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.
Does the provider have a way for your client to interact with you or their information in the system? This can take many forms. It can be a way to securely view and pay bills, a method of scheduling meetings, or a way for your client to view information about their case itself.
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.
An Open application programing interface (API) allows other software programs to interact with the platform. It allows users to build integrations where there might not currently be one. However, not all APIs are equal. If you are looking to integrate using an API, it's advisable to review the platform's documentation before making a decision.
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As a cloud-based practice management system, users can access their files from anywhere they have an internet connection and a modern web browser.
Neos does not publicize their pricing model. Potential users will need to contact sales in order to determine pricing.
As with most cloud-based law practice management software, Neos uses a Secure Socket Layer connection to protect information while it is in transit. Additionally, Neos stores the cloud information on Microsoft servers through the Azure product.
Yes. Needles Neos does integrate with Microsoft 365. It has an Outlook email add-on as well as a Calendar sync. But what sets Neos apart is its integration with SharePoint, instead of OneDrive which gives your firm access to the full functionality of Microsoft's built-in document management and collaboration features.
At the time of this review, Neos does not have any native integration with Google Workspaces products.
Although Neos does not have complex Trust Account capabilities yet, it can likely handle what most lawyers throw at it.
As of this review, Needles Neos does not have a built-in method for accepting online payments.
At the time of this review, Needles Neos does not have a direct integration with Zapier. However, with an Open API, users may not need a Zapier integration in the first place.
Neos, like most LPMS systems, has mail-merge style document assembly functionality built-in. This will handle things like filling out templates, or creating engagement letters for PNCs. However, it won't handle conditional statements, and can be difficult to automate robust documents.
Yes, as a cloud-based solution, Needles Neos is generally compatible with any machine running a modern browser.
Neos is still a bit of a work in progress. But that’s good. No practice management system is complete, and no system is a silver bullet. What we like about Neos, is that they are focused on reporting and analytics for your firm. And their pedigree says they can likely deliver on that. Additionally, with an Open API, users can likely get the platform to integrate with their favorite other cloud-based programs. The analytics focus means you’ll likely be able to get the right data out of the program.
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