders beforehand via email as well as TEXT! So Cool!! This application has made a MAJOR difference to the structure and workflow of our firm and we anticipate incredible growth because everything will be better organized and we can handle a much greater case load now!! Also, the Support is absolutely top notch...if we ever need help, they are always available...but honestly, the application is so intuitive that we don't really need help to have things running super smoothly. Absolutely THRILLED that we decided to utilize MyCase. Cons: I honestly can't think of one single thing. It is amazing to us that everything is setup SO PERFECTLY.
REVIEWS (6 out of 20)