Abacus Legal Software Overview
Abacus Legal Software is a legal practice management software company that has been specializing in small and midsize law firms since 1983. Founded by attorney James J. Faulkner, the company grew out of the need for a reliable legal calendar system that would help lawyers manage the complexities of their practice. As a practicing attorney himself, Faulkner understood the challenges legal professionals faced and sought to address them with a comprehensive software solution.
Over the years, Abacus Legal Software evolved from a simple calendaring tool into a fully-featured practice management platform that helps lawyers manage client information, billing, and other real-time aspects of running a firm . The software was developed to meet the specific needs of small to midsize firms and has been continually updated to adapt to both legal and technological changes. Today, Abacus Legal Software is used by thousands of law firms and organizations across the United States, Canada, and around the world.
Abacus has a proven track record in the industry and a long history of serving the legal community. It is one of the leading software providers for legal professionals and remains committed to delivering innovative solutions that address the evolving challenges of the legal landscape.
Core Features of Abacus Legal Software
Abacus software is best known for its time tracking abilities. Many of the more traditional, more powerful legal software packages do not have time tracking features or at least not as complete a package. With the ability to run timers, stop timers and set timekeeping preferences, attorneys can track all the time spent on cases.
The case management tools in the free version of Abacus are limited to 10 cases. To move past that and maximize the software’s full potential requires a monthly subscription. Either way, this legal software has full case management capabilities. This means you can track all medical records, invoices, telephone calls and other contacts with customers.
As a comprehensive legal software system, Abacus allows for complete billing and invoicing and it can track taxes and store credit card information. You can create bills from templates and convert documents from PDF to word processing documents and vice versa. It also tracks receipts by category and expenses by case and produces expense reports.
Accurate and timely processing of invoices is critical for law firms. They need to collect for work completed on time and also be consistent in doing so. Billing should be part of a firm’s general practice so they receive their money for the work they performed.
Document automation is another important feature of Abacus for law firms. As a lawyer, you have constant need for forms, pleadings and motions. Creating many of those in Microsoft Word is not practical nor is it efficient. This software allows you to create and generate those documents directly in the system.
Creating documents is as easy as entering the needed information into a form and then customizing that as you want. The software can merge information from multiple sources, including from other documents or within the system. Abacus also generates specific documents based on the state you in. So, this ensures you are following the law where you do business.
Abacus is integrated with HotDocs which adds some more control and processes into the document assembly portion of the product. That’s what separates the legal Abacus from the residential and business versions. HotDocs is what makes the system so effective for document automation.
Advantages of Abacus for Legal Firms
Abacus Legal Software works with every version of Windows up to and including Windows 10. A multi-user system, Abacus can be used with Windows standards such as Microsoft Outlook to import and export contact information with easy and automatic updates within the software. One of the major benefits of using Abacus throughout your law firm is the fact that it streamlines processes and procedures, improving efficiency within the firm. This applies to document creation, case management, calendaring, time and billable hours tracking, forecasting, and much more. The benefit to your law firm can also be significant when it comes to automation of administrative duties, such as updating files, creating case histories, and making updates to documents. When it comes to case management, Abacus can store all case details and court filings. You can keep a history of all case activity; import client communications; track concerns and commitments for the case; generate witness lists; track cases through civil and criminal courts; create pleadings and litigation documents; file electronically, and much more. A powerful calendaring and scheduling component makes it easy to manage meetings, deadlines, and other important events, while case management features allow users to collaborate on cases and work together without the risk of losing information. And for firms with multiple locations, the ability to work with case information remotely allows for streamlined collaboration across offices. Time and billing features within Abacus allow users to review client information and update billing rates, confirm available payment methods, and associate your fees and disbursements by client and matter. It also allows you to take advantage of office management features, including expense entry for staff members, invoice preparation and distribution, wealth reporting, and general ledger reporting. Abacus is a robust platform that provides tools for your entire law firm, from attorneys to clerks to administrative staff. Using Abacus gives your firm a competitive advantage, integrating with Word and Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Adobe Acrobat and much more to run seamlessly in the background to extend the life of the investment in your existing software.
Integration and Compatibility Options
Abacus integrates with several software systems commonly used in most modern law firms. Using the Workflow feature, users can easily send appointments from Abacus to Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook Calendar, or integrate with other Cloud based systems that you or your firm may be using.
Instant sync makes the integration seamless as the two systems are in constant communication about your appointments, meetings, birthdays and events. Documents can be stored outside of your Abacus Law Records for more freedom and flexibility in your organization.
Abacus makes it easy to communicate seamlessly between the front and back office. Need to send an invoice quickly? You can do so from anywhere as long as you are connected to the internet. You don’t have to go back to the office and print out invoices to send out later. If you’re clients are often calling with requests for invoice copies, you can create them in seconds using the mobile app and send them via email directly from your tablet or smartphone.
Customization and User interface
A notable feature of the Abacus Law software is its adjustability and the number of ways it can be tailored to suit the needs of a specific firm. From setting up the system architecture and user hierarchies to designing specific workflows and document templates to best suit the way those particular tasks are best accomplished, Abacus Law is very much a software designed around how you wish to use it. With a variety of pricing plans and service levels, plus the availability of additional features that can be purchased separately, there is clearly the opportunity to build something that fits a specific firm very closely.
There is also strong user feedback regarding the interface and user experience many users have with Abacus Law. The system does not take long to learn and master for most people, both in terms of being able to perform specific tasks and the ability to navigate through various aspects of the software. It is also quick to pick up where users left off, either when picking up work just ahead of an upcoming trial session the next morning or when resuming work on a matter after a day of attending client meetings, the system has no problem coming back to a familiar point after a period of inactivity.
By and large, users praise the responsive nature of the system, commenting on the ability to quickly run multiple reports or gather other forms of important information from across the system. A number of users also note that because the system organizes files by type it is obvious what needs to be accomplished next or used as a reference source, allowing attorneys and clerks alike to plan more efficiently than in comparable firms or solo practices.
Security and Compliance Measures
Abacus Legal Software holds itself to stringent security standards ensuring that your clients’ information is kept safe and compartmentalized. This dedicated law management software provider keeps all of the data on linked servers like Amazon EC2. While your data is being processed it’s done so within a virtual private cloud within that server. While your data is being exchanged in transit it is encrypted to ensure that access isn’t gained by a third party. All stored data is stored in highly encrypted and logical separate databases. When software providers store your information on their servers there’s a chance that they will mix your data with others or let their staff access you’re the legal information that you store in a server. With Abacus Law you don’t have to worry about this ever being an issue.
Abacus Data’s cloud-based information architecture is designed to minimize the risk of customer data misuse. Signed certificates and accurate internal databases ensure data cannot be compromised with authorized use. The entire organization is sue-determination based on assigned scopes of work and corresponding IDs. Everyone works within their assigned scope.
Abacus offers all the benefits of a strict BAA service level agreement. The agreement you enter into is compliant to the HIPAA rules found in 45 C.F.R. §164.504 (e) , 42 U.S.C. §17935, and the HHS Privacy Statement. You’ll likely be interested in the fact that the third-party vendors are also held to the same standards to which the Abacus solutions are regulated through. That said, you shouldn’t have to worry about your data being escaped.
Pricing and Subscription Plans
Navigating the world of legal billing can be tricky for law firms, especially when it comes to pricing models. Abacus Legal Software offers a range of pricing packages designed to accommodate firms of all shapes and sizes.
Abacus provides a subscription-based pricing model that allows firms to pay a monthly fee based on the number of active users. This package includes access to Abacus Law, Abacus Payment Exchange, Abacus Accounting, and many other features necessary for daily operations. Firms with five or fewer employees or attorney’s can choose a starter package that allows them to take advantage of all the functionality of the software but at a reduced monthly fee. The subscription-based pricing model is scalable as the firm grows, so you won’t have to worry about transitioning to a new platform or losing your data if the practice expands.
The second option, best for larger firms, is an on-premise purchase of the software with a one-time licensing fee. With the on-premise package, you have the option to purchase the entire suite of products as one package or pick and choose what fits your practice. Abacus also gives you the option to buy with a one-time fee or to take advantage of a monthly payment plan.
Abacus also provides a free 14-day trial and a demo of the software to show you how the tools work and how they can benefit your firm. Comparatively, the other legal practice management software we examined from LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters seemed to focus on selling you products without as many incentives to provide free demos to let customers know what they were purchasing.
Though legal practice management software can be quite expensive, Abacus provides several affordable options to fit your firm’s needs, and you can always scale up as you grow. The scalability means that you aren’t left in the dark about what comes next or how much more you will have to spend when your firm expands.
Support and Training Tools
Abacus provides a variety of customer support options to its clients, including online help centers, email support, phone support and chat support. Online resources include tutorials and webinars, while email and phone support provide violation assistance to any software or technical issues. Chat support gives members instant access to a live representative dedicated to answering any questions customers may have regarding their software use.
Training options are available via on-demand videos, webinars and professional services. On-demand videos are focused on solving a particular problem, so customers can use them at their convenience whenever they have a specific need. Webinars are presented by experts, and these everyone has access to as either a watcher or an active participant. Professional services are either onsite or online, and allow for a one-on-one session with a dedicated trainer.
Overall, Abacus Legal Software offers comprehensive support and training resources to help its customers become fully competent in using its products.
Comparison with Competing Legal Software
When it comes to comparing legal management software programs, Abacus Legal Software has its pros and cons. In this section, I’ll take a closer look at how well Abacus stacks up with its competitors.
Abacus Legal Software offers two main software options: AbacusLaw and Abacus Private Cloud. Private Cloud is an alternate cloud-based version of the backend of the AbacusLaw server-based program. Abacus Law has been around since 1992. Because AbacusLaw has been around for quite a while, there are quite a few law office management products that offer direct comparisons. Some of these include Clio, RocketMatter, MyCase, PracticePanther, and LexisNexis PCLaw. With so many competitors entering the legal software market over the last several years, it’s only natural that recent releases from Abacus would incorporate some of these newer innovations. However, there seem to be several areas of opportunity resulting from this development.
The one main difference that I noticed from my research of the different software trials is that Abacus has a lot of add-ons. This establishment of a central ISO (International Standardization Organization) standard can be a blessing or a curse. AbacusLaw provides a lot of additional features, but you will have to pay for each of the add-on modules. When looking at the cost of the entire bundle versus the total of each module, the cost for the bundle is significantly less. Overall, the costs add up to about $179 / month. Clio, on the other hand, provides the same amount of functionality at a much lower overall cost. With their basic plan at $49 / month, you will find that you get access to all of the same functionality without the additional costs for each module, which can add up to hundreds of dollars a month.
While the cost of PCLaw may seem high when compared with other options, it is important to note that it contains a lot of functionality that is not included with other options. For example, I was able to get a free 30-day trial of the advance KTY option, which is free of charge with the purchase of PCLaw. With the standard version of PCLaw, you can only record time entries at $39 / month per user. The PCLaw basic pricing plan starts at $69 / month. However, they do have several "add-ons," which can bring your price to $100 / month or more. I also found that I was getting only a limited trial of the full features. When compared with AbacusLaw for a basic plan, this plan is still cheaper at $59 / month.
The software by Rocket Matter is priced between $39 / month and $59 / month. The starting price is slightly lower than Firm Central’s low-end plan (which is the reason why I included Rocket Matter in this section, even though it’s not a direct competitor of PCLaw’s). This plan does look to be comparable to Basic PCLaw’s plan in terms of features. However, since PCLaw also has many attractive add-ons that can help make your experience with an attorney much better (such as timesheet reviews), the incrementally higher software subscription price may be worth it in the long run.
Upcoming Changes and Upgrades
AbacusLaw continues to evolve in line with the changing needs of their users and the transforming technological landscape in which we operate. Continued development of integration with HotDocs and Xero ensures that AbacusLaw will work seamlessly in combination with both pre-existing and emerging technologies. In addition, if your firm operates in multiple jurisdictions you will be pleased to hear that Abacus currently has a portal available for users in Canada . The Canadian edition supports both English and French, with features tailored to issues specific to Canadian firms. Other future updates are teased by the screenshots to the right. With the screenshot titled ‘Tip of the Week’ it would be interesting to see if Abacus implements regular tip of the week messages, weekly notices of useful features. Furthermore, the screen shot for ‘Suggested Actions’ hints at learning and path functionality for lawyers new to the platform or lacking training.