Time Matters: Complete Review, Features, Pricing
Time Matters: Our Comprehensive Review | 2021
Introduction to Law Practice Management Software
Law Practice Management (LPM) software is a platform that, to varying degrees, manages each aspect of your law firm. The scope, features and capabilities of any given Law Practice Management application varies from product to product; though broadly speaking, LPM software performs the following functions.
- Client & Contact Management
- Case/Matter Management
- Time & Expense Tracking
- Billing
- Calendaring
- Task Management
Beyond these core features, some LPM applications provide additional functionality or focus on a particular element of law practice as a stand-out feature. These include:
- Conflict Checking
- Document Assembly/Automation
- Trust Accounting
- Business Accounting
- Document Management
- Email Management
In this way, LPM software sometimes overlaps with Document Management Software (DMS) and Law Firm Accounting Software.
Learn more:
Introduction to Time Matters
Time Matters is a popular, long-standing practice management and document management solution for small and midsize law firms. Time Matters offers robust case/matter management, time and billing, and document management (but does not include complete accounting). Time Matters is notable for its high degree of flexibility and customizability.
Time Matters is server/desktop-based software, which means it can run on-premise, on your firm’s in-house servers or hosted in a Private Cloud.
A Good Fit for Firms That…
Time Matters is a good fit for firms that:
- Need a more sophisticated system to manage the specifics of each case/matter.
- Need moderate document management integrated into their case management.
- Need a high degree of customization for matters and workflow.
- Use PCLaw for accounting.
The Company
Time Matters was originally developed by an independent company. The product was later acquired by LexisNexis. In 2019, LexisNexis and LEAP Software created a Joint Venture, where the Time Matters software continues to be developed and supported.
Sidebar: Legal Document Management
Time Matters is great for case management and includes lightweight document management features.
However, your firm may need to supplement Time Matters with a stand-alone, cloud-based Document Management System to securely manage firm documents and email.
You might consider LexWorkplace, document management software born in the cloud, built for law firms.
- Securely Store & Manage Documents in the Cloud
- Client/Matter-Centric Document Organization
- Full-Text Search Across All Documents & Email
- Outlook Add-In: Save Emails to Matters
- Work with Windows and Mac OS
See Time Matters in Use
Time Matters pulls the relevant case information, time/billing, documents and appointments from each matter into a single matter dashboard.
Time Matters Stand-Out Features
Customization
From customizing the front-end, such as matter screens or reports, to customizing the back-end, and creating custom database queries, workflows and events, Time Matters is one of the most customizable law practice management platforms. Firms with a need to tailor a product to their practice and their process should take a close look at Time Matters.
Integration with PCLaw and Juris
Time Matters includes basic billing capabilities–which may suffice for your firm. If not–Time Matters integrates well with PCLaw (accounting for small law firms) and Juris (accounting for midsize and larger firms), each of which exist in the broader LexisNexis / PCLaw|Time Matters ecosystem.
Network of Authorized Consultants
Time Matters is very powerful and very customizable–but really getting the most out of it, and tailoring it to your firm, requires an expert. Fortunately, Time Matters has an authorized consultant program and a large network of independent legal software consultants who can help your firm maximize your investment in the software.
Time Matters Go Mobile App
Time Matters has a mobile app, called Time Matters Go, which allows you to enter billable time and perform routine tasks from your iPhone or Android smart phone.
Related:
Time Matters Annual Maintenance Plan (AMP)
Time Matters can be subscribed to in the form of a monthly Subscription-Based License (SBL), or purchased as a perpetual license with along with an Annual Maintenance Plan.
If you use Time Matters, we recommend either acquiring it in its SBL model, or that your firm acquires (and renews) an AMP every year. With SBL or an AMP, your firm is entitled to:
- Software Technical and How-To Support
- Time Matters Training & Education
- Software Updates and Improvements
- A Time Matters Account Manager
- Access to Time Matters Cloud Hosting Options*
Related:
Complete Feature List
Client & Contact Management
A central database to store information for clients, courts, related parties and other contacts.
Matter Management
A central database of matters, cases and projects. Stores the most relevant information pertaining to each matter.
Calendaring
Individual calendars for each user, along with an aggregated, firm-wide view/calendar. Synchronization with Outlook calendar.
Task Management
Create tasks and to-do items pertaining to specific matters or projects. Assign tasks and set deadlines.
Time & Expense Tracking
Track billable hours and related expenses for a particular client or matter.
Billing
Invoicing, including for billable hours, contingency work, and fixed-fee matters.
Conflict Checking
Search the database for related names, document each conflict check.
Business Accounting
Standard business accounting, including a Chart of Accounts, Bank/Operating Accounts, standard accounting reports (P&L, Balance Sheet).
Trust Accounting
Trust/IOLTA accounting for management of trust funds, including trust account reporting.
Document Assembly/Automation
Automatic preparation and population of specific court documents and forms.
Document Storage
Built-in cloud storage for related documents and files.
Document Management
Advanced document management including full-text search, document tagging & profiling, and version management.
Email Management
The ability to save emails to specific matters, via Outlook integration.
Mobile App
An Android or iPhone application for time entry and some subset of software functionality.
Open API
An open API (Application Program Interface), allowing you or third-parties to develop integrations with the software.
Client Portal
A client-facing online portal to share documents and updates with clients and other third-parties.
User Feedback
We’ve aggregated and curated feedback from Time Matters users. This feedback is made up of feedback from our clients, legal technology consultants and online user feedback.
“Long-time User, Great Database.”
Mark S. from a Small Law Practice
“As a long time computer user with 10 gig of forms and a general rural practice that covers most areas of law for small firms, the merge into templates is foundational to our practice. The calendar, separate matter and contact database with many to many relationships makes it possible to relate and connect important things. Customization of field names, visual record forms is superb. The only downside is a moderate learning curve.”
“This Software Has Got You Covered”
Paralegal in a Small Law Practice
“If you really want an elaborate, automated system with detailed records to keep time, this program has got you covered. With Time Matters, we can just enter our time at the end of the day without any applications. The mobile app also made it easy to get time into the system when my computer was otherwise busy.”
“Too Complex for a Small Law Office”
Mark A. from a Small Law Office
“Billing is strong, and the software is very sophisticated in its features. It is, however, overly complex. Way too much complexity for a small firm, especially a solo law practice.”
“Could Not Practice Law Without It.”
Martin K. from a Midsize Law Firm
“We have used this software since 2000, it’s extremely customizable, and we could not practice without it. This program is at the heart of our practice. We have a significant investment of time and resources in this program and to replace the customization and document creation would cost plus a significant amount of time and energy.”
Time Matters Software Pricing
- Time Matters is sold in two subscription models, both based on the number of time-keepers in your law firm.
- Time Matters is available in Subscription-Based-Licensing (SBL), at a per-user, per-month basis,
- Or: sold as a Perpetual License with an Annual Maintenance Plan (AMP).
- We recommend contacting the vendor for current pricing tailored to your law firm.
Time Matters in the Cloud
Time Matters is desktop/server-based software, which means you can run it on your firm’s in-house, on-premise servers, or hosted in a Private Cloud.
Hosting Time Matters in the cloud should be done only with capable, experienced cloud providers, and only with Time Matters Authorized Hosting Partners.
Running Time Matters in secure Private Cloud, via a Virtual Desktop platform, gives your law firm the advantages of the cloud, without having to maintain servers and deal with IT headaches.
Advantages of Time Matters in the Cloud
The Best of Both Worlds
Keep the robust legal software that your firm is committed to and relies on, while enjoying the advantages of the Cloud.
Work From Anywhere
Unchain your self from the office, ditch clunky VPN and remote-computer-login "solutions." A Private Cloud provides a secure, easy-to-use Virtual Desktop that gives you access to your legal software, documents and email from anywhere.
Data Security & Compliance
Secure Private Cloud platforms, like Uptime Practice, keeps your software and data secure. End-to-end data encryption, Multi-Factor Authentication, Geographic Data Redundancy (Backups), Virus Protection and Ransomware Protection will keep your data secure and your firm compliant.
Eliminate Servers & IT Headaches
Maintaining servers and managing IT is a pain, even with a capable local IT support firm. A Private Cloud like Uptime Practice provides all necessary server infrastructure, managed, backed up and ready-to-go: So you can focus on your firm and your clients.
Minimize Downtime
Capable Private Cloud platforms like Uptime Practice are built with enterprise-grade infrastructures, and managed round-the-clock by professionals. This minimizes downtime for your firm, and maximizes productivity.
Flexible & Scalable
Stay flexible: Cloud-based solutions allow you to scale users, software, storage and options up or down as needed.
Economical
We consistently see Private Cloud solutions deliver a lower Total Cost of Ownership compared to managing on-premise, in-house servers and IT equipment. Study the Financial Case for Private Cloud, or get our Cloud Cost Calculator.
Ready to Get Time Matters in the Cloud?
At Uptime Legal, we host Time Matters and other legal software for hundreds of law firms across North America.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about Time Matters in the cloud for your law firm.
Learn More:
Learn more about running Time Matters in the Cloud.
Uptime Practice:
The IT & Cloud Platform for Law Firms.
Uptime Practice is a suite of Managed IT and cloud services, made exclusively for law firms.
Practice Next
Technology + Legal Software Support for Modern Law Firms
Practice Next is a suite of Managed IT, Legal Software Support, and Cloud Essentials, made just for law firms.
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Practice Next is a suite managed IT, technology essentials and legal software support.
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Practice Next includes unlimited IT and legal software support, Microsoft 365, legal-centric cloud storage and more.
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Practice Next pairs great with cloud-based legal software such as Clio Manage, CosmoLex, MyCase and more.
Practice Go
Cloudify Your Legal App
Does your law firm already have a cloud strategy, but have one premise-based application still running on onsite servers? Practice Go is for you.
- With Practice Go, we effectively turn your desktop/server- based legal software into a cloud application (a Published App), freeing your firm from the limitations of traditional software.
- Practice Go can cloudify your PCLaw, Time Matters, Tabs3, ProLaw, Juris, QuickBooks and more.
Practice Foundation
Complete Private Cloud for Law Firms
If your law firm needs a central, secure cloud platform for all of your legal software, documents and data, Practice Foundation is for you.
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Practice Foundation is an end-to-end cloud platform that will host all of your firm's applications and documents, and will optionally include Office 365 + unlimited IT support. Everyone in your firm logs into a Virtual Desktop where they'll find all of their apps and docs.
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Practice Foundation works with PCLaw, Time Matters, Tabs3, ProLaw, Juris, QuickBooks, Timeslips, TrialWorks, Adobe Acrobat and more.
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