Contents

    Proudly featured in

    ForbesAdvisor - The Best Legal Billing Software Of 2022

    Project Management Essentials for Law Firms in 2023

    Project Management Essentials for Law Firms in 2023
    Contents

      If you’re reading the Rocket Matter blog, it’s safe to say that you want your firm to succeed in 2023. And it’s only natural to assume that buying whatever project management software is popular at other firms you admire might help you meet that goal.  

      But before you make your final purchase decision, mind if we let you in on a little secret? 

      Brace yourself. You might find this information shocking coming from the company that created the first online legal billing and law practice management software.

      You don’t need the most powerful software on the market to provide standout service to your legal clients. (Really.)  

      Sure, innovative legal technology can be useful when it’s implemented well. But the simple reality is that not every firm needs every feature available on the market to function at peak performance. In fact, investing in overly-complicated software can decrease your team’s efficiency (and damage the client experience) by slowing down your firm’s internal workflows.  

      When it comes to legal project management software, many managing partners find that basic features and simple interfaces are best.  

      Six uncomplicated legal project management tools to try in 2023  

      Did you make a list of firm-related New Year’s Resolutions? If it includes “improve the client experience,” “streamline internal processes,” or “resolve matters within budget,” your legal practice probably stands a lot to gain from these six simple tools.  

      1. Task management  

      Task management is the core of effective legal project management. How do you currently delegate tasks? Who does what, and when?  

      If your method isn’t well-organized, team members may waste effort attempting to complete the same task or—worse—some tasks may be left undone altogether due to confusion. To provide timely service to every client in a timely manner, clear ownership and deadlines for tasks are vital.  

      By breaking your complex matters down into phases with repeatable tasks, you end up with a more complete picture of who should do what and when. (Spoiler alert: Rocket Matter lets you create matter templates and automate workflows.) When your tasks are clearly organized, it's easier to tell whether matters are on track.  

      2. Matter calendar and contact management  

      As an attorney, you handle a plethora of important dates, deadlines, and tasks every day—and that’s without tracking all the case-related details! A calendar for managing your schedule is non-negotiable 

      However, industry-agnostic calendaring and contact management platforms aren’t designed to organize all that information by legal matter.  

      The answer? Legal-specific tools that allow you to search for information by client or matter and incorporate court rules calendaring to keep you from missing deadlines and court dates.  

      3. Document management  

      To keep up with today’s remote-friendly legal work, your firm needs a document management solution that goes way beyond your old dusty filing cabinet. You can speed up legal work and deliver results more efficiently when you digitize files and organize them with easy-to-navigate folders, subfolders, and tags.  

      What’s more, your attorneys don’t need to be tied to their desks anymore; secure remote access to files enables your team to work from the courthouse or home. (And because of the robust security measures available in Rocket Matter’s document management tools, you can do so without fear of compliance issues.) 

      Digital document management offers more than time-saving benefits, though. Creating a paperless practice decreases the clutter on your desk and creates significant savings on the cost of office materials.

      Demystifying the Billable Hour: How to Right-Size Your Rates

      With prices rising so much over the last year (global inflation is forecasted at 8.8% in 2022), it’s the right time to look at your current rates and see if you’re charging enough to remain profitable.

      4. Simple time tracking and billing 

      Are you tired of wasting hours manually compiling bills based on handwritten times or hours tracked in industry-agnostic software that doesn't integrate with your practice management software? With legal time-tracking software like Rocket Matter, every minute is accounted for so that your firm can generate accurate client invoices quickly and reliably.  

      As you implement these tools, though, clearly define practices and policies for how (and when) team members should track their time to understand the division between billable and non-billable hours. Clear guidelines will help you: 

      • Support team members and their workloads 
      • Identify which tasks take your team the most time 
      • A better understanding of time and expense reports 
      • Modify your workflow accordingly 

      5. Simple reporting  

      Want to safeguard your firm’s success in 2023? Base your business decisions on the data.  

      Increasing your law firm's efficiency and profitability is as simple as reviewing the metrics collected by your practice management software. Rocket Matter’s reporting suite helps you understand your business better than ever. Customize your queries across matters, activities, contacts, and billable information to gain game-changing insights into your firm’s financial well-being, productivity, workflows, and more.  

      Pro-tip: to get the most out of your reports, set clear KPIs for your goals so you can track your progress and adjust your strategy accordingly.  

      6. Electronic payments  

      Let’s face it. Cash transfers and paper checks take the time that attorneys don’t have, and most of your clients would rather pay by card anyway. Plus, accepting electronic payments keeps your firm's cash flow healthy by shortening payment cycles and, in some cases, offering instant access to funds.  

      When it comes to reducing attorneys’ workload and offering your client more convenience, integrated digital invoicing and electronic payment processing software offer the best of both worlds.  

      Our software works harder, so you don’t have to 

      Your firm deserves reliable access to modern legal technology that makes your life easier, regardless of your budget.  

      You should never have to choose between running a thriving, modern legal practice and protecting your profit margin. That’s why Rocket Matter offers all of the project management tools we’ve discussed in this article (plus some) for as little as $39 per month. Our essentials tier includes all of the tools you’ll need to start working toward your goals in 2023, including:   

      • Simple time and billing 
      • Task management  
      • Calendar and contact management  
      • Document management  
      • Integrated electronic payments  
      • Conflict checking  
      • Basic accounting  
      • Trust Accounting  
      • Advanced evergreen retainers  
      • Customizable invoicing 
      • Configurable matter dashboards 
      • Edit in billing mode 
      • Basic reporting  

      Are you ready to take your legal project management to the next level in the new year? We’re here to help! Thousands of law firms just like yours rely on Rocket Matter to complete their daily tasks and reclaim countless billable hours.  

      Let our friendly product experts show you how our legal practice management software and project management tools can make your life easier. Schedule your free demo today.

       

      More useful posts:

      Demystifying the Billable Hour: How to Right-Size Your Rates

      With prices rising so much over the last year (global inflation is forecasted at 8.8% in 2022), it’s the right time to look at your current rates and see if you’re charging enough to remain profitable.

      Share post:

      Subscribe to our Newsletter & Stay up to date with the latest articles, educational resources, and news.