Timekeeping software for the legal professional: Eight essential features for lawyers

For most lawyers, timekeeping is not the biggest hobby. Yet tracking your time is critical to the success of your practice. That is why it is important to choose legal timekeeping software that includes these eight essential features. This will allow you to track your time in a way that really works for you.

Eight key features within timekeeping software for the legal profession

1. Timekeeping via an app

Clarity and simplicity are crucial elements for optimal use of a timekeeping system. Want to quickly search for previously written timelines and enter your time spent anywhere, anytime? With an app for detailed time recording, this becomes child's play. Whether you are sitting on the couch at home, in court or on the road: no phone call or email is forgotten. If you are not in the office, you can enter hours directly in the app or convert appointments from your calendar to hours when you get back to the office.

2. Personal selection of ways to write time

As a lawyer, how do you want to enter your time? It is important to use timekeeping software for the legal profession in which you have the choice of several ways to enter your time, namely via:

• Desktop;
• Mobile;

• Calendar;

• Timelines

This allows you to find a way that works for you and makes time entry much easier.

3. Set fixed fees and budgets

More and more firms are working with alternative rates such as fixed fees. Legalsense makes it easy to keep track of actual costs against the agreed price. Within modern timekeeping software, several alternative fee arrangements can be set up.

4. Modern design

Not entirely unimportant: make sure that you are working with a timekeeping application that is up to date in terms of design. In addition, it is essential that the tool is developed in such a way that the lawyer already subconsciously knows how it works. In addition to a clear design, intuitive use also plays a role.

5. Provide visibility into files

It is crucial that your software allows you to easily link the hours worked to the corresponding files. The most recent activity will always be displayed on the file. This gives you instant insight into your productivity and helps you see if everything has been entered correctly. You can also keep track of the ratio of billable to non-billable time.

6. Billing workflow

A billing workflow automates tasks and actions in your billing process so that your valuable time is quickly charged to your customers. You receive a notification when something is ready for you or your colleague. If your practice management software is also connected to accounting software such as Twinfield and Exact, you can quickly bill your time entered.

7. Automatic timer

An (automatic) timer keeps track of your activities. You can register this time directly in your timekeeping software. It is especially convenient to have multiple timers ready at the same time (for example, one timer per file). This way you can quickly enter time into your most recent files.

8. Linking with telephony

By linking your software to your phone system, you can link incoming and outgoing phone calls to time entries. The time you spend on calls is accurately tracked and can be recorded directly into the correct file.