ActionStep - An assembly line for legal!
Pros
- The workflows are great to automate simple tasks like notifying people when an engagement letter is signed.
- Mobility. Because it's in the cloud it's easy to access from anywhere.
- The scratch pad is a good way to take quick notes.
- ActionStep lets you create custom fields so you can make sure the data you need is collected.
Cons
- ActionStep is difficult to setup. I suggest working with a consultant which increases cost.
- Needs mobile app.
- One of our practice areas, Property Law, request we have a many to many contact relation. ActionStep cannot accommodate this. However, no other software I have reviewed can do this either. ActionStep is the most robust that I have seen and comes closest to making this work.
Return on Investment
- I love the workflows that can be deployed for practice areas to ensure consistency. This has reduced new employee onboarding time and increased the speed at which we can complete matters.
- Since ActionStep lives in the cloud, and we have O365 our firm is very mobile without spending lots of money in TS or other such infrastructure.
- Creating the workflows is a bit complex, so this increases the overall cost and makes an ROI take longer. I suggest spending a bit more initially to get everything setup and working with a consultant to learn how to do this on your own during that initial setup.
Alternatives Considered
Clio, Amicus Attorney and LexisNexis Time Matters
Other Software Used
Amicus Attorney, LexisNexis Time Matters, Clio