PCLaw vs. SurePoint Legal Management System (LMS)

PCLaw is well suited for small to medium sized law firms with minimal accounting and bookkeeping needs. The software provides basic case management functions, and I've encountered issues with viewing or organizing new documents. The software crashes and freezes often, especially when multiple users are trying to access it at the same time. The user interface is a bit outdated but still very easy to navigate. You have to pay more for the cloud-based version of the software and it does not allow software integrations or workflow automations. I would recommend using this software only for billing/accounting purposes and subsidizing case management with more modernized products

Law firms needing an easy to use billing and accounting systems. [SurePoint Legal Management System (LMS)] would work for law firms of all sizes. It does not work well for matter pricing or profitability analysis.

Incentivized

• Quick - reports generate faster than Clio or Cosmolex
• Efficient data entry
• When set up properly, it speeds up a lot of different tasks

• The interface is fairly well designed, making it fairly easy to enter data or to create information visualizations.
• The software supports a robust set of features that can all be accessed through a single portal or site.
• There are analysis functions that help show patterns or trends based on time sensitive information.

Incentivized

• Like I said in my pros, it can hold a lot of matters. But, if your firm is very large, PCLaw may not be the best option. My old firm grew to the point where they had to switch because they had too many matters for the system to hold.
• The software is definitely dated, and I have some issues with crashing and other weird/buggy behavior. I have to set the default printer every time I log on in order to avoid multiple pop-ups when trying to print a document/report (which definitely doesn't take much time, but it can get annoying).

Incentivized

• No case management system to speak of.
• No able to create multiple cost rates for attorneys to use in profitability analysis
• Accounting system does not integrate well with e-billing vendors

Incentivized

The software may not be pretty, but it works. It could use a facelift but the functionality is still there. Personally, I would like to see an investment to make it prettier, but again, function over fashion. It is not a client-facing application, so internal use does not need to be razzle-dazzle.

Incentivized

Tech support for LexisNexis PCLaw has been seamless as far as I know. Those issues have been dealt with by others at my organization and I do not have personal experience.

Incentivized

PCLaw is still the only product that provides both front office (practice management/calendaring) and back office (accounting) solutions for a law firm in one product

Incentivized

LMS Practice Management provides a wealth of features not often found in one package. Its information visualization tools and client management tools are extremely helpful in providing oversight on client billing matters. Its reporting tools were also fairly robust, providing more features than competitor products on the markets. While not perfect, its clean interface and number of components help make it stand out among the competition

Incentivized

• It helped the firm save money on case management software
• It negatively impacted productivity when dealing with glitches/crashes
• It was effective in keeping track of the firm's expenses

• It easy to use to respond to questions relating to time entry, billing and collections

Incentivized