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CRM for law firms helps eliminate administrative inefficiencies, which frees up your team to focus on building stronger client relationships and growing your practice. Legal practice management can be challenging, but the proper support can improve case organization and reduce time spent on manual follow-ups.

In this article, I compare and review the best CRM tools for law firms to support your buying decision.

Best CRMs For Law Firms Summary

Best CRMs For Law Firms Reviews

Best for client interaction overviews

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $25/user/month
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Rating: 4.7/5

CRM Creatio is a no-code customer relationship management platform designed to help businesses improve their customer engagement and operational processes. It serves organizations across various industries, including law firms, offering tools to manage client interactions and automate administrative tasks.

Why I Picked CRM Creatio: With its no-code, customizable platform, CRM Creatio gives you everything you need to keep track of your client interactions in one place. With its 360-degree view of client data, you can easily monitor communication history, manage customer requests, and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

The software's dashboard also shows you all the relevant details about your clients and its customizable workflows help you automate routine tasks, so your team can spend less time on administrative work and more time on client care.

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include end-to-end workflow automation, a drag-and-drop interface for automation, contact management, KPI monitoring tools, custom dashboards, pipeline management, and collaboration tools.

Integrations include a range of third-party applications, including Accelo, Act!, ActiveCampaign, Acumatica, Adobe Analytics, Asana, Microsoft Exchange, Excel, Mailchimp, and HubSpot Marketing.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Scalable for growing law firms
  • No-code application development capabilities
  • Highly customizable platform

Cons:

  • Learning curve for new users
  • Customization can be time-consuming

Best for law firms using Salesforce

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request

Mitratech CaseCloud is a cloud-based legal case and spend management platform built on Salesforce. It centralizes legal operations, allowing law firms to keep their day-to-day tasks and information organized. 

Why I Picked Mitratech: I picked Mitratech CaseCloud because it delivers CRM features tailored specifically to legal teams. It lets your firm manage cases, contacts, documents, and budgets in a single place, helping you build stronger client relationships.

Customizable workflows and AI-powered automation reduce the manual work of managing client interactions, billing, and case updates. Real-time access to client data also ensures your team always has the context needed to act fast and stay organized. 

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include a centralized matter management system that allows you to manage all aspects of your legal matters, from intake to finalization, fostering collaboration and increased visibility. The platform's spend management capabilities also offer robust control over legal expenses and financial aspects of legal service providers.

Integrations include other Mitratech products, like TAP for workflow automation and HotDocs for document automation.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Highly configurable to specific legal workflows
  • Easy to manage and track legal tasks
  • Strong document and data security options

Cons:

  • Initial setup requires time and tech resources
  • Not ideal for those who don't work with the Salesforce platform

Best for cloud-based legal practice management

  • 7-day free trial
  • From $39/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.6/5

Clio is a comprehensive legal practice management software that streamlines operations for law firms of all sizes. With features spanning case management, time tracking, billing, and client communication, Clio is particularly adept at centralizing various aspects of legal practice, making it ideal for enhancing operational efficiency.

Why I Picked Clio: In selecting Clio for this list, I was drawn to its extensive suite of tools tailored to the needs of law firms. Clio stands out because it integrates multiple facets of legal practice management into one platform.

I believe it is best for those seeking to centralize and simplify the management of their law practices because of this comprehensive approach.

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include case management, document management, time tracking, billing, and client communication, all under one roof. It also supports online payments, making the billing process smooth for both law firms and their clients.

Integrations include QuickBooks Online, Gmail, Google Calendar, Office 365, and Dropbox.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Online payment support, making client billing straightforward
  • Seamless integration with other productivity and communication tools
  • Comprehensive suite of legal practice management tools

Cons:

  • Dependency on third-party applications for certain functionalities
  • Some users might find the multitude of features overwhelming
  • Pricing might be high for solo practitioners or small firms

Best for client communication and collaboration

  • 10-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $49/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.4/5

MyCase is a user-friendly law practice management software that puts a high emphasis on client communication. Its integrated client portal and communication tools align perfectly with the reason it is selected as best for streamlined client intake and communication.

Why I Picked MyCase: MyCase caught my attention due to its exceptional focus on client communication. I believe effective communication with clients is vital for any law firm, and MyCase stands out in this area.

The integrated client portal offers a single, convenient location for secure messaging, document sharing, and case updates, making it ideal for firms looking to streamline their client communication.

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include comprehensive case management, time tracking, and billing features, but the star of the show is its client portal. This feature allows for secure and organized communication with clients, including real-time notifications.

Integrations include QuickBooks, making it easy to handle your firm's financial data.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Affordable pricing
  • User-friendly interface
  • Integrated client portal

Cons:

  • Customization options could be better
  • Some features may be basic for larger firms
  • Limited integrations compared to competitors

Best for improved billing efficiency

  • 10-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $65/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.3/5

Rocket Matter is a well-rounded legal practice management software with a keen focus on financial operations. This tool is known for its effective management of time, billing, and invoicing, which directly corresponds to why it's best for improved billing efficiency.

Why I Picked Rocket Matter: I selected Rocket Matter because of its robust billing functionality. Its ability to simplify and expedite the billing process sets it apart from the crowd. Time-tracking, batch invoicing, and advanced payment processing make it an ideal choice for firms that want to improve their billing efficiency.

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include advanced matter and contact management, batch billing, document automation, and calendar syncing. It also provides detailed reports, giving you insightful data about your law firm's performance.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Dropbox, Evernote, and Office 365, enhancing functionality and convenience.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Numerous integrations
  • Provides detailed reports
  • Strong billing capabilities

Cons:

  • Annual billing cycle
  • Complexity may have a learning curve
  • Can be pricey for smaller firms

Best for time tracking and financial reporting

  • 7-day free trial
  • From $39/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.2/5

PracticePanther is a comprehensive law practice management software that goes beyond CRM to offer full-fledged firm management. Its all-inclusive approach, providing a suite of solutions under one roof, is what makes it perfect for firms seeking a holistic solution.

Why I Picked PracticePanther: In my selection process, PracticePanther's robust set of features made it an obvious choice for inclusion. What sets it apart is its comprehensive approach, integrating CRM, case management, and billing tools, making it an all-in-one solution. Therefore, it's the tool I consider best for firms looking for comprehensive law practice management.

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include time tracking, case management, document automation, and invoicing.

Integrations include commonly used platforms such as Gmail, QuickBooks, Microsoft 365, and more, providing seamless connectivity for law firms.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Includes document automation capabilities
  • Smooth integrations with commonly used platforms
  • Offers a comprehensive suite of features

Cons:

  • Can be complex to set up
  • May offer more features than needed for small firms
  • More expensive than some other options

Best for comprehensive workflow automation

  • Free demo available
  • From $60/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 3.8/5

Actionstep is a cloud-based legal practice management software designed to help law firms automate their workflows. The platform stands out for its robust process automation capabilities, which can be highly beneficial for legal practices aiming to streamline their operations.

Why I Picked Actionstep: When it comes to an all-around powerhouse for law firm management, Actionstep stands tall. I chose this software not only for its comprehensive feature set but also for its unique approach to workflow automation.

With Actionstep, mundane tasks no longer burden your firm, making it best for comprehensive workflow automation.

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include matter management to time tracking, billing, and document management. Notably, it offers a workflow engine that automates tasks and processes, allowing you to focus on higher-value work.

Integrations include Office 365, Xero, InfoTrack, and LawConnect.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Comprehensive feature set
  • Integrates with popular software
  • Solid workflow automation

Cons:

  • High cost for smaller firms
  • Annual billing cycle
  • May be complex for some users

Best for case intake and analytics

  • From $34/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.9/5

LAWGRO is a comprehensive legal practice management platform with a strong emphasis on analytics. Its ability to deliver in-depth insights, track performance, and provide data to guide decision-making makes it an excellent choice for law firms focusing on analytics.

Why I Picked LAWGRO: Choosing LAWGRO for this list came from its unique focus on analytics. Unlike many other options, it offers in-depth insights and reporting capabilities that enable law firms to make data-driven decisions. This specialty makes it my choice for law firms that prioritize analytics in their operations.

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include case management, time tracking, billing, and advanced analytics.

Integrations include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and QuickBooks, enhancing its compatibility within a law firm's existing infrastructure.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Comprehensive case management features
  • Seamless integrations with popular platforms
  • Strong focus on analytics

Cons:

  • Lack of customization options compared to some competitors
  • May be too complex for smaller firms
  • Pricing can be higher than other options

Best for contact management and tracking

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $18/user/month

Capsule CRM is a user-friendly tool designed to help law firms manage and build stronger client relationships. With a focus on simplicity and effectiveness, it's a great option for firms aiming to optimize their client relationship management.

Why I Picked Capsule CRM: When evaluating different software, Capsule CRM captured my attention due to its ease of use and client-oriented features.

Unlike other tools that try to cover a vast array of functionalities, Capsule CRM stands out by focusing solely on client relationship management. It's this focus that makes Capsule CRM the best choice for law firms aiming to improve client relationships.

Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include contact management, task management, sales pipeline, and detailed client histories.

Integrations include Google Workspace, Mailchimp, and Xero, allowing for a more connected work environment.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Useful integrations with other software
  • Strong focus on client relationship management
  • User-friendly interface makes it easy to adopt

Cons:

  • Limited customization options compared to some other tools
  • Lacks legal-specific features like billing or case management
  • Not tailored specifically for legal industry

Other CRMs For Law Firms Tools

Below is a list of additional CRMs for law firms that I shortlisted but did not make it to the top 10. Definitely worth checking them out.

  1. GhostPractice

    For managing legal finances and accounting

  2. Salesforce Financial Services Cloud

    For integrating with a vast array of tools

  3. Appara

    For artificial intelligence features

  4. LinkSquares

    For contract analysis and intelligence

  5. Filevine

    Good for customizable case management

  6. CosmoLex

    Good for integrating legal practice management and accounting

  7. Smokeball

    Good for increasing productivity with automatic legal forms

  8. Bill4Time

    Good for easy invoicing and expense tracking

  9. SmartAdvocate

    Good for streamlining case automation processes

  10. App4Legal

    Good for optimizing client relationship management

  11. uLawPractice

    Good for auditable financial compliance

  12. PracticeEvolve

    Good for seamless document assembly

  13. Amicus Attorney

    Good for automated time tracking

  14. LegalFiles

    Good for robust reporting capabilities

What is a CRM for Law Firms?

CRM for law firms is a centralized system for managing client relationships, case details, and communications. It’s used by legal teams to streamline intake, track interactions, and automate follow-ups—eliminating messy spreadsheets and missed deadlines.

Selection Criteria for CRMs for Law Firms

As a legal professional, I've sifted through dozens of CMRs for law firms to find those that truly meet the unique requirements of this industry. In this process, I tested each of these tools, paying close attention to certain criteria that are vital to efficient and effective legal practice management.

Core Functionality

  • Case Management: The tool should support tracking of various details related to a case, including involved parties, case status, and related documents.
  • Time Tracking: This is essential for calculating billable hours accurately.
  • Billing And Invoicing: It should facilitate the easy creation of invoices, with hours tracked automatically populated.
  • Document Management: It should allow for storing, organizing, and retrieving various legal documents efficiently.

Key Features

  • Trust Accounting: This is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions where lawyers hold funds in trust for clients.
  • Conflict Checking: This feature is needed to ensure there are no ethical conflicts in representing a client.
  • Client Portal: A space for clients to communicate securely, view case progress, and access shared documents increases client satisfaction.
  • Integration With Legal Research Tools: This streamlines the research process and enhances case preparation.

Usability

  • Intuitive Interface: A legal practice management tool needs to have a clean, intuitive interface that's easy to navigate, even under the pressure of case deadlines.
  • Mobile Access: Given the mobile nature of legal work, tools should provide access to case details, documents, and client communication from any device.
  • Robust Customer Support: The software should provide prompt and helpful customer support, given the critical nature of legal work.
  • Efficient Onboarding: Given the feature-rich nature of legal practice management tools, they should come with comprehensive onboarding materials, such as a learning library or training program.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What are the benefits of using CRM tools for law firms?

CRM tools offer a number of benefits for law firms.

  1. First, they improve client relationship management by providing a central platform to store and manage all client interactions, such as Outlook, text messaging, and mobile apps, making it easier to follow up and provide personalized service.
  2. Second, they help streamline case management with functionalities for tracking case details, deadlines, and involved parties.
  3. Third, many CRM tools for law firms come with integrated time tracking and invoicing features, which simplify the billing process.
  4. Fourth, they often include document management systems, ensuring important files are organized, secure, and easily retrievable.
  5. Lastly, several CRM tools provide a client portal, which can enhance client satisfaction by facilitating secure communication and giving clients access to case progress.

How much do CRM tools for law firms cost?

The cost of CRM tools for law firms can vary significantly based on the size of the firm, the number of users, and the features provided, such as cloud-based CRM, case management software, and marketing automation.

What are the pricing models for these tools?

Most CRM tools for law firms operate on a subscription basis, with pricing typically set per user monthly. Some providers offer tiered pricing structures, where different tiers come with different sets of features like templates and email marketing.

Additionally, a few providers might charge extra for premium features or services, like advanced security or dedicated support.

What's the typical range of pricing for these tools?

The typical range for legal CRM software can start as low as $20 per user per month for basic plans, while premium plans with advanced features can cost upwards of $100 per user per month.

Which are the cheapest and most expensive software options?

As of my research cutoff in 2021, uLawPractice and Clio tend to be on the more affordable end of the spectrum, while tools like Litify are known for being more expensive due to their extensive features and large-scale deployment options. Please verify each company’s website for the most up-to-date pricing.

Are there any free CRM tools for law firms?

While there are numerous free CRM tools available, few, if any, are tailored specifically to law firms. Free or low-cost general CRM tools might lack the specialized features necessary for legal practice management, such as trust accounting and conflict checking. Thus, most law firms opt for paid CRM tools that cater to their unique needs.

What Next?

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Ben Aston
By Ben Aston

Ben Aston is an online media entrepreneur and founder of Black & White Zebra, an indie media company on a mission to help people and organizations succeed.

Since 2011, he has been evaluating, reviewing, and helping to recommend software through hundreds of articles across the company's influential digital publications, seeking to make technical workplace topics fun and easier to understand.