What Is Abacus Law Software?
Abacus Law Software is a program designed to help law firms and legal professionals operate more effectively and efficiently. The company originally launched in 1983 as Abacus Data Systems in California before expanding nationwide and changing its name to Abacus Law in 1996. It is now known as Abacus Next, and Salesforce.com currently owns the program.
The software is the company’s flagship product, providing solutions for case management, billing, accounting, marketing, client collaboration and more . It allows users to manage their files and run their firm from one central system with a single log-in. It also has several features that enhance attorneys’ productivity and increase their efficiency at their firm.
With cloud hosting, Abacus Law is customizable and able to grow with your practice. Abacus Next offers support and assistance throughout the entire implementation process and beyond.
What Key Features Does Abacus Law Have?
Building on its longstanding success as a trusted case management software provider, Abacus Law Streamlines client relationship management and matters management, while improving time entries and invoice production. Central to the solution is the ability to customize screens, fields, and forms to meet the specific requirements of a firm. Key features include the following: Client Relationship Management (CRM) Abacus Law’s built-in contact manager simplifies the process of organizing client information and correspondence by allowing you to store and share contact information, track opportunities, create reports, and more. Additionally, the software integrates with Outlook and Exchange to avoid redundant data entry.
Email & Calendar Records Fully integrated with Microsoft Outlook, the software lets users monitor important emails and calendar events as they relate to each of your matters. This saves valuable time by allowing you to avoid the task of recreating calendars and emails for each case.
Folder Management A simple drag and drop folder management system allows users to quickly upload files (emails, documents, notes, etc.) related to the client or matter being worked on. These files are automatically indexed, and the folder structure is synchronized across all systems and devices used by the firm, including mobile devices.
Document Automation The software’s automation features enables users to simplify the process of creating legal pleadings, retainer agreements, and other contractual documents. All forms are customizable, and automatically merges with client data saved in the system.
Document Assembly Abacus’s document assembly feature goes further than its competitors by offering a simple wizard that helps you generate the document with minimal input. The wizard walks the user through a series of questions and creates a document based on their answers. The document is assembled automatically, and users can use it as a template for other matters or new clients.
Time Tracking & Expense Entry Because all of the tracking tools are built directly into the system, Abacus Law allows you to record time and expenses as they occur, rather than waiting until the end of the day or week. This helps you collect accurate records and eliminates multiple sources of information. If you miss an entry into the product, you can upload receipts via mobile devices and tablets and associate them with the client or matter to which they belong.
Billing & Invoicing The billing option within Abacus Law makes it easy for you to create timely invoices, includes customizable templates, and gives you a wide range of delivery options (email & fax). All invoices are stored within the system’s document management feature.
What Advantages Are Offered by Abacus Law Software?
One of the most noticeable benefits of using Abacus Law Software is the significant increase in efficiency. Cases and client matters that required multiple time-consuming steps can now be completed with relative ease, and users are able to focus on more profitable aspects of their practice.
The accuracy of the data retained is also markedly improved in comparison to other software solutions, as there is a far smaller opportunity for human error. The risk of lost data is also reduced, as the databases created by this software are stored digitally and are not at risk of theft or destruction in the way physical paper files are.
The results from the improved efficiency, accuracy, and time management translate directly into an increase in productivity. Employees no longer have wasted time, meaning greater amounts of cases are being worked on simultaneously, which allows for a far higher throughput.
Something that is particularly appealing for law firms is the fact that customer service and technical support are provided for lasting use of the software. There are only a few law software solutions that offer this, so having access to real person customer service is a huge boon. This support offers unlimited remote or on-site support, and responds to requests 24/7.
Which Is Better: Abacus Law or Its Competition?
Abacus Law Software is a powerful legal management tool, and when compared to its competitors, it has some distinct advantages and disadvantages that compel users to choose one over the other. For example, an attorney looking for a cloud-based solution will immediately eliminate Abacus from his or her list, as Abacus Lab is a traditional desktop software with desktop-centric backup solutions, geared towards traditional law firms. It lacks online options or integrations that its competitors do have. On the other hand, firms that already have strong technical knowledge and want to avoid third-party vendors like Clio and Rocket Matter, may find Abacus offer significant financial savings while delivering similar results. Its user base tends to be large, internationally active firms that have cloud backup strategy in place.
Compared to direct competitors like Time Matters, Timeslips, and Amicus Attorney, Abacus Law Software is similar in price and offers the same general functionality. However, it has a notable weakness in its absence of cloud-based intervening capabilities. Functionality that may stand out is point solutions for accounts receivable and inventory management. It does also offer some document automation capabilities and integrates with Office 365 for the management of packages like Outlook and Word providing a complete environment for legal document needs. The integration does not yet extend to other products such as the Adobe PDF Reader, the way Clio’s does. That said, it has a surprising level of support for e-signature. The absence of a direct integration with Quickbooks offers a chink in the armor, as does the lack of support for third party calendaring solutions, instead offering its own calendaring package.
In terms of pricing, Abacus’s Buyer Payback Report, a post-buy comparison of competing products offered as a service, goes a long way in explaining the cost profile of Abacus Law. Abacus does expect a comparatively low startup cost of $5,000 if purchased in-house, and less than half that to purchase it as a service. Third-party solutions like RocketMatter, on the other hand, require an average of $13,000 upfront and $11,000 per year. The short-term ROI ranges for Abacus between 2-3 years, while the other solutions take 4-5 years to pay for themselves. Comparatively, Amicus Attorney and Time Matters have a dramatically higher ROI of 7 years, but more significantly, longer time payback at 8-9 years.
For firms that are bought into creating their own IT systems and want point solutions, there are advantages to Abacus. Again, the main drawback compared to the competition goes back to its inability to integrate with third parties such as Google Mail, and the fact that the user interface is not as friendly, as indicated by its relatively high learning curve and lack of customization.
How Can You Use Abacus Law Software in Your Practice?
Implementing new software into your legal practice can be a complex and challenging process. Abacus Law Software, with its comprehensive features and tools, is no exception. However, with the right preparation and support, the transition can be smooth and efficient.
The first step is to define your practice management needs and determine how Abacus Law will meet those needs. This involves evaluating your current processes, identifying areas for improvement, and understanding how the software can help you optimize your operations. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of your goals before implementation.
Once you have an understanding of your needs, the next step is data migration. There are several factors to consider when migrating data from another system. You’ll need to identify what data you want to transfer, how to clean and validate the data , and how to import the data into Abacus Law. It’s essential to ensure that the data is accurate and complete to avoid any issues down the line.
The next step is training. Abacus Law provides several options for training, including online tutorials, documentation, and on-site training. These resources can help you and your team navigate the system and get up to speed quickly. You may want to consider hiring a consultant or trainer to assist with the training process.
Finally, you’ll need to develop a rollout plan. This includes setting a timeline for implementation, communicating with staff and clients about the software and its benefits, and addressing any concerns that may arise. A well-planned rollout can help ensure that the transition is smooth and that everyone is on board with the new system.
By following these steps and taking a thoughtful and measured approach, you can successfully implement Abacus Law Software into your legal practice.
What Do Owners of Abacus Law Software Think?
According to reviews and testimonials from various law firms and attorneys who have had the opportunity to use Abacus Law Software, some specific features seem to be most appreciated. Positive factors families cited include automation, allowing them to spend less time on mundane tasks and focus on serving clients. In particular, many were grateful for the integrated email, billing and accounting systems as well as the time-tracking features. Others mentioned how much they appreciated being able to use a single application to manage all their records and passwords. According to negative reviews, some law firms and attorneys criticize the program for being complicated and clunky, with too many unnecessary features and lacking a simple interface for new users. Some found the software integration to be lacking. However, these types of complaints are common, so it can be hard to differentiate which reviews are legitimate.
Where Is Abacus Law Software Headed in the Future?
As law firms continue to grow diverse in their structure and needs, it’s incumbent upon application developers to produce responsive solutions. This is the premise on which future law software development is based and the space in which the Abacus Law Software platform excels. Firms of all sizes, from new startups to large international firms, can expect continuous improvement of the overall platform and the suite of tools offered.
Due to the cloud-based architecture of the platform, developers have the ability to roll out ongoing upgrades that not only enhance the overall platform but add industry-specific features that can be accessed on-demand. You’re purchase of the platform includes a guarantee that, for as long as your subscription is active, you’re eligible for all future updates and upgrades of the Abacus Law platform.
Law firm development cycles are shorter than ever before. It’s no longer acceptable to purchase a software package and ride-out the changes for five years . Changes will come due to industry circumstance, the influx of new technologies and competitive needs. Law firms are operating in a constantly changing environment and the development firm you choose should be able to respond to these changes quickly and efficiently.
The next year promises enhanced collaboration tools, further mobility enhancements, increased document storage options and continual security updates that make the law platform you choose as secure as possible for your data. Existing data will be protected and future upgrades will only enhance the overall user experience.
Abacus will continue to invest in its industry and its solution so that your law firm can reap the rewards of technology with minimal investment. The cloud-based platform keeps data in a single secure space, and future resource investments will ensure that you have everything your firm needs to be successful.