Tabs3 & PracticeMaster: Complete Review, Features, Pricing
Tabs3: 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.
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Introduction to Tabs3 and PracticeMaster
Tabs3 and PracticeMaster by Software Technology Inc. (STI) are collectively a suite of law practice management and accounting software. Both Tabs3 and PracticeMaster can be used as stand-alone applications, but are frequently purchased and used together. As such, we’ll refer to the pair of applications collectively as “Tabs3 and PracticeMaster,” as that is how they are often implemented.
PracticeMaster
PracticeMaster provides client and contact management, case/matter management, calendaring, and other “front-office” capabilities.
Tabs3
Tabs3 serves as the “back-office” counterpart to PracticeMaster, in that it handles legal billing, business accounting and trust accounting for your law firm.
(See below for a full list of features for both modules.)
Both Tabs3 and PracticeMaster are 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…
Tabs3 and Practice Master are good fits for law firms that need both comprehensive billing and accounting (including trust accounting) along with a sophisticated solution to manage clients and cases. Since both front-office and back-office functions are managed by the Tabs3/Practice Master suite, the solution is good for firms that do not want to manage their practice and their accounting in separate software.
The Company
Both Tabs3 and PracticeMaster were developed by Software Technology, Inc. (STI), which is also the parent company of CosmoLex.
See Tabs3 & PracticeMaster in Use
Tabs3 and PracticeMaster have intuitive interfaces, and integrate in such a way that the pair often feel like a single application.
Tabs3 & PracticeMaster Stand-Out Features
Modular and End-to-End Law Practice Software
Tabs3 and PracticeMaster are separate applications, and in that way are modular in nature. They can be used independently for firms that need only front-office or back-office capabilities, or together for an end-to-end law practice platform.
Network of Authorized Consultants
Tabs3 and PracticeMaster have an authorized consultant program and a large network of independent legal software consultants who can help your firm maximize your investment in the software.
Integration for Document Management
Tabs3 and PracticeMaster handle your firm's accounting and case management, respectively. For firms that need comparable document management, the suite integrates with Worldox document management software.
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.
Client Portal
A client-facing online portal to share documents and updates with clients and other third-parties.
Open API
An open API (Application Program Interface), allowing you or third-parties to develop integrations with the software.
User Feedback
We’ve aggregated and curated feedback from Tabs3 and PracticeMaster users. This feedback is made up of feedback from our clients, legal technology consultants and online user feedback.
“I Highly Recommend Tabs3.”
Tracy from Rembolt Ludtke, LLP
“We use Tabs for our timekeeping and billing, the Tabs3 Connect is a great feature for attorneys to enter their time on the go. The General Ledger and Accounts Payable software integrate well with each other and with Tabs, so that saves on duplication of work. Practice Master has great features and is a great database for containing the information needed for our clients.”
“We’re a Satisfied Customer.”
Katherine from Hirst Applegate, LLP
“We have used Tabs3 for billing since before I started (16 years ago), but we used another practice management software for a while before switching to PracticeMaster. We recently made the change from the basic version to the Platinum version. The price difference was the hurdle, but the features in Platinum are valuable. Support has been very good over the years.”
“Cumbersome and Outdated”
Attorney from a Small Law Firm
“It is very difficult to navigate and hard to learn if you are not trained well, and especially if you do not have significant bookkeeping experience. It does seem to have lots of features and capabilities. However, many of them are not easily found, or require too many steps to be efficient. There seem to be lots of unnecessary steps added to very basic requests. The whole program has an outdated, unaesthetic appearance.”
“Easy to Use.”
Nicole from Haddon, Morgan and Foreman, P.C.
“Good timekeeping reports and billing statements. It streamlines billing and conflict checks. Creates uniformity for invoices and statements overall look is clean and polished. However, there are too many steps to set up a new client, there are close to 9 tabs that need to be viewed in order to to generate a new file.“
Tabs3 & PracticeMaster Software Pricing
Pricing information provided is made up of intel from customers, consultants, and in some cases the software publisher.
- Pricing is based on whether your firm buys Tabs3, PracticeMaster or both.
- Pricing is also based on the number of Timekeepers and Users within your firm.
- See the vendor's Price Calculator for more information.
Tabs3 and PracticeMaster in the Cloud
Tabs3 and PracticeMaster are desktop/server-based software, which means you can run them on your firm’s in-house, on-premise servers, or hosted in a Private Cloud.
Running Tabs3 or PracticeMaster 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 Tabs3 and PracticeMaster 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.
Related – Tabs3 Support: So, you want to get Tabs3. Read this article to ensure you have the best support possible.
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 Tabs3 or PracticeMaster in the Cloud?
At Uptime Legal, we host Tabs3, PracticeMaster and other legal software for hundreds of law firms across North America.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about a private cloud for your law firm.
Learn More:
Learn more about running Tabs3 and PracticeMaster 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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