Legal document management can be a time-consuming project if you don't have streamlined legal document software in your office. Without the right software, you may spend much of your time converting information between programs as you create and manage your documents. At the same time, legal document software can be an expensive investment, so you need to balance time management with costs.

Investigating the pricing and costs of legal document management software before you purchase it can help you determine whether it's cost-effective to implement new legal document management systems. Some run as low as $200, while others can cost thousands to implement. As you look into legal document management companies, take the following points into consideration:

1. Decide whether ready-made legal document management solutions are right for your firm, or whether you need custom solutions.

2. Get multiple quotes to understand the pricing range of customized document management software.

3. Look for what you'll need to pay for beyond the document management software, such as support or conversion charges.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find legal document management software with clear pricing structures

If an out-of-the-box solution fits your needs, you can locate software that posts its pricing and costs online. The benefit of a clear pricing structure is that you know exactly how much to budge for the software.

I recommend: Needles, which offers full service case management software, provides a calculator on its site so you know exactly how much you'll pay before you even contact the company. Lexbe presents a clear pricing structure on its site, which is based on the number of users. HiPerSoft offers a simple single- or multi-user pricing option; you can get a single-user version for around $200 and a multi-user version for around $400.

Get quotes for customized legal document software

Depending upon your needs, a ready-made piece of legal document software may not be for your law firm. A number of software providers have a basic package that they then customize according to who will use the software and what your priorities are. Customized software can run anywhere from around $300 for a small office with limited users and limited needs to thousands of dollars.

I recommend: AbacusLaw pricing depends on your company’s exact needs. Complete the no-obligation quote request on their website to find the pricing for your company. Argentto Systems requires you to contact them as well. LexisNexis provides an array of document and case management software on a subscription basis, with a pricing structure based upon your use. Each company allows you to preview its software with a free trial version so you know what you're getting before you invest in the software.

Realize what costs you may incur beyond the actual legal document management applications

While all reputable companies providing law firm document management software disclose the full pricing and costs of their products, some costs are easy to overlook. Be sure to check out any start-up costs associated with the software, as well as what you need to pay for technical support.

I recommend: While Defender Data charges a low rate per case, you'll also need to pay a few thousand for data conversion -- which is a typical cost for implementing extensive legal document software packages, and which saves money in the end. Genlex discloses all pricing and costs on its website, and you need to consider its support plan in addition to its software.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Think long term when you're selecting legal document software. If you know your needs will be expanding, it could be helpful to invest in a customized solution if you can afford it. That way, you can maintain a relationship with the same company as you expand your law office.

Law firms today are often faced with an overwhelming sea of papers and records. The answer to this problem comes in the form of legal document management solutions sometimes referred to as document management system software. These solutions give firms the upper hand when it comes to organization, document security and employee productivity.

Legal document software gives legal firms the ability to quickly archive, index and search documents previously scanned in or added to their secure server. These capabilities prove to be essential when they are involved in litigations. You can maintain document integrity by restricting access to sensitive items and record an audit trail to ensure this. Here are some ways in which a legal document management system will prove to be invaluable to your firm:

1. Legal document management software reduces paper document storage costs.

2. You can access more information quicker by use of detailed search functions.

3. Reduce file space taken up by extraneous documents on individual desktops by archiving items no longer needed.

Action Steps
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Assess the amount of paper documents your firm has and decide which items should be on hand and whic

Not all documents in storage are necessary and relevant to current and ongoing cases.

I recommend: Research the archiving capabilities of different legal document management software. Livelink ECM is litigation document management software with an emphasis on legal discovery.

Increase employee productivity by enabling them to pull up all the documents they need quicker than

Some legal document management applications have more powerful search functions than others. It is wise to compare different applications to see which is best suited for your firm's needs.

I recommend: ZyIMAGE Information Access Platform (IAP)is one of the more powerful legal document management solutions out there.

Not all documents are needed at all times

Finding the right legal document software that offloads extraneous documentation is essential in keeping your IT infrastructure problem-free in the future. Reduce desktop replacement requirements by taking back valuable disk space.

I recommend: If your firm has a large number of employees who have access to and work with legal documents in every step of litigation, then chances are their hard drives are nearing their capacity and system performance is down. Offload these unneeded documents with a solution that specializes in archiving. IBM's DB2 CommonStore is an option worth looking into.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Corporate attorneys should work closely with their IT departments to ensure that they choose the right legal document management system for their current and future needs.

Legal document software is used by law firms small and large to archive, research, organize and index the huge amount of paperwork law firms are so famous for. Learning to use legal document management software can be an asset to your career — whether you're a paralegal or a one-person law firm.

Legal document management software education and training is provided by consultants or from the software manufacturers, to name two possibilities, for education and training in using the technology. Community colleges offer some computer training in paralegal programs, too.

1. Legal document management is specialized to the legal profession and is dominated by the kind of law practiced by law firms.

2. Training for legal document management solutions sometimes requires not only end-user training but the tech support personnel as well.

3. A legal document management system works most efficiently if end users are proficient in all its capabilities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take a look at consultant trainers for a legal document management system

As anyone who has had to move from one software system to another, training is vital. But trainers who specialize in document management system software for the legal profession are probably more necessary than in other professions.

I recommend: Law Soft.com consults as to what software a law firm requires and lists training consultants on its website. MicroLaw is another outside source for training lawyers and staff to use innovative software and technology for the legal profession.

Take courses in using legal document management solutions

Taking a course to learn to master legal document software can help you advance your career.

I recommend: BEC Legal Systems provides training for legal document management application by distance learning technology. Attorney Resource is another source for courses both in person and online.

Use training offered by a legal document management system provider

Good training is often part of legal document management software programs that you buy. You can rely on these trainers to know their programs inside and out. Also, they are proficient in passing on their knowledge to their clients.

I recommend: Abacus Law legal document solutions comes with training and support for its programs. The support program is nice to have, too, because you can refer back to them whenever you have a question. Ademero is a full service outfit which provides user training for each of its legal software solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Basic coursework in legal software systems is always helpful but specific training in the software and technology used by individual law firms usually requires additional, specific training.
• •  Consider whether online or in-person legal document management software education and training works best for your firm.
• •  Using outside consultants for training in legal document management system can be pricey; however, the right consultants will be there for you if you need a refresher course.