The Lawmatics Blog

Lawmatics is thrilled to kick off the new year with a trio of exciting features to elevate your practice. Let's dive into the heart of our latest release, where innovation meets efficiency.

Trigger Automations based on appointment adjustments

No-shows and cancelations happen — it’s inevitable. Lawmatics can now trigger automations in response to these appointment disruptions. This ensures that your client interactions remain seamless, even when plans shift. Updating the matter’s status, assigning a task to a staff member, or sending a new booking form to the client has never been easier thanks to this new automation trigger.

Learn more here.

Create custom no show/cancelation emails

To aid you in reaching out about appointment changes, Lawmatics now has built-in email templates to help you touch base with clients and prospects in instances of no shows and cancelations. Whether you adapt the templates into one-off emails you send manually or incorporate them into an Automation, these emails tailor your communication to any change of plans.

Read more about this feature.

Effortless file sync with OneDrive integration

Lawmatics now seamlessly integrates with OneDrive, providing you with the power to sync files between Lawmatics and Microsoft’s cloud file hosting service. With this two-way sync, the two platforms work together to keep critical folders and files up-to-date in both platforms. This integration guarantees that your legal documents and resources are always at your fingertips, enhancing collaboration and accessibility.

Please contact support if you would like OneDrive turned on for your account.As always, we love your feedback and encourage you to reach out with any questions or suggestions. Thank you for being a valued member of our community. Together, we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible for law firms.Sign in or sign up to get started with Lawmatics today.

In a competitive legal marketplace, it’s imperative for attorneys to find the most time-efficient way to get real value when networking. The saying used to be, “It’s all about who you know.” Today, it’s about how you leverage those you know.In this webinar, Lawmatics Co-Founder and CEO Matt Spiegel is joined by Steve Fretzin, a four-time author, host of the Be That Lawyer podcast, and business coach with over 20 years of experience working on legal business development for lawyers. Together they share how to network your way to increased profitability.

Time stamps of key takeaways

0:00 — Introductions

If you’ve never met Matt or Steve before, this is your chance! Get to know a little about the pair, including an overview of their backgrounds and even their current favorite podcasts.

9:26 — Better time management

Time management is a combination of personal habits and business philosophy. Steve has some resources and recommendations for strengthening both. It all starts with getting organized and establishing your priorities.

17:51 — Creating a sticky infomercial

No, you don’t actually have to film an infomercial. This is about developing a strong personal brand, one that includes an effective elevator pitch for your services. In this part, Steve and Matt break down the keys to developing a quick explanation of your ‘what’ and ‘why’ that sticks with your audience.

35:00 — Identifying your best networking targets

Your networking targets can likely be described in three groups: prospective clients, strategic (referral) partners, and centers of influence. Once you figure out your target audience for each of these groups, you’ll need to identify the best channels and opportunities to access those targets. Here, Steve has some tips for how to build an effective strategic network.

43:22 — Networking with purpose

Simply reaching your target audience isn’t enough. Building relationships requires you to be proactive in order to sustain momentum. In this part, Steve has some recommendations for how to bring structure to your networking meetings so that they’re productive for both you and your partner.

49:46 — Leveraging the low-hanging fruit to drive new business

When it comes to referrals, you have to both identify whether the referral is a good fit and bring a personal touch. That’s why introductions are everything. A structured introduction allows you to bring the best of both worlds in an efficient and effective way. Check out this part for one essential question Steve uses to quickly qualify referrals and potential clients.

55:48 — Q&A

Stick around as Matt and Steve field audience questions about network scripting, best practices for employing your infomercial, how to politely decline requests, and more.

Webinar slide deck

Advances in legal software are rapidly transforming the future of legal technology. Solutions leveraging automation, AI, and cloud platforms are reshaping law practices of all sizes. But for small and mid-size firms, the most transformative innovations are tools that directly strengthen client relationships, service quality, and firm capabilities.Small law firms occupy a unique position where owners must balance legal practice and business ownership. Integrating the right technology promises to augment both roles by improving efficiency, insight, and competitive differentiation. As technology permeates the legal field, small firms' nimbleness could become an advantage in actively adapting to changing client expectations faster than larger rivals.New solutions democratize sophisticated capabilities, leveling the playing field. Lean small firms can deliver elite responsiveness and convenience by carefully integrating customer-focused technologies designed for legal teams.

Technology in law firms: a shifting landscape

Small law firms actively invested in technology integration to streamline operations, strengthen security, and satisfy rising client service expectations, according to The 2023 State of U.S. Small Law Firms Report. The report confirms that over 40% of small practices have recently adopted new solutions, with law-specific software and agile cloud platforms representing top focus areas and investment in the coming year.As law firms accelerate tech investments, top solutions driving transformation include:

1Workflow automation: boosting productivity

Streamlining repetitive tasks from intake to billing via automation allows professionals to focus on high-value work. Reducing administrative workflows has been a major priority for law firms in the last few years, but there is still an opportunity to review billing processes. According to the ABA, only 52% of solo attorneys use time and billing software, and small firms aren't much better, with 66% leaning into the ease of a billing workflow.

2AI-enabled technology: promise amid uncertainty

Fewer than 15% of small firm lawyers view rapidly developing AI as an imminent threat to traditional legal roles. Many remain open, even cautiously optimistic, about AI’s potential for strengthening firms' expertise offerings and efficiency over time. As initial legal AI tools emerge focused on functions like contract analytics and workflow support, nearly 40% envision meaningful process automation opportunities – though uncertainty persists over how quickly evolving AI will transform daily operations.

3Cloud-based practice management: collaboration and integration

With robust cloud platform adoption facilitating remote work flexibility and information sharing - relied upon by 84% of solos and 74% of mid-sized firms - continued security-focused infrastructure investments are critical amid digitizing client interactions and data access expectations.

4CRM: strengthening client relationships

CRM technology enables systematically tracking interactions and mining institutional knowledge to uncover client insights and opportunities – potentially transformative capabilities, especially among relationship-driven small practices. However, CRM adoption reaches just 39% among small firms and dips below 25% for many solo and mid-sized practices, signaling a largely untapped growth avenue.

5Client portals: convenience and collaboration

Despite widespread availability, only 17% of solos and 25% of small firm practitioners provide client portal access for convenient document sharing and real-time support. Closing this gap could represent a substantial opportunity to satisfy rising client expectations of 24/7 digital access and mirror commercial conveniences available in other sectors (e.g., medical).

What is the most used legal technology?

According to the 2022 ABA Solo and Small Firm Tech Report, the most widely adopted areas of legal technology are practice management and conflict-checking solutions. The data shows that 45-46% of these smaller practices have implemented technology in these areas, indicating that streamlining workflows and efficiency are top priorities.

How technology is transforming the legal field

Increasingly, law firms are embracing technology to improve efficiency and service quality. The strategic adoption of legal tech is changing the legal field by automating routine tasks, providing data-driven insights, and enhancing client experience.

1Driving efficiency gains

Solutions like document automation, eSignature, and contract lifecycle management streamline repetitive workflows. By leveraging these tools to work smarter, firms gain productivity and reduce overhead. The operational efficiency gains let professionals concentrate on higher-value complex tasks.

2Enhancing decision-making

Advanced analytics utilize AI and vast data sets to uncover insights, patterns, and predictions to inform strategy better. Analytics assist with tasks ranging from case strategy to pricing optimization to identifying client issues faster. Data-empowered decisions create a competitive advantage.

3Optimizing client service

Client portals, smart intake forms, and customer relationship management platforms provide superior experience and responsiveness. By centralizing client communication and data, firms gain a 360-degree client view - enabling personalization and anticipating needs. The focus shifts to continuous client collaboration.

4Attracting top talent

Cutting-edge systems indicate forward-thinking, innovation-focused workplaces that align with in-demand skill sets. Leveraging the latest solutions shows commitment to optimizing workflows and providing a technology-powered competitive edge. This helps attract top candidates and satisfies the expectations of tech-native employees.As this transformation accelerates, the impact of technology on law will only grow - rapidly changing traditional law practice methods. Firms must actively adapt through strategic adoption to keep pace.

What are the legal technology trends in 2024?

Key law firm technology trends in 2024 included further automation, increasing adoption and integration of analytics and AI, and a growing focus on interfaces tailored for legal work instead of generic business tools.Solutions like Lawmatics focus on streamlining client intake, centralizing communication, and enhancing customer experiences - capabilities once siloed in costly enterprise practice management systems.With the right foundation, forward-looking adoption also future-proofs smaller firms to capitalize on coming AI advances. As this legal transformation continues gaining speed, harnessing select innovations can cement sustainable advantages.Discover how Lawmatics can catalyze your firm's growth and efficiency. Request a demo today.

2023 has been a huge year here at Lawmatics! We continued to break ground on legal innovation, added even more features to the most robust made-for-legal CRM on the market, and teamed up with some of our friends across the legal world to make managing your business easier.If you haven’t been following us all year, or if you just need a refresher on all that we’ve been up to, here’s our recap of 2023.

We launched game-changing features

This year we unveiled some major milestones in making our platform even easier to use. Some of our biggest developments include:

Revamped user experience

Simple yet revolutionary, our updated UX includes the ability to create assets and objects from the screen where you want to use them. No more clicking through different menus just to find your way back again. Make your vision come to life with just one click.

A helping hand to create stronger emails

Our award-winning artificial intelligence email-drafting assistant eliminates the blank page problem. LM[AI] takes you straight from brainstorming to editing, helping you get through your marketing content and correspondence even faster.

Simplified client communication

The new Lawmatics Message Center consolidates much of your correspondence with clients. View, filter, sort, and send SMS and Client Portal messages all from one organized hub.This just scratches the surface of all we’ve added to the CRM this year. We overhauled Tasks, introduced a whole new way to manage your events and appointments, optimized conflict checking, and more. Want a full debrief on our releases this year? Check out our recent Deep Dive webinar where we recap the highlights.

Started new partnerships

We connected with so many inspiring people from both the legal and tech worlds this year. With so many brilliant minds in our community, we love putting our heads together to improve the business of law and increase access to justice. From engineering integrations to promoting social good, here are some highlights.

Build more robust integrations with Zapier

Simplify data management by syncing Companies, as well as Contacts and Matters, to apps through Zapier. Even if we don’t have a direct integration with a platform of your choice, we still do everything we can to keep your data consistent and your process uniform.You can check out our full inventory of integrations here.

A visit from The Innocence Center

Every now and then we bring partners into our San Diego office to help us discover more of the world around us. One of our favorite visits this year was from our friends at The Innocence Center, whose mission is to free innocent people from prison, educate the public about the causes of wrongful incarceration, and assist the exonerated with reintegration into society. You can learn more about their important work here.

ABA Member Discount Program

In 2023 members of the American Bar Association became eligible for a lifetime discount of Lawmatics. If you haven’t signed up for Lawmatics already, you can learn more here.

Made headlines

We felt the love in 2023 – from our customers, partners, and beyond. Here are just a few of our favorite items from the front pages this year.

Lawmatics Wins a Sammy—2023 Sales and Marketing Innovation Technology of the Year

The #1 legal CRM was named Product of the Year by Business Intelligence Group at the 2023 Sales and Marketing Technology Awards.

LM[AI] wins LegalTech Breakthrough Award for AI Innovation of the Year

Adding AI to our platform wasn’t about having shiny bells and whistles just because they’re shiny. It was about providing a relevant, intuitive, and ethical tool to make the business of law simpler – which is why it won a LegalTech Breakthrough Award.

Lawmatics Customer Success Team Wins Bronze Stevie Award

Congrats to our tireless customer support and onboarding Lawmaticians for this recognition of their hard work and dedication to excellence!

Watched you thrive

Your success is our success. Our mission is to create a platform that empowers you to break free of busywork and focus on what matters most – your clients.We crunched the numbers to see just how much of the dredge work we’ve eliminated for you this year. As a collective, Lawmatics users achieved:

7,968,456Automation targets

1,913,772Matters created

5,373,905Files uploaded

441,327Appointments created

235,501Clients converted

235,501Clients converted

And popped up in some cool places

We travel throughout the U.S. each year to share our love for automation and the new tech age (and get our fill of karaoke!). Here are some of our favorite adventures from the year:

ClioCon 2023

ABA TECHSHOW

Beach cleanup

Susan G. Koeman MORE THAN PINK Walk

And in the end…

To close out our whirlwind 2023, we just wanted to say…thanks. Thank you for the work you do, for choosing to support Lawmatics, and for believing in a brighter, smarter future for the practice of law.If you haven’t tried Lawmatics yet, book a demo today. Do yourself a favor and discover how we can help you streamline operations, impress clients, and win more business. Let’s start 2024 on a strong note.

As the world continues to undergo rapid technological advancements, the legal industry has not been left behind (although some lawyers may wish it was). With emerging new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, many people have started considering what legal software might mean for the legal profession’s future.Most lawyers recognize the productivity and efficiency gains brought about by legal technology. To successfully practice law today, they need practical lawyering skills and technological savvy. However, Bloomberg Law’s Spring 2023 Law School Preparedness Survey, which included 936 practicing attorneys, revealed some interesting insights. Time management, professional writing, client communications, and interactions, as well as issue spotting and analysis, are highly valued skills for new attorneys. Surprisingly, the survey found that legal tech, data literacy, and legal operations don't enjoy the same level of recognition and importance."

Perhaps these established attorneys assume that law students and newly-minted lawyers learn what they need to know about tech in law school, but this is not typically the case. Only eight percent of second and third-year law students surveyed by Bloomberg reported taking a legal tech class.While it might seem reasonable to think that today’s lawyers correspond with each other through two-way messaging software, use predictive analytics to drive their decisions, and handle their cases with client relationship management (CRM) systems, the reality is often very different. In some settings, lawyers still work the same way they have for decades—with paper calendars, legal pads, and Post-It notes.Despite the low-tech reality, most lawyers recognize the need for change. Nearly 90% of the respondents to Bloomberg Law’s 2022 Legal Ops + Tech Survey said that “legal tech is important to meeting client demands and improving legal services.” Legal technology and innovation are revolutionizing the practice of law and reshaping the future of the legal profession by allowing firms to improve operations, enhance client service, maximize budgets, and help ensure a profitable outlook.

Is legal technology the future?

Yes, legal technology has already transformed the field and continues to grow as more and more adopt these toolsWhy is legal tech growing? In addition to promoting greater efficiency and productivity, legal technology is also driving an industry-wide shift towards more flexible and convenient legal service delivery, which increases access to justice and benefits all parties involved. Some key trends and developments in the legal tech industry include:

1Automation and AI

Legal tech companies increasingly incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to streamline repetitive tasks, such as document review, contract analysis, and legal research.

2eDiscovery

Electronic discovery (eDiscovery) tools continue to evolve, enabling legal professionals to manage large volumes of electronic data more efficiently during investigations and the discovery phase of litigation.

3Online legal services

The rise of online legal service platforms provides tools for creating legal documents, accessing legal advice, and even dispute resolution.

4Blockchain

Blockchain technology can enhance security and transparency in legal processes, including smart contracts and document authentication.

5Cybersecurity and data privacy

Due to the sensitive nature of legal information, the legal tech sector is increasingly focused on cybersecurity and data privacy.

6Collaboration tools

Legal professionals are adopting cloud-based solutions and collaborative tools to enhance communication and workflow efficiency among legal teams.

7Regulatory compliance

Legal tech addresses the growing complexity of regulatory compliance by offering solutions that help businesses stay updated and compliant with evolving requirements.

8Legal analytics

Data analytics in the legal field provides insights into case outcomes, litigation trends, and legal strategy optimization.The legal tech industry is experiencing significant growth and innovation, and Gartner forecasts that 12 percent of in-house legal budgets will be dedicated to legal tech by 2025.

What technology do lawyers use?

Successful lawyers use technology to work more efficiently and securely in an increasingly remote workplace. Here are some common examples of legal technology software used by today’s lawyers:

• Practice management platforms. Systems like Practice Panther offer robust tools designed to make managing and billing cases faster and easier.
• Software as a Service (SaaS). Software-as-a-Service programs like Microsoft 365 provide tools like Word, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, and more.
• Word processors. Google Docs, a word processor similar to Microsoft Word, is a good option for attorneys whose work requires collaboration.
• Messaging apps. Platforms like Kenect allow users to directly sync contacts into the system, view a log of text conversations in real-time, and trigger messages based on case status.
• Online payment technology. Lawyers utilize software solutions like LawPay to issue invoices electronically and facilitate online payments.
• Marketing software. Pre-screening marketing software like Lawbrokr standardizes how law firms screen incoming traffic and qualify new leads.
• Video conferencing platforms. Attorneys who want click-to-dial functionality and one-click video conferencing capabilities favor all-in-one platforms like RingCentral for voice and video meetings, team messaging, and collaboration.
• Electronic signature systems. Electronic signature (eSignature) platforms like DocuSign make signing documents faster, easier, and more secure for lawyers and clients.
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. VoIP platforms like Corvum use an internet connection to offer texting and calling for attorneys in various practice areas and integrate with Clio practice management software.

Lawmatics integrates with these and other popular legal tech applications currently used by many firms. These legal software integrations allow lawyers to automate the repetitive tasks between apps and build a best-of-breed tech stack.

What are the new technologies in the legal field?

The global pandemic required justice systems to turn to technology to function. This transition enabled continued access to justice and required lawyers to adopt technology and embrace emerging technologies in the legal world. Some legal technology trends in 2023 include:

1Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)

ODR platforms enable lawyers to resolve disputes online without in-person meetings or court appearances to save time and money.

2Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

VR and AR technologies enhance legal education and training and provide clients with virtual experiences in areas like real estate and construction law.

3National Language Processing (NLP)

Automating speech or text via software allows legal professionals to gain the insight and scalability required to move quickly through large amounts of documents and data.

4Machine Learning (ML)

Initially used primarily for billing and invoicing, ML is now used to analyze vast quantities of court data to determine the next steps.

5Generative AI

Generative AI is a tool that is still in its infancy, and consequently, the more we learn, the more there is to understand. While Traditional AI aims to perform specific tasks based on predefined rules and patterns, Generative AI strives to create new data resembling human-created content.

Are lawyers likely to be replaced by AI?

No, not according to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS predicts that the number of jobs for attorneys will grow by 10 percent from 2021-2031, faster than the average for all professions. In addition, many experts say AI has the potential to complement and expedite a lawyer’s work rather than replace it.Although AI tools for lawyers have significantly transformed the legal industry and continue to do so, the role of lawyers involves complex decision-making, interpretation of nuanced information, and human-centric skills that technology cannot replicate. Here are some reasons why legal technology will not replace lawyers:

• Legal expertise: Lawyers provide more than just legal services; they offer expertise, judgment, and the ability to navigate complex situations that involve interpreting laws, understanding the context of cases, and making strategic decisions.
• Advocacy skills: Effective advocacy and negotiation require communication, persuasion, and strategy—human qualities not easily replicated by technology.
• Client relationships: Building relationships with clients, understanding their needs, and providing legal counsel require human skills that involve empathy, emotional intelligence, and understanding of individual circumstances.
• Ethical and moral considerations: Legal practice often involves ethical and moral decision-making. Lawyers reach conclusions that go beyond a strict interpretation of laws, considering the broader impact on society, fairness, and justice.
• Adaptability: The legal landscape is constantly evolving, with changes in laws, regulations, and societal norms. Lawyers are trained to adapt to these changes, stay informed, and apply their knowledge to new and unique situations.
• Complex problem-solving: Legal issues are often complex, involving multifaceted issues that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Lawyers are trained to analyze problems, synthesize information, and develop solutions to complicated legal challenges.

While legal technology, including artificial intelligence and automation, can assist lawyers by streamlining specific tasks, improving efficiency, and enhancing legal research, it functions more as a tool to augment and support the work of lawyers rather than replace them.

How will technology change in the future for lawyers?

The legal profession has always been constantly evolving and adapting to societal changes. From the introduction of computers in the workplace to the rise of the internet, social media, and remote work, lawyers have had to adjust to new technologies to remain relevant. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that for lawyers, the future will involve adapting to new technologies.Because of AI and machine learning, legal research has become more efficient and accurate, meaning that lawyers can now access vast amounts of legal data in a shorter period and with greater accuracy than ever before. However, this does not mean that lawyers will become obsolete; instead, lawyers must become more skilled in using these tools to ensure they provide accurate information. For example, in May 2023, a New York judge imposed $5,000 fines on two attorneys who used fake citations and legal opinions retrieved on the AI website ChatGPT to help write court filings for an aviation injury claim.Legal technology also changes the legal profession by automating manual tasks with AI-powered software. Automation saves time and reduces the risk of human error, but it is not sophisticated enough to replace lawyers. Machines cannot replicate the interpretation of human language and the application of legal knowledge and expertise that human lawyers provide.Technology is also having a positive impact on the way that lawyers interact with clients. With the increased use of video conferencing and other online tools, lawyers can now offer their services to clients regardless of their location, making legal services accessible and affordable to those who may not have been able to obtain them.

Do lawyers need technology?

Yes, technology has become an integral part of the legal profession. Law firms embracing technology increasingly rely on various tools to improve their efficiency, productivity, and delivery of legal services. Here are some of the reasons why lawyers need technology:

• Greater efficiency: Legal technology can automate tasks that consume much of a lawyer’s time, such as document review, legal research, and timekeeping. Document management software, legal research databases, and e-discovery software can automate routine tasks to allow lawyers to focus on more complex legal work, helping firms to work more efficiently and increase billable hours.
• Enhanced customer service: Clients expect their lawyers to provide a modern and efficient experience. Client satisfaction and loyalty often increase when lawyers adopt legal technology to offer faster, more accurate, and cost-effective legal services.
• Competitive advantage: Law firms that invest in legal technology often outdo their competitors in terms of productivity, responsiveness, and innovation to attract and retain clients and increase their market share.
• Cost savings: Technology investments may require an upfront cost, but they often result in significant cost savings over the long term. For example, AI-powered legal research tools can decrease the time and expense that conventional research techniques require.
• Improved security: Legal technology employs robust security measures, including multi-factor authentication, encryption, and intrusion detection systems to combat cyber threats.
• Increased compliance: Legal technology can help lawyers comply with regulatory requirements by providing the best tools for lawyers to manage and track legal documents, deadlines, and other important information.

At a time when law firms face increased pressure to transform their business models, digital transformation in the legal industry enables them to be more efficient and innovative, redefine the value that lawyers provide, and help diminish barriers that keep many from accessing legal services.

Step into the future of the legal profession in the digital era with Lawmatics

Lawmatics is the #1 automation platform for law firms, offering legal client intake, CRM, marketing automation, billing, and much more, all in one easy-to-use software system.

“

“Lawmatics is a well-designed and considered CRM, a rarity in legal tech. In my experience, most legal tech is outdated and cumbersome—so Lawmatics really stands out. It’s also surprisingly customizable, allowing you to add hundreds of custom fields with different types. Their automation builder is colorful and simple to use, allowing you to automate almost anything you'd need to do by hand in the tool. As a technologist who helps companies set up and use tools like this, I’m very impressed.”

— Giovanni S.

Technology is changing the legal field. With Lawmatics, law firms streamline their operations, engage and nurture clients, and grow their practices. To learn more about how our cutting-edge platform will prepare your firm for the future in a constantly evolving legal industry, get a demo today.

As 2023 comes to a close, let’s take a look back on some of the top game-changing tools and functionalities released in Lawmatics this year.Designed to push your practice towards higher profits and improved efficiency, these favorite features have been sourced directly from legal professionals of thriving firms with a broad spectrum of practice areas.

1An intuitive user experience

Create From Within was a complete reinvention of our UX (user experience). This revolutionary feature gives users the ability to create any asset or object in Lawmatics from the very place that you intend to use it. It’s just one example of this year’s focus on making Lawmatics easier to build AND use in the day-to-day.

Need to send a new email to Contacts? Now you can create the email right from within the email select menu. Have a new Contact that needs to be added as a relationship to a Matter? Now you’re able to create that Contact right from the Add New Relationship section of a Matter. Anything and everything that you build and add to Lawmatics can be created without navigating to another screen!

2Create better emails with LM[AI]

Earlier this year, we made a groundbreaking announcement: the launch of LM[AI], our very own artificial intelligence generative text tool. With LM[AI], drafting client emails has never been easier — you can do it in seconds. Simply click on the AI button, provide a prompt, and watch as LM[AI] composes a full-length email, complete with merge fields.

You have full control over the generated text, as you can manually edit it to your liking. Additionally, you can instruct LM[AI] to make edits itself, whether it's adjusting the tone to be friendlier or more formal, or rephrasing the content. From nurturing leads to check-ins and promotions, LM[AI] will ensure your email campaigns are engaging and captivating.Click here to learn more about LM[AI] and why it won the LegalTech Breakthrough Award for AI Innovation of the Year.

Tasks

3Manage your Tasks with kanban board

This year we gave the Tasks dashboard the same pipeline visualization you know and love. You can now drag and drop Tasks across your sequence of statuses in the kanban view. With the help of custom Task statuses, this feature helps to keep your Tasks more organized than ever.

Learn more about custom task statuses here.

4Save time with Recurring Tasks

Stay on top of your to-dos with this year’s new Recurring Task capabilities. Create a Task as you normally would – either by itself or within an Automation – then select a custom recurring schedule (monthly, weekly, every 3 days, etc.). When the first iteration of the Task is completed, the next Recurring Task will be created with the same name, description, subtasks, status, priority, and assignee.

5Stay better informed with Task mentions and comments

To ask questions, request extra information, or offer insight on a particular action item, you can now add comments to Tasks. Each comment is logged within the Task along with the name of the commenter, the date, and time for future reference. Want to leave a comment that pertains to a specific colleague? Simply use the @ sign to select any of your users to be tagged in the comment.

Read more about Task comments and mentions here.

6Increase specificity with advanced conditional logic

You can now take your data analysis to the next level by using advanced conditional logic to combine multiple criteria. Available in reports, Automations, documents, and more, you can now layer both “and” and “or” conditions to uncover hidden insights, track trends, and make data-informed decisions. Whether you're running campaigns or segmenting clients, this feature gives you unparalleled control.

Click here to learn more about advanced conditional logic.

7Clean up your CRM by merging Matters

This year, Lawmatics made it easier than ever to deal with the inevitable duplicate entries in your CRM. If at any point you end up with a duplicate Matter, Contact, or Company you can simply click the Merge button on the to combine two entries. Any conflicting fields can be reconciled with the option to overwrite a duplicate Matter’s data.

Driven by user requests, this new feature keeps your pipeline accurate and tidy. Click here to learn more.

Appointments

8Automate efficiently with built-in appointment confirmation

Scheduling and confirming consultations is an essential part of your intake process. While you may be accustomed to using an Automation to confirm or remind clients of their appointments, this year we made this process even easier by adding Confirmations messages as a default function — no need to build a dedicated Automation. Navigate to the Appointments section of the Settings menu and you’ll have the option to create a Custom Email and/or SMS template for confirming each of your various appointment types. This confirmation will be sent automatically at the time the appointment is scheduled.

Learn more about appointments in Lawmatics.

9Schedule meetings around your host availability

Automatic scheduling continues to be a fan-favorite feature among Lawmatics users. This latest update gives you availability options when booking for multiple hosts. Use the “All” option when both hosts must be available for the meeting, or use the “Any” option to showcase the soonest individual availability among the multiple hosts. You will find this option on your booking forms as well as custom forms.

Click here to read up on booking forms.

10Bring people together with event management

So many customers have told us they attract new business by hosting webinars, seminars, luncheons, and other events to engage potential clients. We heard you loud and clear – that’s why we’re still so excited for this year’s event management feature.

With event management, users can set up different event types (like webinars or luncheons), easily create and promote an event, and collect registrants. We’ve added a setting for built-in confirmation and reminder emails, and you’ll find a new entry condition to Automations to trigger a custom workflow when someone registers for your event. No matter how your firm brings people together, you can do it all in Lawmatics.Learn more about using this exciting new feature here.

Messaging Updates

11Simplify client communication with the Message Center

This year we said hello to the Lawmatics Message Center, your all-in-one dashboard for tracking and managing client communication. Stay on top of your inbox with centralized client messages — spanning texts and Client Portal interactions — in a single organized hub. You can filter and sort messages, and even set permission levels for which messages your staff can view. With this powerful feature, staying connected to your clients is hassle-free.

Learn how to get started with the Message Center.

12Tailor your texting with multiple SMS numbers

Your firm can now send text messages using multiple phone numbers via Lawmatics. If your firm has a presence in multiple geographical areas, this feature ensures you can reach out to clients with an area code that feels local, trustworthy, and familiar. To activate this feature, simply email us at support@lawmatics.com and let us know what area code(s) you would like to add.* Once enabled, you can start connecting with each client a bit closer to home.

This release is accompanied by a new Firm SMS Number field, allowing you to manually select which phone number to use for each contact. Learn more here.*Note: Additional fees apply.

13Reply to client emails without disrupting workflow

We live to make your day-to-day tasks easier. This year’s email Quick Reply feature does just that. When viewing emails logged on a Contact or Matter’s activity timeline, this new button allows you to write and send a quick response without disrupting your workflow. Emails generated from this button will go right to your client as part of the existing email thread.**

**Note: In order to use this feature you must have your Mail Sync set up and the Send from Outbox option enabled.

14Improve your outreach strategy with email validation

Earlier this year we released our new email validation feature, allowing you to validate a new contact’s email address prior to sending them anything. This functionality gives you the opportunity to correct any grammatical errors while ensuring contacts don’t miss out on any important emails from your firm. Additionally, we’ve incorporated an option for all email Automation actions, allowing you to decide whether an invalid email address should fail the Automation or be skipped over. Just choose Skip if Target has Invalid Email when building the Automation if you do not wish for an invalid email to fail the Automation.

Learn more about sending emails via Lawmatics here.

Conflict Checking

15Streamline conflict checking with flexible terms

We understand that exact matches are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to conflict identification. That's why our enhanced system now closely examines flexible search term matches as well as Contact relationships on Matters, ensuring that you have a holistic view of potential conflicts. Seamlessly navigate the complexities of your clients' networks, uncover connections, and make informed decisions that safeguard your firm's reputation and ethics. In 2023 we said goodbye to missed connections and hello to a more comprehensive approach to identify potential conflicts that may have been previously overlooked.

16Refine conflict checks with multiple search terms

After introducing flexible search terms in our August release, we also made your conflict check search even more dynamic and inclusive with multiple search terms. Users can now use this feature to create an ‘And’ or ‘Or’ relationship between multiple terms. This will include more relevant data in your search by significantly broadening your conflict check results.

Learn how to conduct more thorough conflict checks here.

17Fine-tune your sales cycle by tracking time in stage

Tracking time isn’t just for billing — it’s instrumental in unlocking the power of data-informed decision making. This year’s new Time in Stage feature allows you to automatically log the duration of time each of your leads spends in each stage of your firm’s Pipeline(s). With this new capability, you can easily identify bottlenecks or delays in your sales cycle. Armed with these insights, you’ll be able to fine-tune your processes and make informed changes that simplify your client journey, ultimately accelerating conversions.

Click here to learn how to start tracking time in a stage.

18New display options for true/false custom fields

Custom fields have always been a staple of the Lawmatics CRM, so why not introduce further customization options? With this feature you can now select from three different display options for your true/false fields: toggle (previously the only option), a checkbox, or a picklist displaying options of “Yes” and “No”. Select the option that is best suited for each custom field to give your clients the best possible experience when filling out your intake forms.

We also introduced the option for true/false fields to be designated as either Required or Required To Be True. This gives you the flexibility to enforce the selection of a ‘true’ or ‘false’ answer - particularly when a ‘false’ response would result in disqualifying a potential lead.

Click here to learn more about custom fields.

19Unlock internal visibility with User Activity Timelines

Earlier this year we met the User Activity Timeline, a dynamic tool that brings enhanced oversight and collaboration to your law firm. With this exciting addition, administrators can access a comprehensive view of each user’s activities, presented in a timeline format. From Matter updates to Task completions, client interactions to internal collaborations, this feature empowers administrators to stay informed and ensure optimal productivity across the board.

Learn how to use the User Activity Timeline here.

20Build more robust integrations with Zapier

This year we added several new Lawmatics Zapier App enhancements to help you further redefine your workflows. Previously, users were limited to syncing Contacts and Matters through Zapier. Now, we’ve enabled the syncing of Companies across applications. This update simplifies data management, ensuring uniformity and consistency throughout.

Access the Lawmatics Zapier App.

Conclusion

As we bid farewell to 2023, we thank you for reminiscing with us about all that the Lawmaticians have innovated for you throughout this year. We have spent countless hours talking to you, our passionate customer, and listening to your feedback.Each of these new tools and functionalities, meticulously crafted to propel your practice towards increased profitability and streamlined efficiency, has been a joy for us to create – and we hope a joy for your firm to use. As we conclude this year's journey, our team here at Lawmatics looks forward to setting our sights on another year of enriching the evolution of legal technology.