The law is ever-changing, and it only makes sense that its practice follows suit. With the fluid and versatile nature of the legal profession, it is crucial that attorneys invest in legal time billing software that accommodates the various ways in which they must account and bill for their time. Whether you are shopping for your first practice management solution or evaluating your current one, there are a few must-have features that will guarantee both adaptability and efficiency in your legal time tracking and billing processes.
Automated Timers
First and foremost, your legal time billing software should track your time intelligently. This is far more complex than having accessible, easy to use timers (though this is non-negotiable, as well). It means that your software must keep up with your ability to multitask. Take great care to determine whether your practice management software allows you to toggle back and forth between multiple timers, automatically pausing a timer when you activate another one. Your practice management software should be a tool towards ascertaining that your time is accounted for both effectively and ethically.
Flat Fee Billing
Attorneys are increasingly turning towards alternative payment structures than billable time. In fact, flat fee billing is a growing option for legal professionals across practice areas. It is important that your legal time billing software stay up to date with the latest trends in the legal field, particularly when it comes to facilitating your compensation. This is why you should take care to make sure your software offers both time tracking and flat fee billing options. That way, you’ll never be stuck to a payment structure that is less than optimal for your firm.
Customized Invoice Templates
If your firm comprises multiple practice areas, it may be important that your invoices reflect this degree of versatility. Too many practice management solutions expect their users to conform to one type of invoice, forcing their firm’s diverse processes to fit into a predetermined billing template. This is not only cumbersome – it’s unnecessary. Be sure to choose a legal time billing software that enables you to create custom invoice templates to reflect the various practice areas, payment methods, and other unique features of your firm. Your practice management software should adapt to your needs, not the other way around.
Choose a Legal Time Billing Software That Works for Your Firm
Simply put, there are far too many options and technological innovations in the legal market for your firm to settle for anything other than the best possible option. By keeping an eye out for these time tracking and billing functionalities, you’ll rule out unadaptable and outdated software, setting your firm up for success with a solution that is both versatile and up-to-date.
