Essential Tools for Solo and Small Firm Success

Whether you're just hanging a shingle for the first time or have managed a small or solo law firm for decades, you want to ensure you have the right software tools for the job. The right software solutions allow you to save time, improve client satisfaction, and boost your bottom line.

But that doesn’t mean you have to shell out the big bucks for supercharged software that touts all the latest industry fads or does more than you need.  

It also doesn’t mean you have to invest tons of time in learning a complicated new system when what you need is one that streamlines your work and lets you focus on the important thing: providing excellent client service. 

So how do you support your small or solo law firm’s daily operations and foster growth? Let’s look at some basic tools you can take advantage of now (while leaving breathing room for you to scale and add features as you need them).  

9 core tools to help your solo or small firm succeed 

Want to know one of the best-kept secrets of running a successful law firm? Staying profitable requires staying on top of a seemingly constant onslaught of administrative work.

Fortunately, there are legal-specific technologies to streamline the administrative processes so you can stay focused on practicing law.  

#1 Simple time and billing 

As a small or solo law firm, every dime—and minute—matters. You don’t have a surplus of either one. With this in mind, some solo and small law firms hesitate to invest in timekeeping and billing tools and processes. But these basic administrative tasks are important for compliance, billing accuracy, and business planning, no matter the size of your firm. 

Instead of skipping them altogether, or worse, resorting to a pile of paper receipts and scribbled calendar entries, choose simple tools that allow you to track and bill for your time. Don’t waste it with overly complicated interfaces that aren’t designed for the way attorneys work.  

Look for options that allow you to track time right from your email application or Word documents and bill for your tracked time easily, thanks to integrations with programs like QuickBooks. 

#2 Customizable invoicing 

For law firms of any size, a good reputation and steady stream of referrals is a powerful currency that can be used to attract new clients and improve cash flow. And providing your clients with accurate, easy-to-understand invoices is a great way to achieve both.  

Customizable invoicing allows you to draft detailed invoices that reflect the services you provide and make their value clear to clients. When clients feel confident that they’re being charged fairly and transparently for legal work, they’re often willing to remit payment more quickly. They’re also much more likely to recommend your firm to others.

#3 Edit in billing mode 

“Billing department” who?  

At solo and small law firms, a single person is typically responsible for entering time entries and generating invoices. This can make billing a time-consuming and error-prone process, especially when frequent changes are necessary.  

Software that allows you to make edits to time entries and invoices directly in billing mode without having to re-enter the data saves you time and protects your bottom line by ensuring that invoices are accurate. 

#4 Conflict checking 

By their nature, small and solo firms tend to work with smaller pools of clients and a wider range of practice areas. Conflicts of interest often arise under these conditions, but as you’re well aware, smaller firms have less capacity to screen for them manually.  

Simple conflict checking software can flag potential conflicts of interest from your first contact with a prospective client, helping you safeguard your current clients’ best interests—and your firm’s reputation—more effectively.    

#5 Client and matter trust accounting 

Client and matter trust accounting is as complex as it is crucial. The ABA and state bar associations require attorneys to take very specific steps to protect client funds from misappropriation. 

Many firms with low case counts attempt to handle client and matter trust accounting manually to save money, but this approach could set your firm up for disaster. Not only does manual trust accounting take time you don’t have to spare, but it also increases the likelihood of human error. 

And while even the largest legal practice is rarely well prepared for the consequences of an ethics violation, small and solo firms like yours have even less liquidity to cover resulting damages or fight malpractice suits.  

Fortunately, affordable client and matter trust accounting software is available to automate the process and keep your clients’ money—and your firm’s compliance—protected.