If you’re a lawyer, then you’ve probably noticed that technology is changing the way we do business. Law firms are increasingly adopting new tools to help them become more efficient and productive. One such tool is docket management software: it allows lawyers to create a docket for each case, track deadlines, send notifications when necessary and make sure everything gets done on time.
In this guide, we review the aspects of Docket Management Software, legal calendaring software, trademark docketing software, and legal software providers.
Docket Management Software
Legal professionals have an overwhelming amount of responsibilities. In addition to client representation, there are deadlines, calendars, billable hours, and notes to manage.
You’re a lawyer, and you have a lot on your plate. You have to keep track of your clients’ needs and make sure you meet the deadlines set forth by the court system. You need to bill hours efficiently and accurately while keeping notes on each case so that they can be accessed quickly when needed. In addition to all this, there are other business-related tasks that need to be completed as well: marketing materials need to be created or updated regularly; proposals for new clients must be written in order for them to sign up with you; research needs done in order for cases that are taken on by other attorneys might lead them back into court if evidence isn’t found quickly enough (e.g., discovery).
All of these items aren’t easy things! In fact, they’re downright overwhelming at times—especially when there seems like no end in sight because new cases keep rolling through all day long until night falls again before being able to get home at 9pm only after picking up kids from soccer practice first thing tomorrow morning…
To stay organized and on top of all the work that comes with a legal practice, lawyers require a docket management system.
Docket management software is a tool for legal professionals that helps them stay organized and on top of all the work that comes with a legal practice. It can help you reduce costs and keep track of documents, as well.
What is docket management software? You’ll find the answer here!
Docket management software is a computer program that helps lawyers and legal professionals manage their cases. It is designed to handle all aspects of case management, including deadlines, court dates and documents.
It can also help you stay organized and on top of your work.
The law firm of the future is here! It’s time to adapt to new technological tools that help lawyers and legal professionals stay organized.
You’re a lawyer, or you work at a law firm. You have to stay organized, which means managing your time effectively and communicating easily with clients and colleagues. You also need to access your information wherever you are—in the office or out in the field.
Fortunately, docket management software can help. These tools make it easy for lawyers and legal professionals to manage their caseloads by creating tasks lists that are accessible anywhere—on desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones—so everyone has access to them at any time of day or night.
Dockets are the documents that contain what’s happening with all the cases in a court. They include litigation timelines and deadlines for paperwork.
Dockets are the documents that contain what’s happening with all the cases in a court. They include litigation timelines and deadlines for paperwork.
The docket is an important document because it keeps track of every case in your court, and it has a timeline that shows when each case should be completed or updated.
Docket software can help law firms reduce costs, keep track of documents and eliminate human error.
If you’re running a law firm, one of your top priorities is to reduce costs. Most law firms have thousands of documents to keep track of and even more deadlines to meet. Docket software can help by automating tasks so you don’t have to spend time on them manually, which can save you money in the long run.
Automation also helps with another common problem among lawyers: forgetting important dates or deadlines because they are so busy with other things happening at their office. When using docket management software, it will automatically remind you when something needs to be done if an important date comes up—saving you from having an angry client on your hands due to missing a deadline!
One standout docket management software feature is automation of notifications, reminders and alerts. Using this feature helps you avoid missing deadlines or settings because your software will communicate impending dates directly to you.
One standout docket management software feature is automation of notifications, reminders and alerts. Using this feature helps you avoid missing deadlines or settings because your software will communicate impending dates directly to you.
The most common way for a docket management system to notify users is through email, but other communication methods are also possible. For example, if you’re at work when an alert goes out on the docket management system, it can be sent as a text message or even paged over the intercom in some facilities.
Today’s leading docket management systems have mobile apps that allow you to manage your schedule no matter where you are.
Today’s leading docket management systems have mobile apps that allow you to manage your schedule no matter where you are. Mobile apps are convenient, easy to use and secure. When it comes to reliability, they can’t be beat. If you need to access your data on the go or while in transit, this is the perfect solution. You can also use it on any device, including tablets and smartphones!
Automation is the most helpful feature in docket management software today.
Automation is the most helpful feature in docket management software today. Automation is a feature that allows you to receive alerts about upcoming deadlines, set reminders for yourself and your team, set reminders for clients, vendors, and other people involved in the case.
It’s much easier to have these automated than having everyone call each other all the time and asking “Are we on track?” There’s nothing worse than being late on an important deadline because someone forgot about it. This feature helps keep everyone involved up-to-date with what’s going on with their cases so they don’t miss anything important!
legal calendaring software
Practicing law in the midst of a worldwide pandemic isn’t easy. For the past year and a half, legal professionals have struggled to adapt to their newfound reality of virtual court appearances, online meetings and remote work.
Because the court system was dramatically impacted by social distancing requirements, the unpredictability of the pandemic has been particularly difficult for litigators. Court closures and the updated court appearances that follow often present unique hurdles for litigators struggling to stay on top of their ever-changing schedules.
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to that unique problem: rules-based calendaring tools. This useful software automatically applies the court rules and statutory deadlines of specific jurisdictions to the due dates of a particular matter at the start of a case. There’s no need to manually enter each and every deadline for a litigation matter. Instead, rules-based calendaring systems do this for you and will likewise automatically recalculate deadlines if, and when, key due dates change.
If you’re a litigator, you’re probably already familiar with this type of software, since it has been around for many years. Before the advent of cloud-based software, rules-based calendaring tools could be found in premise-based law practice management software programs. However, that’s rarely the case these days, now that most companies are shelving their premises-based legal software tools and transitioning their law firm customers to cloud-based software offerings.
The social distancing requirements of the pandemic have only served to accelerate the move to cloud-based software. Because this trend has been so prevalent in recent years, I focus primarily on cloud-based software in this column. Not only is cloud-based legal software increasingly the only option available, it also offers a host of benefits including 24/7 accessibility from any location, convenience and mobility.
For those reasons, most rules-based calendaring tools are now cloud-based. Of note is that when it comes to rules-based calendaring tools, cloud-based software offers a particularly useful benefit: the data is housed on the software provider’s cloud servers, which means there’s no need to download new files or manually update the software when court rules change. Instead, the court rules are regularly updated by the software provider on the back end and the changes are then automatically applied to your firm’s calendars.
Of course, it’s important to note that when you use cloud-based software, you are entrusting your law firm’s data to a third party and thus have an ethical obligation to thoroughly vet the technology provider that will be hosting and storing your data. This includes ensuring that you understand how the data will be handled by that company; where the servers on which the data will be stored are located; who will have access to the data; and how and when it will be backed up, among other things.
Stand-alone vs. LPM software
With that in mind, here are some of your options when it comes to rules-based calendaring tools. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive but provides a good overview of the products that are currently available.
With rules-based calendaring software, you can either use stand-alone rules-based calendaring software or law practice management software that offers rules-based calendaring features.
First and foremost, when choosing a rules-based calendaring tool, you’ll have to determine whether the software you’re considering includes the calendar rules for the courts and jurisdictions that are relevant to your firm. Next, ensure that the tool works with the calendar system used by your law firm. If the answer to either question is no, then you can rule it out from the get-go.
Now, on to two of the most well-known stand-alone rules-based calendaring tools for lawyers: LawToolBox and CalendarRules. Both integrate with Outlook calendars. LawToolBox is also offered as an add-in for Microsoft Office 365 and syncs with Google Calendar, Lotus Notes, iCal, along with many other calendar systems.
Another option to consider is JuraLaw. Pricing for each rules-based calendaring tool varies greatly depending on a number of factors, including the number of lawyers, the number and type of courts included in the subscription, and whether you choose an annual or monthly subscription.
Next, let’s take a look at your options when it comes to the rules-based calendaring tools offered in law practice management software. Nowadays, if you’re already using law practice management software, there’s a good chance that your firm’s chosen system already includes access to rules-based calendaring features.
When I last wrote about rules-based calendaring in this column in 2018, this wasn’t necessarily the case. But since that time, many of the most popular law practice management programs have added rules-based calendaring features to their software, including Practice Panther, MyCase (note that I am affiliated with MyCase), Clio and Rocket Matter.
The benefit of using law practice management software that includes rules-based calendaring functionality is that doing so centralizes all of your firm’s case-related and calendar data, including litigation deadlines, into one software platform. As a result, the court rules and deadlines for your firm’s litigation matters can be easily accessed and viewed in the law practice management software system. Additionally, any updates to the deadlines for any given case will be automatically applied across the calendars of the litigation team working on the matter in your firm.
One issue to keep in mind when researching law practice management software with rules-based calendaring functionality is price. Depending on how it is set up and priced, you may have to either pay subscription fees for both the calendaring software and the practice management software, or you may be required to pay a higher subscription cost for the practice management software to have access to the rules-based calendaring software. So it’s important to carefully research the applicable fees and integration costs when vetting rules-based calendaring features in law practice management software.
And last, but not least, understand that the features will vary from one program to the next, so make sure to test drive the rules-based calendaring software before committing to it. Some will include features and courts that others will not. However, depending on your firm’s needs, the additional features may not be a must-have. So it’s important to ensure that you fully understand the features available before making a commitment.
trademark docketing software
Iolite is a powerful administrative software that manages the complete workflow process of Trademark portfolio managers with regards to allocation of deadlines, correspondence, case document docketing & reminder alerts for renewals, hearing due dates, due filing & submissions to eliminate errors & never miss an important deadline. Iolite offers a user-friendly interface that transforms the office of IP Attorneys, Advocates, Solicitors, and Trademark Agents paperless. Iolite provides AI-based state of art technology integrated with EUIPO, UKIPO, USPTO, WIPO, India and other major IPOs which aids the Trademark portfolio managers to make their business flow process simple, swift, accurate, and efficient manner which in turn make their day to day process faster, easier, and eliminating the manual efforts to gain the better productivity. Iolite is specially designed for Trademark Attorneys & Agents to integrate the Inter-Departmental users of the IP Law Firms, such as Partners, Principles, Associates, Para Legal team, Clerical & Marketing Staff whilst maintaining agreed levels of restricted access on a single platform.
Deadline Calendar
The Deadlines Calendar displays the list of all upcoming deadlines to the user for various IP Dockets. The software offers color coding for various categories of deadlines i.e., Renewal, Hearing, etc. keeping your deadlines organized. The Iolite Legal Software Suite allows you to synchronize your deadlines with your personal Google & Outlook calendars making deadlines accessible on your phone & tablets.
Dashboard
The Dashboard provides a graphical user interface that provides at-a-glance views of key performance indicators (KPI) relevant to the trademark business processes. In other words, it provides a progress report of the various trademarks filed across the world.
Client
The client module allows users to store the complete data of the client at a centralized location and helps to retrieve client details at various stages in the software without re-entering the same, keeping the content uniform throughout the software making retrieval of accurate data.
Client Section
The Clients can log in and view their complete IP portfolios and download summary reports in excel & documents i.e. certificates, etc. The Clients can also place instructions to the staff i.e. Renewal of trademark, etc using the software.
Trademark Application Docketing
Store, process and retrieve complete trademark information, deadlines, and documents right from the day of filing the trademark application to publication, registration, and renewal of the trademark in the centralized trademark repository making the workflow of law firms highly simplified, productive and smooth.
Trademark Opposition Docketing
Store, process and retrieve complete opposition information, deadlines, and documents right from the day of filing the trademark opposition to counter statement, evidence filing, and hearing of the trademark opposition in the centralized trademark repository making the work-flow of law firms highly simplified, productive and smooth.
Complete IP Workflow Process
The software provides an automated process flow during the complete life cycle of a trademark application.
Centralized Storage
A centralized docketing repository allowing you to store and retrieve all the documents, deadlines, and details from anywhere at any time.
Bulk Data Migration and Creation
A user can import bulk trademark applications details with trademark images (logo, devices, etc.) into the software using the excel import facility. Users can clone trademark applications across different classes or countries.
Quick Add Case
“Quick Add Case” allows users to successfully create a docket by entering minimum possible values. Once the case is created users can easily synchronize the complete details of the trademark from the IP office website with just a few clicks saving a lot of data entry time.
Add New Case
Alternatively, users can create a trademark application docket from scratch using “Add New Case”. Users can fill in information like trademark details, applicant details, classes with goods, priority claimed, trademark image, trademark series, etc. For Madrid and ARIPO applications the software also offers to store the designated countries’ details and deadlines.
Form Management
The software allows you to docket all forms that are filed at the trademark office. The software allows you to export individual form pdf or all forms in the zip file. It also allows you to store deadlines of form pending for submission and you can generate reports of the pending list of form filing deadlines.
Document Management
The software allows you to docket various types of documents like Affidavit, Evidence of Use, Invoice copies, POA, GPA, etc. The software allows you to export individual document pdf file or all files in one zip file.
Formality Check Management
The software allows you to docket formality check failure report document and generates the reply filing deadlines in the software. The software allows you to export individual formality check pdf or all formality check pdf in one zip file. Your team members can also generate reports of the pending list of formality check failure reports being replied to as well as the list of formality check failure reports which are replied.
Examination Report Management
The software allows you to docket all examination reports received with a deadline date by which you need to submit your reply to the IP Office. The software allows you to export individual examination report pdf or all examination reports in one zip file. Your team members can also generate reports of the pending list of examination reports to be replied to as well as the list of replied examination reports.
Hearing Management
It is a tough task to keep track and manage the upcoming hearings to be attended. Using Iolite what you need to do is just generate a report of upcoming hearing deadlines, say for the next 30 days, and analyze the list of upcoming hearings and plan your schedule accordingly.
Order/Decision Management
Software allows you to docket all order/decision received from the IP Office. Software allows you to export individual order/decision pdf or all orders/decisions in one zip file.
Publication Management
The publication is a very important halfway milestone reached in the trademark life cycle. The software allows users to docket the publication copy along with the Journal no and date of publication. Users can download reports of publication received for the trademark portfolio for a given client. The users can also download the individual journal copy or all journal copies in the zip file. The software also generates an opposition period deadline as per trademark rules on receipt of publication.
Registration Management
Registration of the trademark is the final milestone in the process of trademark application filing where the period of validity of the trademark is obtained which is for 10(+) years from the date of application or registration. The software allows the user to docket the trademark registration certificate file with certificate/registration no and registration date. Users can download reports of registered trademark applications for a given client or date range. The users can also download the individual registration certificate or all registration certificates in one zip file.
Renewal Management
Renewals of Trademarks is equally important as the registration of the trademark. Hence it is quite important to inform the clients of the upcoming renewals of the trademarks well in advance before the deadline. Here the software helps in fetching the details of all the upcoming renewals within a stipulated time. On receipt of the renewal certificate or intimation letter, the users can docket the same in the software marking the renewal of trademark completed which would update the renewal due date for 10(+) years. The users can also download the individual renewal certificate or all renewal certificates in the zip file.
Email Communication Management
Informing a client of an update in the status of trademark at each stage is a very crucial activity and drafting these communication emails is a very tedious and time-consuming activity. Iolite Legal Software Suite comes with a communication manager that allows you to draft template-based letters for client communication. You can select any given draft template and send information updates about the trademark and attach the document with just a few clicks. The communication manager picks automatically relevant information from the trademark docket in the draft template and prepares the final letter. A log of all email sent from the software can be generated at any given time. The user can configure their Email SMTP configuration using which the email can be relayed using their email id.
Notes Management
Store important client instructions for all trademark application in the centralized repository for quicker access.
Deadline Management
User can store all important deadlines pertaining to the trademark application in the docket. On completion of a deadline, users can dismiss the deadline with the reason of closure. Facility to view the details of the deadlines. Users can communicate the deadlines with one click using the pre-formatted template email to the client. It also provides a facility to allocate the concerned user responsible for the deadline management.
Case Summary Reports
It provides an exhaustive summary report to the users to export all trademark applications details along with the trademark image. The user can filter the report using a wide variety of filter parameters to get the required details. Users can also select the required columns that are to be exported to excel. To view any particular trademark details users can also move to the case. Users can send email communication to clients using preformatted templates.
Deadline Report
Using deadline reports the users can generate a list of upcoming deadlines approaching shortly. The users can filter out the deadlines list on a wide variety of parameters and export the required deadline list in excel. The user can also dismiss the given deadlines and specify the reason for the same. To view more details of any trademark application the user can click on the “Arrow Icon”. To further investigate any deadline in detail, users can select the trademark application and press move to the case.
legal software providers
Legal tech solutions help law professionals or firms streamline processes and focus on case proceedings, not clerical tasks.
Since most industries are going through digital transformation, why should the legal market be left alone? Instead, legal processes can benefit more from technology-driven software products like automatic case reference searches, intelligence on opposing experts, AI-based timesheets, etc.
Discover the best-in-class legal process solutions based on advanced software development practices and AI/ML technology.
What Is Legal Tech?
A technology product that makes legal processes more efficient, profitable, compliant, and secure. It does so by infusing legal practice with software technology, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) database management, big data analysis, blockchain, and data security protocols.
In conventional legal firms, staff spends more time on non-productive clerical work than what matters to the firm, signing more clients and winning cases. Digitized applications ensure attorneys and paralegals invest more time in cases and clients.
Advanced software solutions for legal professionals also enable micro, small, and medium law firms to grow by leveraging the latest tech because many legal software technology solution providers have come up with subscription packages that are affordable and scalable.
Benefits of Legal Tech Software
#1. Legal workflow tools assist you in removing human error from your legal documents and case proceedings. Hence, you get more time to deal with clients and their cases rather than troubleshooting errors.
#2. Client data protection is a challenging task in conventional legal practices. It is quite possible someone steals or copies client data to get an edge at any touchpoints like copyshops, courthouses, etc. You can avoid such possibilities by moving to a digital document processing system.
#3. Most legal firms need to hire teams of paralegals just to keep track of the legislative changes happening worldwide. It is a huge capital expenditure. You can invest in affordable legal data intelligence software and avoid the hefty costs of unnecessary staffing.
#4. Legal cases include thousands of penal code references, historical case citations, legal documents, administrative papers, expert notes, etc. Compiling them in one place in a clutter-free way requires many billable hours. Instead, manage all case references and files in a centralized software and access them online from a smartphone or laptop.
Now that you have got a basic understanding of how software and the legal industry work together, it is time to learn the leading applications below:
Clio
You can manage, grow, and add value to your law firm effortlessly with a host of tools from Clio. Be it managing law practices, new and existing clients, client onboarding, and document management, you get everything in one secure cloud-based software.
All you need is a reliable internet connection and a computer with a web browser to run Clio. Thus, it does not matter which device you are using. Every device is supported from remote or office premises. Hence, it also becomes easy for you to onboard the digital transformation era by using this legal tech tool.
Clio offers two different software for small, medium, and large legal firms. These are Clio Manage for the core tasks of a legal firm like managing cases, billing, task management, law firm insights, data analytics, etc. On the other hand, Clio Grow is for clients, relationship management, document processing and management, appointment booking, etc.
Everlaw
Everlaw is an online legal management tool. Corporations, law firms, government agencies, state and local law enforcement authorities, etc., use it extensively for complex legal work. Everlaw tool specializes in electronic discovery.
E-discovery is identifying, and investigating electronically stored data, collecting electronic evidence information, tagging documents, and so on. The e-discovery module of Everlaw comes with advanced features like intelligent search capabilities and calling up relevant case documents using a prediction engine.
Additionally, there is a multitasking screen where lawyers and investigators can visualize all linked documents in a group form. Moreover, it gives you the freedom of drag-and-drop search technology. You can simply drag search filters like the client, team member, document rating, document type, document language, etc., to get the right case documents.
Moreover, the Everlaw legal tech solution comes with predictive coding and AI/ML. These features allow the tool becomes more intelligent as you and your entire law firm interact with the application.
Filevine
Filevine is another premium, trusted, and reliable software solution for the legal fraternity. It is a cloud-hosted app deployable using a compatible website browser in minutes.
Hence, your firm does not need to waste time on software setup, server configuration, data center subscriptions, and so on. Another notable point is that Filevine uses the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform for maximum tool uptime and easy access from anywhere.
The core features of this tool are:
Various law firms, solo law practitioners, law associations, and law societies prefer this tool since it offers high-level customizations. Thus, you no longer waste valuable time and practice hours on testing random legal management software. Instead, the Filevine team ships you a tailor-made tool just for your team and delivered it on the cloud.
Checkbox
Checkbox is a renowned web-based tool for no-code business process automation through web apps. It also has equal potential to transform any legal firms or businesses that handle various repetitive tasks.
By using this legal tech solution for process automation, you can provide high-quality consultation services to your clients. Furthermore, you can build dedicated client apps to enhance your business relationships.
Moreover, you can re-design fixed fee and low-margin legal projects into profitable ones by upscaling your team’s capability to close projects faster through automation. Finally, some of the most useful tools you can use on this platform are smart forms, calculation engines, transcripts, document automation, dashboards, etc.
Mighty
When you scale up your law practice business to accommodate more than a hundred clients, it could become a real challenge to communicate with them. Here comes Mighty, an online web-based portal for effortless case update sharing with lienholders, medical service providers, experts, clients, and funders.
It saves you a lot of money that otherwise you need to spend on hiring additional paralegals to discuss case updates with the clients. Mighty frees up your existing paralegals so that they can focus on active cases or potential new cases.
Its key feature is an online platform where clients can check case status, upload files, request updates, etc. Furthermore, it integrates and syncs with other legal tech tools like Filevine, Clio, MyCase, etc.
Expert Institute
Expert Institute is a popular place for sourcing expert services (expert search, case clinics, etc.) for legal cases and technology-based applications for legal practitioners and firms. For example, attorneys can subscribe to Expert Institute apps like:
On the contrary, if you are an expert in your field and want to earn money by reviewing cases, you can join Expert Institute or get paid on a daily case-by-case basis.
IT leaders, firm managers, and finance leaders have been using Time by Ping for a long time to record time, produce timesheets, bill clients effortlessly, and make their businesses grow. It is time for you to shift your law firm’s timekeeping work to Time by Ping rather than doing it manually.
Whenever your attorneys, legal staff, and paralegal employees work on something related to a case, the tool’s AI programming automatically captures the time and work and categorizes it too.
Furthermore, it can efficiently track activities on apps running on your Windows PCs and links the task to its corresponding case or client. This outstanding legal tech timekeeping tool can track law practice management apps, Microsoft Word, Outlook, Google Chrome, case research websites, and many more.
PracticePanther
If your legal practicing team or firm focuses on personal injury, bankruptcy, estate planning, criminal law, divorce, litigation, etc., you must try out the PracticePanther. Many small, medium and large law firms prefer this legal management software for its simple and intuitive user interface (UI).
It is a web-based app, and hence you can run the app on most computers. The core features include:
Furthermore, for mobility and remote work, there are Android and iOS apps. Thus, you can sync your work from computer to smartphone and access case files while commuting.
MyCase
Various law firms and professional law practitioners use the MyCase legal management solution to perform daily legal case workflows and communicate effectively with their business clients. The cloud-based app also provides beneficial functionalities like client meeting scheduling and accounting.
It also offers standard features like case document management, digital timekeeping for billing purposes, docketing cases, and business contact management. Furthermore, there are schedule and calendar syncing functionalities that enable law practitioners, paralegals, and clients to collaborate on an active case.