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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.
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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Users access their data through any standard computer browser, or by using either the iPhone or Android mobile application.
Rocket Matter has two pricing tiers. Essentials, at $35/user/month, is for attorneys who only need matter management, and billing & timekeeping. Whereas, Pro, at $59/user/month, offers all of the features the platform has.
Rocket Matter uses 256-bit SSL encryption to secure the data traveling between your computer and the platform's servers. This is the “HTTPS” portion of the website name. And, it’s likely the same security your bank uses in their online portal. They also offer two-factor authentication, and detail a number of other security measures, such as strong physical security and a multi-point backup system.
Yes. The platform offers a robust integration with the Microsoft 365 (f/k/a Office 365) online platform, which allows you to sync your Calendar, Email, Contacts, and even Word documents.
Yes, it has a two-way sync with Gmail and Google Calendar.
Very likely. The platform has Trust Accounting capabilities built into the system. With the advanced reporting capabilities and the LexCharge integration offered by the Pro tier, most lawyers will find the capabilities more than satisfactory.
Yes. Rocket Matter integrates with LexCharge to offer online billing and payment options.
No, Rocket Matter does not include a Zapier integration at any of it’s pricing tiers. However, it does have an Open API, which would allow developers, or especially computer savvy firms to connect other platforms to it.
The platform has built-in document creation included in the Pro tier pricing. This will allow users to automate basic documents like engagement letters, and simple filings. However, users who want more functionality will be well served by the Woodpecker software integration.
Yes, as a cloud-based law practice management system, it is compatible with any system running a modern web browser.
Simple, effective chat makes it easy to discuss cases (or anything else) with other members of your firm without resorting to the clunkiness of email. Communicator is similar to Google Hangouts, with elements of Slack or HipChat, but built with lawyers’ needs in mind.
Rocket Matter backs up its databases throughout the day to standby machines, copies those backups to a remote facility daily, and the data-center specialists keep backups as well. It also offers the option to manually download your billable time, matters, calendars, and contacts. After you get that information from Rocket Matter, you can back it up locally, but it is a clunky process, especially if you want to back up regularly.
You can send invoices, but you will probably need additional accounting software on top of what you pay for Rocket Matter pricing.
aaronthomas
“Love it, with a few exceptions.”
February 1, 2018 10:43 AM
Disclaimer: I use Rocket Matter primarily for invoicing and keeping track of billing. I haven’t used any other case practice management software, so take this review with a grain of salt. I LOVE having all of the different reports that it generates, being able to calculate billing by client, by month (or other date), what the firm has been paid over a specific period of time, etc. The one complaint I have is that entering billable time can be a bit tedious. When I enter new time, I have to put something in both the task title and the entry for what’s going to show up on the invoice - since I just add my time before invoicing, I’d like the option for that to just be one entry. Also - the is the biggest - Once I enter, say, 10 entries, there’s no way to just add all 10 to the invoice at once time. And each entry takes about 5 seconds. So entering my time is half just sitting there waiting for the software to catch up after I click the switch to move something from “task” to “billed.” YMMV.
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