TrialWorks – An Uptime Legal Review

TrialWorks Review

Massive improvements in technology produced more legal practice management options for lawyers to choose from. While that’s certainly a great thing, it can also create a feeling of overwhelm as law firms try to find the best solution to meet their needs. In this article we provide a TrialWorks review, and explore just one option for law firms to manage their cases and their practice.

Law firms with a heavy focus on litigation need the ability to do more than keep up with bookkeeping and updating time. They need docketing, access to trial notebooks, the ability to keep up with negotiations, and more. Not just any practice management software will do. TrialWorks is a practice management software that provides features designed specifically for litigation-based practices. In our TrialWorks review, you’ll learn more about the program, its key features for law firms like yours, what we really like about the program, and we’ll give you our verdict. Our goal is to provide you with enough information to help you as you find the right practice management option for your office.

TrialWorks Overview

We’ll begin our TrialWorks review with a scan from 100,000 feet. TrialWorks is a case management program that caters specifically to the needs of litigation-focused law firms. It can be hosted on-premise (on your own in-house server)or in a private cloud.

TrialWorks was actually created by experienced trial attorneys who needed something that would better meet their needs, specifically focusing on litigation and managing the details of each case. Although it is now owned by the same parent company that owns Needles, the program itself has been in existence (as well as frequently updated to add and improve features) for more than 20 years. It provides trial lawyers with case management features they need and includes seriously impressive litigation-specific features. However, TrialWorks is not an accounting or bookkeeping program (the good news is that this program integrates with many of the greats relied on by law firms).

Related: Needles Case Management – An Uptime Legal Review

Key Features

Next up in our TrialWorks review, we’ll cover some of the key features, as well as functions that really differentiate TrialWorks from other, more traditional Practice Management software.

• Secure SMS messaging between you and your clients.
• Easy client intake.
• Centralized calendaring and docketing that can be set-up to follow the rules in your jurisdiction.
• The ability to track emails using their Microsoft Outlook plug-in.
• The ability to track statute of limitations.
• It can be used to create and access your trial notebook.
• When hosted on a private cloud, trial lawyers can access TrialWorks from any location as long as they have an Internet connection.
• TrialWorks can be used to track negotiations.
• Trial lawyers can track their expenses while they’re on the go.
• No servers to buy and manage.
• No outside IT consultants or costs necessary.
• No backups or security to manage.
• Expert hosting and support for TrialWorks
• All of your applications, documents and email—in one place.
• Work anywhere via a virtual desktop.

What We Like about TrialWorks

• It’s designed with litigation-focused law firms in mind. From docketing to trial notebook creation to tracking negotiations, TrialWorks was designed specifically for litigation practices. No more using multiple programs or using a shared Google calendar. TrialWorks can help you get and stay organized.
• Its ability to integrate with leading providers. TrialWorks integrates with MediConnect and XeBee for medical records. It can also integrate with Captorra and Legal Intake Professionals for client intake. Cost recovery integrations include Stamps.com, Walz Certified Mail, Copitrak, and Equitrac. Accounting integration options include QuickBooks, Tabs3, PCLaw, TimeSlips, Juris, Rippe & Kingston, PerfectLaw, and BusinessWorks. Calendaring integration exists for eLaw, CompuLaw Rules, and Law Tool Box. Both eFax and Docusign can also be integrated with TrialWorks.
• Our Place or Yours. As we mentioned, TrialWorks can be run on your own, onsite servers (if owning servers is your thing.) If not, private cloud platforms such as Uptime Practice will host your TrialWorks, your other applications, your documents, files email and more in a single, central platform.

The Uptime Verdict

TrialWorks is a fantastic product boasting incredible features that are designed for use by law firms that focus on litigation. We recommend it to any trial law firm looking for more portability, centralized docketing that complies with state rules, and who basically wants just one program to track everything related to litigation. It integrates with some of the most popular bookkeeping and medical records providers relied on by the legal industry.

You can learn more about TrialWorks at trialworks.com.

Better in the Cloud

Although TrialWorks can work on-premise, it provides you with more portability, better privacy, better support, and better data security if it is hosted from a private cloud. Moving to a private cloud means:

But be careful: Not all private clouds are created equal. Cloud hosting is a bit of a Wild West at the moment, with plenty of fly-by-night providers (unfortunately). Be sure to do your homework.

Related: 25 Things to Ask Your Legal Cloud Provider