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Legal case management
Legal matter management software for law firms
Legal matter management software helps legal professionals to organise their work, improve compliance and increase productivity. It acts as a central hub for all case-related activity, including documents, deadlines, time tracking and communication. For law firms managing growing workloads and complex caseloads, having a dedicated system supports more consistent service delivery, operational control and stronger performance.
Whether you’re overseeing a single practice area or a full-service team, the right matter management software for legal departments can reduce manual work, ensure better collaboration, and keep client matters progressing efficiently.
Table of contents
- What is legal matter management software?
- Why do law firms need a legal matter management system?
- Benefits of implementing matter management software in your law firm
- Top features to look for in matter management software
- Benefits of cloud-based legal matter management software
- Streamline your legal matter management with Access Legal
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is legal matter management software?
Legal matter management software refers to a digital system that centralises, tracks and manages all activity relating to legal matters. This includes case files, client communications, billing, task management and deadlines. By storing everything in one secure, searchable location, it simplifies day-to-day work and reduces administrative overhead.
This software helps to streamline workflows, improve compliance with regulations, and reduce administrative burdens. Whether you’re managing hundreds of active cases or a smaller portfolio, a well-designed legal matter management system allows teams to work faster and smarter, improving client service and increasing profitability.
Why do law firms need a legal matter management system?
Law firms face growing pressure to manage rising caseloads, maintain compliance, and deliver consistent client service. Centralised legal matter management software for law firms helps them to stay on top of fast-moving and complex caseloads.
Let’s look at some common challenges that firms face, and how the right software provides a solution.
Disconnected systems and poor collaboration
Many firms still rely on email threads, paper files and separate tools to manage client matters. This makes collaboration difficult and increases the risk of errors. A legal matter management system unifies documents, communications and tasks in one place. This improves visibility across teams and ensures that everyone has access to the latest information.
Compliance and regulatory challenges
Staying compliant with data protection rules and professional standards can be difficult when information is scattered or unsecured. With matter management software, firms can track access, automate key alerts, and make sure documents are stored securely and in line with sector expectations.
Missed deadlines and lost billable time
Manual calendars and time tracking tools can lead to missed deadlines or unrecorded billable hours, affecting both compliance and profitability. Legal matter management software offers automated reminders and integrated time recording to keep teams on track and improve accuracy.
Lack of oversight and reporting
Without real-time insights, partners and managers may struggle to track case progress or make informed decisions. Central matter management software for legal departments offers useful dashboards and reporting tools, giving leadership teams the data they need to allocate resources and spot bottlenecks early.
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Benefits of implementing matter management software in your law firm
Choosing the right solution can make a noticeable difference in the day-to-day operation of your firm. Beyond simple convenience, it plays a strategic role in delivering consistent client service and improving overall performance.
Let’s explore some of the key benefits of matter management software for legal departments.
Improves operational efficiency
By consolidating case activity into one platform, organisations can cut out duplication and reduce admin. When all documents, deadlines and client messages are stored together, firms can keep cases moving and reduce time spent searching for information.
Increases compliance and reduces risk
Built-in access controls, audit trails and secure document storage help law firms to meet their regulatory obligations. These features not only reduce the risk of data breaches but also simplify audits and internal reviews.
Enhances client service
When legal teams have faster access to accurate information, they can respond more quickly and deliver better results. Secure client portals and automated updates also keep clients informed, helping to build trust and satisfaction.
Supports remote and hybrid working
With cloud-based access, staff can securely manage client matters from home, court or multiple offices. This flexibility supports modern ways of working and ensures continuity, even when teams are spread across locations.
Improves profitability
More accurate time tracking, quicker case progression and fewer delays all contribute to better financial outcomes. Firms using legal matter management software often see improvements in billing accuracy and client recovery rates.
Top features to look for in matter management software
Choosing the right matter management software depends on the size and needs of your legal team. Look for features that directly support your way of working and compliance goals.
Here are some of the most important things to keep an eye out for when making your decision.
Customisable workflows
Customisable workflows are a crucial feature in matter management software. This feature allows law firms to create tailored workflows that align with their specific processes and requirements. With customisable workflows, firms can automate tasks and approvals, improving efficiency and compliance within the firm.
Document management
Document management is a core feature of matter management software for legal departments, and it’s particularly relevant in the UK legal industry.
These tools allow law firms to store, organise and manage legal documents securely. With specialised document management features, firms can improve document collaboration, version control and access control, enhancing efficiency and data security.
Integrations with other software
With organisations in all sectors adopting a digital-first approach, the ability to integrate with other software is essential for any new system. These integrations allow seamless syncing and collaboration with popular software like Microsoft 365 and Docusign. Integrations with conveyancing search providers and legal research platforms also play a significant role in streamlining legal research and due diligence processes.
Reporting and dashboards
Reporting and dashboard features in matter management software are essential for tracking performance and making informed decisions.
By enabling better forecasting, resource allocation and strategic planning, these features help firms to generate reports on case status, task completion, time tracking and financials. User-friendly dashboards provide visual representations of key performance indicators (KPIs) for easily monitoring progress, identifying trends, and improving overall operational efficiency.
Cost tracking, budgeting and drafting
Cost tracking, budgeting and drafting features are crucial for financial management solutions.
These features make it quick and easy for law firms to track billable hours, manage expenses and generate accurate invoices. By automating the billing process, they can improve accuracy, save time and increase revenue.
Cloud-hosted or browser-based solution
Remote access is an important point when selecting legal matter management software. Cloud-based case management software allows law firms to access their data remotely, providing flexibility and supporting hybrid working arrangements. With automatic updates, data backups and enhanced security measures, they offer improved data integrity and protection.
Web-based case management solutions also offer a wide range of benefits, as there’s no need to download and install complex software. They can also be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, again offering flexibility for different teams and working arrangements.
Client onboarding and client portal
A great onboarding experience and client portal features are important to enhance the client experience and streamline communication. As consumers have grown accustomed to the convenience of on-demand services like Amazon Prime and online banking, UK clients now expect similar digital accessibility from their legal service providers, including real-time access to case information and documents. This makes client-facing functionality an essential factor when choosing matter management software for legal departments.
Client onboarding functionalities allow firms to efficiently gather and manage client information, while client portals provide a secure platform for clients to access case-related information, communicate with their legal team, and track the progress of their matters.
Ease of use
As well as the features named above, having legal case and matter management software that is easy to use is crucial. The system should be intuitive and accessible to everyone who needs to use it, no matter what role they hold within the firm. Overall, choosing the right matter management software can help law firms operate in a more efficient and profitable way and empower their staff to work the way they want to.
Benefits of cloud-based legal matter management software
Cloud-based platforms have become increasingly popular across all industries, especially for firms looking for scalable, low-maintenance solutions.
Some of the core benefits of a cloud-based legal matter management system include:
- Always up to date with the latest features and security patches
- Scalable infrastructure supports firm growth
- Accessible from anywhere with a secure connection
- Reduced reliance on in-house IT resources
- Regular backups and disaster recovery features
- Easier collaboration across multi-office or hybrid teams
- Lower up-front hardware and infrastructure costs
Streamline your legal matter management with Access Legal
Whether you need a quick-to-deploy web solution or a fully customisable cloud platform, our case management software is designed around your needs.
Access Legal Case Management is ideal for smaller firms looking for speed and simplicity. It’s web-based, requires no internal IT support, and gets teams up and running fast. For larger or more complex firms, Access Legal Proclaim offers a powerful cloud-based legal matter management system with deep customisation and scalability across practice areas.
To find out more about any of our solutions, book a demo or speak to one of our specialists for tailored advice.
FAQs
We’ve answered some of the most common questions about matter management software to help you better understand the benefits to your law firm.
What is matter management software used for in law firms?
Matter management software for legal departments is used to organise, track, and manage all aspects of a legal matter, from documents and deadlines to client communications and billing. It provides a centralised system that improves visibility, boosts efficiency, and helps ensure legal teams remain compliant and productive.
How does legal matter management software support compliance?
Legal matter management software helps maintain compliance by ensuring documents are stored securely, audit trails are maintained, and all activities are recorded. It also helps firms meet regulatory obligations by tracking deadlines, flagging risks, and standardising processes.
What’s the difference between a legal matter management system and case management software?
A legal matter management system is designed to oversee the full lifecycle of a legal matter, often including tasks like risk assessment, budgeting, and client reporting. While case management focuses more on court-related activities, matter management is broader and better suited to complex legal operations. Read our guide to the differences between case management and matter management for a better idea of how they support different legal workflows.
