Икоми утомилась необходимостью согласовывать свой темп с кем-то другим, поэтому была внутренне вымучена постоянными оглядками на Феанора и переживаниями. Когда она на пару минут осталась без спутника, вздохнула с облегчением. Её напрягал не Феанор, но совсем уж непривычное ощущение "Кто-то с тобой вместе". Впрочем, ему она этого не показала. Физически девушка перенесла переход до Теринсфорда неплохо, ведь она постоянно находилась в движении по лесу. Но вот они зашли в деревню... и её душевное равновесие приняло ещё один удар. Отчасти это можно было бы назвать ностальгией, только с неприятным оттенком. В детстве она была к такому приёму привычная. Полукровка глянула на спутника. Ведь он эльф. Должно быть, он не переносит людей... - подумалось ей. Странница досадливо сжала и разжала руку в перчатке. К полукровкам всегда отношение было презрительнее. Повернувшийся эльф натолкнулся на своевременно выставленный блок в виде понимающей улыбки.
- Как же вы хотели зайти незамеченным, если направлялись в таверну? Попробуем.
Икоми пошла вперёд, полушутливо шуганув широким жестом рук ребятню, как всегда делала раньше. Малышня с улюлюканьем рассыпалась по улице, о чужаках они тут же забыли. Девушка довольно хмыкнула и пошла достаточно быстро вперёд по направлению к трактиру. Я здесь не раз бывала, Феанор-то точно не знает, как к нему пройти. Тут она спохватилась. Получилось, что она шла впереди него. Отчего-то у одиночки появилось ощущение неправильности. Икоми остановилась, поворачиваясь к эльфу.
- Да, это по этой улице и направо, я вспомнила, - спокойно оправдывая своё поведение, доложилась полукровка.

Шаг замедлился ровно настолько, насколько понадобилось для свободной смены позиций. Икоми сохраняла поведение призрака: её ничто не принуждало к действию, не могло, но оно выполнялось ею как нечто естественное, свободное от внешних условий, отдельное от действий спутника. Тенью девушка задержалась в полушаге раз, неторопливо переступила с мыска на пятку, снова, скользнула немного позади и левее эльфа, делая полтора шага на каждые его два. Легче него, сочетающая всегда поспешную суетливость с замедленностью, Икоми просто шла в близком отстранении, мягко пружинистой поступью, привычно приподнимая себя на мысках. Она молчала, обводя взгляд кругом, вскользь цепляя им Феанора. Странно... - только это и мелькало задумчивым эхом в мыслях. Всю дорогу, двигаясь с ним вровень, полукровка пребывала в напряжённом до нервозности состоянии, а так... так стало спокойно, легко. Свободно даже. И в то же время... Двигаясь за спиной другого, выхватывая взглядом те участки окружающего мира, которые не видны уже ему, имея возможность в миг развернуться и встать спиной к спине с ним... что-то чувствовала полукровка незнакомое или давно истёртое в памяти... надёжность вполне приятной тяжести ответственности, быть может... добровольной ответственности, не принуждающей ни к чему извне. Перед входом жест Феанора показался страннице непонятной задержкой, одиночка растеряно моргнула, поднимая глаза, и, хотя после небольшой заминки, догадалась войти первой. И снова это удушье... Пальцы сжались, досада и сетование ушли в вибрацию от трения материала. Энергию эмоций полукровка приучилась направлять во что-то, излишки счастья не приносят никогда. Погасив всплеск, на секунду опаливший волосы блёклой рыжиной, Икоми наугад словила пальцами руку эльфа. Феанор... Мы останемся здесь ночевать. Вы хотите поесть внизу? - в мысленной речи она отразила настойчивое сомнение в благоприятности таких перспектив. Слишком ярко выраженные запахи пива и мяса били в нос, девушка не могла заставить себя дышать. Этакая внутренняя установка - не впускать неприязненное внутрь. Спёртый воздух, тусклое желтоватое освещение, гомон голосов и множества громких посторонних звуков подействовали на полу-эльфийку угнетающе, что почти сразу проявилось в головокружении и незначительной тошноте. Ей хотелось поскорее вынырнуть на свежий воздух. И это стремительно превращалось в навязчивую идею, свежий холодный глоток становился по-настоящему необходимым... По сути, он был не нужен, надо было всего лишь изолироваться от раздражителей, но Икоми нуждалась в нём настолько, что готова была заплакать. Сильный стресс повлёк за собой нервное перенапряжение. Одиночка держалась едва-едва, на одном "так надо" и воспоминании, всплывающем на пару секунд и исчезающем вновь - как это, делать вдох на прохладном ветерке.

Феанор отодвинул стул, стоял и чего-то ждал. Вот тут логика отказала одиночке. Зато спасла наблюдательность и мгновенное воспоминание выражения лица, что было у эльфа в дверях трактира. Не успевая обдумать наводку подсознания, она всё той же безмолвной тенью в пару шагов скользнула к стулу и опустилась на него, присев на край, не откидывая капюшона. Замерев на мгновение и не увидев в эльфе недоумения, Икоми выпустила сдержанный вздох облегчения, поняв, что госпожа интуиция снова провела её, слепую, по верному пути. Не такое уж это приятное чувство... Память продолжала исправно работать на неё, как и привычка обособленной жизни: на спутника она не ориентировалась, спокойно забыв о присутствии кого бы то ни было рядом с собой на некоторое время. Они были, и скиталица это знала, но были вокруг, не связанные с ней, иные и чужие существа, жизней которых она не ощущала... Потрясённое сознание выткало защитную вуаль, окутав себя естественным блоком, не абсолютным, но необходимо размывающим реальность... оно восстанавливалось в шёлковом коконе отстранённости. Не властная хозяйка потеряно осматривала стену у лестницы, проворачивая дважды меж двумя пальцами прибор после всякого кусочка пищи, отправленного в рот. Постепенно насытившись, полукровка поставила руку на локоть и начала покачивать кистью, шевеля пальцами, как если бы наигрывала на простенькой флейте, неумело и без чувства... впрочем, так и было в некотором смысле... успокаивая неудачливую обладательницу себя, сознание подняло на поверхность полузабытое тихое воспоминание... мамина флейта, впервые в подрагивающих пальцах девочки, почитавшей запретную для прикосновения вещь за сокровище, драгоценное и, как будто бы, желанное... и внезапно оказавшееся в её руках, неаккуратных, неосторожных, не умеющих беречь и самое дорогое... детских руках, слишком неумелых... Дула мама, сильно, но такими нежными и трепетными были звуки инструмента, что маленькой Мире не верилось... она зачарованно не отводила глаз от маминых губ, прильнувших к мундштуку, замеревших в светлой полуулыбке, а мамины тонкие нежные пальцы легонько передвигали маленькие пальчики девочки на верные отверстия... ласковые мамины глаза, лучистые и тёплые, солнечными зайчиками перелетали с лица дочери на её руки... лишь однажды, лишь на одну мелодию... тихое порхающее счастье, касаясь струн души её, теперь иной, всколыхнуло тоскующий стон, затихший в ночи из давно ушедших... Стон, безмолвный, прохладный, как роса рассвета после неё, искрясь, сорвался с не сомкнутых губ пьяняще ясной каплей и разбился осколками кристальной боли о край стола. Словно дальний звон, звучание слезы вернуло полу-эльфийку в жизнь. Сделав прерывистый вдох и сморгнув остывшие на ресницах слёзы, девушка поставила прибор на ручку, безвольно пошатала вокруг своей оси по неполной окружности и стремительным жестом уложила плашмя, прикрыв рукой на мгновение, и, поднимая руки, неторопливо сплела пальцы в качельки, на которые положила подбородок и рассеянным взглядом прошлась по Феанору от столешницы до макушки.
- Почему рассветы любимы больше ночей?

Феанор смолк. Икоми наклонила лицо вперёд, и капюшон медленно пополз на спину с тихим неровным шорохом, обнажая непредсказуемо проступающую в пепельных волосах сажную черноту, стекающую по беспорядочным локонам; губы полукровки упустили слабый вздох, и она заговорила бесцветным шёпотом:
- Ты принадлежишь ночи, а ночь принадлежит тебе, вы разделяете вместе любой шорох, всполох воздуха и любой аромат... забываешь себя и отдаёшься ей... - девушка небрежно повела подбородком, укладывая голову на прежнее место несколько набок, в мокрых глазах её, ласково сощуренных, плеснулась болезненная ясность, и новый, как и взгляд, голос произнёс сбивчиво и звонко, - Но внезапно небо прорезает рассвет и отсекает вас друг от друга... и ты испытываешь тот же шок, что и ребёнок в момент перерезания пуповины. Только он его испытывает подсознательно, интуитивно, а ты так же внезапно осознаёшь с ужасом, что забыл что-то в ней - в этой ночи, которая уже не вернётся... - внутри нечто свернулось колачиком, беззащитное и...крохотное, - Быть может вздох, быть может стон, быть может и улыбку, но ты уже никогда не узнаешь, есть ли среди сверкающих жизнью капель те, что ночь выплакала за тебя. Ведь роса - всего лишь слёзы ночи, которая ушла, затем чтобы никогда уже не повториться прежней... колыбель души... дитя вечности и забытья. Если отдавать слёзы кому, то не человеку, а времени: оно сохранит их, не забудет, но не вернёт ни за какую плату.
Бывшая Всадница выпустила долгий вздох, однажды сорвавшийся на полу-стон, и замерла. Прошло всего пару мгновений, её взгляд обрёл осмысленность, но некая потерянность выдавала состояние девушки. Она вспомнила, какой та ночь была. Вернулась в неё и прожила всё снова в течение нескольких минут, и теперь пыталась вернуться из странного кошмара по имени Прошлое, навещавшего её не раз, к инородному, абсолютно чужому, но въевшемуся в плоть и кровь Настоящему. На счастье ли, у неё вновь получилось. На душе стало чуточку легче, хотя сколько-нибудь ещё волнение будет спать тревожным, чутким сном, и одного слова или взгляда хватит для его полного пробуждения. Как ни смотри, Икоми неустойчивая личность, душа её падкая, а разум уступчив и чересчур гибок для формирования того необходимого внутреннего скелета, на котором держатся зрелые личности, потому при касании её сознания некто может ощутить эфемерность этого существа, витающего всегда между и не принадлежащего никогда к чему-либо одному. Но, приведя себя в надлежащее состояние, странница проявила малейшую благоразумность и твёрдо взглянула эльфу в глаза.
- Посмотрим, что с комнатами?

К скромному убранству комнаты девушка осталась равнодушна. Есть вещи, которые лучше не наделять значением, не замечать, позволяя им существовать вокруг себя, но не соприкасаться с тобой. Икоми удивилась такой мысли. Впрочем, такова философия общества, простых людей из тех, кто ночь за ночью останавливаются в этой комнате, проводят волшебное время суток в своих заботах и тревожных снах, а наутро это место и эта ночь исчезает из человека, но тот человек навсегда остаётся в них... Наверное, в этом и причина: слишком много лоскутков жизней, оставленных здесь, щекотали сейчас незащищённое барьером сознание девушки. Вот она, медаль о двух сторонах! Чем легче проникала Икоми в чужие сознания, тем глубже и незаметнее им удавалось всякий раз проникнуть в её. Непроизвольность действия чаще приносит его успешное завершение, ведь это свойство полностью обезоруживает. Полу-эльфийка неспешно подошла к столику и подобно куполу накрыла ладонью огонёк свечи, побуждая самую тёплую сущность в помещении взвиваться и опадать слабым шевелением пальцев. Униженный дух стихии понемногу закоптил ладонь. Одиночка хмыкнула и задумчиво провела по ней безымянным пальцем, губы приоткрылись в странной, хищноватой полу-усмешке.
- Смотри-ка... лишь огонёк свечи, а и ему неприятна роль марионетки человека, - нараспев произнесла девушка.
Постояв немного над свечой, странница повела плечами и переместилась на кровать. Когда Икоми присела на край, та скрипнула тихо и вполне терпимо, по сравнению с ожидаемым режущим ухо визгом рассохшихся досок. Похоже, эта таверна заслуживала снисходительного смирения с ночлегом в ней. Хотя по натуре своей девушка всегда являлась избирательной, и расположение её одинаково нелегко было завоевать как людям, так и незначительнейшим вещам, если в некоем создании были задатки для того, чтобы сойтись с причудницей характерами, это происходило столь стремительно, что более всего напоминало вспышку молнии и последующее внезапное озарение мира новым светом. Для вещей же, являющихся моментными и не задерживающимися в её жизни, Икоми было довольно не иметь ничего против, и она становилась благодушна, но отстранённа. Таких временно проходящих через жизнь людей девушка тоже относила к вещам, они нужны для чего-то ей, она нужна для чего-то им... Человек не может быть зачем. Зачем может быть только вещь, нужна зачем-то, чтобы для чего-то использовать. Человек может быть только необходим почему-то. Но такие люди... Девушка зажмурилась, подтягивая ноги на кровать, и вздохнула. Да, такие существа, которые необходимы, как воздух, существуют... но она отстранилась от них, словно от чужих. В мыслях начал возникать образ матери, по усыплённому дочернему чувству тоски и жажды ласки пробежала дрожь. Голос Феанора не дал ей впасть в оцепенение. Он чего-то коснулся в глуби, поверхностно, но ощутимо... Полукровка без усилия перешла в ответ без малейшего промедления:
- Понимаете, Феанор... Я ведь не от Империи скрылась. У меня нет страха перед Гальбаториксом, как не осталось страха перед Проклятыми после... того, чему свидетельницей мне довелось стать, - Икоми взглянула эльфу в глаза, её голос звучал уверенно и спокойно, не более и не менее, - Как духу невыносимы жизни обитателей его замка, так мне невыносимы жизни подобных мне, когда-то мне. Тем более, мать никогда не упоминала о своей жизни в Дю Вельденвардене и своей семье, полукровке не было бы смысла пытаться преступать ваши границы. Я не нуждалась в защите своей жизни - мёртвые не умирают. Хранить требовалось то, что некому сберечь.

Отсутствие страха - это всего лишь его отсутствие, оно не означает наличие храбрости. Понимал ли это Феанор, произнося слово "бесстрашие"? Скиталица не стала спрашивать его. Вместо этого, она впервые вслух высказала не сформированное ранее в слова знание.
- Раньше бывало и мне казалась в том проблема, но нет, - Икоми потеребила потеребила краешек простыни Я их не принимаю. Вы чужды мне. Иные. Но да, причина в крови отцовской; от матери я получила любовь и ласку, от отца - суть нрава человека.
Девушка подняла голову и смотрела на трепещющий огонёк. Это расслабляло и отводило от неприятного эмоционального сопровождения мыслей, и зелёные глаза полукровки постепенно прикрылись веками. С кем поговорить, да?.. Я никогда не разговаривала ни с кем, кроме... неважно... Обычно я слушаю... Она приоткрыла один глаз едва-едва так, что ресницы перекрыли картинку окружающего мира и преломляли тусклое марево света на таинственные кружочки, слабо очерченные прерывистой золотящейся окантовкой.
- Возможно, Ваша правда... Да, пожалуй, хочется.

Икоми слабо улыбнулась, немного досадливо, словно втайне ожидала таких слов.
- Принятие чего-либо - безусловно, залог понимания. Ваши слова имеют за собой правду, действительно, не понимаю ценности людей или эльфов как обществ. И никогда их не приму. Иначе, я перестану быть собой, в тот же миг...
Девушка глянула на окно, в небо. Серо. Печально... Она прикрыла глаза, еле заметно вздыхая. Атмосфера этого помещения, обыденной, рутинной, пустой и какой-то условно-муляжной повседневностью людской жизни всё ещё давили откуда-то снизу, из трактира, и вкруг, со всех сторон. Как если бы она опустилась на глубину, и толщи воды, едва движимые мощными пластами, сжимали её тело. Уже чувствовалось, как гудит голова, в висках ощущалась отчётливость пульсирования крови, подступало ощущение подавленности и изнурения. Соприкосновение с рутиной человеческого существования, хранимой отпечатками в памяти каждого объекта, каждой вещи, оказалось непосильным испытанием для полу-эльфийки. Проводив эльфа только символическим кивком, девушка с тишайшим стоном набок опустилась на кровать, замерев на секунду от стукнувшей по вискам боли и зажмурившись. Кое-как найдя в себе силы распрямить ноги и закинуть руки за голову, она утомлённо уставилась в неопределённую точку на потолке - грязном, в разводах, неровном да и вообще... с дырой ближе к окну: потолка как такового на этом участке не наблюдалось, даже попыток его воплощения, только сваи просматривались сквозь загустевающий к своду крыши сумрак чердака. Взгляд, помутневший от апатичного равнодушия к всему в душе обладательницы, блуждал меж теней, затерянных в подобных себе, отвлекая от нарастающего гудения в голове, уводя в дремоту или скорее обессиленный транс, которому сопротивляться уже не хватало воли... Девушка прикрыла глаза, полежала так какое-то время, почувствовав, как начинает дремать, и не противясь этому. Она не могла бы сказать, что продремала долго или мало. Этого почти хватило, чтобы подползающая вкрадчивой поступью боль и усталость ослабили раздражающие щупальца, высасывающие последние силы держать себя. Когда Икоми открыла глаза и посмотрела в окно, за ним уже стемнело... стемнело так, будто от заката прошло немало времени... А я и не заметила... - промелькнула в голове растерянная мысль, весьма забавляющая саму её свидетельницу. Забавно.. а как бы ты его заметила, если тебя здесь как бы не было в течение него? Одиночка покачнулась, садясь на постели, заправленной по факту, смятой и стянутой к краю в средней части кровати. Тут яснее ощутилась слабость, бегающая по телу маленькими липкими лапками - её слегка колотило и пошатывало, слегка-слегка, но всё же... Сон не был полноценным, а дремота - такое дело... тревожное и не снимающее тревожность реалий, лишь облегчающее их. Но полукровка была благодарна. Кому направить эту благодарность?.. вроде бы и некому... Поэтому она благодарила саму дремоту, возможность воспользоваться ей. Подойдя к окну, из которого поддувало вполне заметно, она в некотором замешательстве неспешно осмотрела его нехитрое устройство, ища наибезущербнейший способ открытия, после чего просто толкнула, откидывая в сторону створки.
Ветерок... Прохладный и свежий... На губах заиграла радостная улыбка. Икоми с наслаждением прикрыла просветлевшие глаза. Ночь, ветер, прохлада, уединение и грусть, находящая в такой компании новое качество - светлой, небезнадежной, приятной в ностальгичности... Как она любила, как ценила и как благодарна бывала за такие исключительные моменты!.. Кто бы это знал? Никто - некому... Но и для чего знать подобные слабости чьей-то души..? Сама она находила в них покой и наслаждение. Икоми наслаждалась другими уникальностями, тонкими изящными чертами натуры, яркими всплесками эмоций и чувств, самозабвенными увлечениями... Она любила человеческое - живое, беспокойное, неравнодушное, подвижное и изменчивое... всегда любила. И сама держалась на этой любви. Жила рядом с живым, умирала рядом с безразлично-серым. Скиталица перебирала свои былые всполохи чувств, как струны, едва касаясь их, не тревожа чрезмерно, дотрагиваясь и после же смиряя иным косновением. Нежно и деликатно, как перебирают старые страницы древней книги, повествующей о милых сердцу днях былого времени, ушедшего со светлой улыбкой, таявшей звёздным сиянием в небе... Икоми улыбалась с особенной нежностью... как нечасто с ней такое бывало. Её душа томилась тоской о прошлой себе, о её жизни и былом мире вокруг... её мире, который рухнул, который она сама разрушила по камешку. Пальцы до побеления костяшек сжали узкий заносчатый подоконник.
- Не хочу так... этого... что бы я могла назвать хотя бы немного желанным?.. Ничего не хочу от жизни... у меня её нет... я отреклась, неправда ли?..
Её голос звенел отчаянием, слёзным и тоскливым. Она всегда была слаба. Она никогда не научилась следовать желаниям. Не умеет она в них вкладывать силы. А что такое человек без желания?.. Лишь призрак человека...

Он не будил её.
Полукровка сидела на подоконнике и больше на раме, спиной вперёд свесившись в открытое окно. Сначала сидела. А после легла на них, медленно расслабляя спину и отпуская страх, свесилась вдоль стены, скрещенными в области щиколоток ногами зацепившись за подоконник. Это было странно, но её душа и тело просили именно такого. Изогнувшись ломанной линией, Икоми положила руку на глаза, прикрыв их и наслаждаясь холодком, растекающимся по щекам и лбу от дуновения... Гудящая боль отступала, скрадывала свои шаги, и вскоре они затихли. Но наслаждаться покоем ночи ей пришлось отнюдь недолго. Эльфийского слуха не надо, чтобы услышать приближение нескольких ургалов. К тому же, такое грандиозное, напоминающее варварский набег... Полукровка опустила руку к земле, раздосадованно прищурила глаза и с тишайшим протяжным стоном вздохнула. Не видать тебе покоя до сырой земли, Икоми... Пересилив себя, она уже начала подниматься, когда влетел Феанор. У девушки сама собой выползла в удивлённую дугу правая бровь, секундой позже к ней приползла и вторая. Он был очень взволнован и не постучал... о таком элементарном правиле хорошего тона Икоми отлично помнила ещё. На краткое мгновение это повергло её в замешательство - она не могла найти причин, а значит, оказалась полностью выбита из жизни. Но понимание пришло очень быстро.
- Вы ещё помните цену жизни... Хм... удивительно...
С этими словами одиночка спокойно и абсолютно неспешно слезла с подоконника, присела на ходу, поддев рукой лямку заплечного мешка, сброшенного на пол, и прошла мимо Феанора до двери. Там она развернулась и полу-вопросительно, полу-насмешливо спросила совершенно безразличным к ответу голосом:
- Или мы будем выходить в окно?

И тут Икоми почувствовала себя чем-то вроде бандероли… «Доставить в целости и сохранности по месту назначения…» Полукровка недобро усмехнулась, чуть сужая глаза. Она была истинно по-эльфийски горда и временами высокомерна. И не стоит никогда делать скидку на то, что однажды она позволила втоптать себя в грязь и разобрать по кусочкам свою жизнь – такое позволительно лишь близким ей людям. Неподдельно по-человечески вспыльчивая, Эльдикомира загорелась бешеными язычками рыжего пламени на выступающих из-под капюшона прядей. Шум и мельтешение почти всегда вводили девушку в состояние транса, потому до того, как они выбрались на улицу, она ничему не сопротивлялась. Но теперь…
Погасить раздражение ей так и не удалось. Эльдикомира всегда, с малолетства, была девушка своевольная и вообще сама себе на уме. И принадлежит всегда и навсегда исключительно себе. Это черта и подвела её когда-то, за неё она себя и корит, но ведётся за ней всё так же исправно. Полу-эльфийка неуверенно обернулась через плечо на трактир. «Люди…» - пронеслось в голове. Дико сжала в мучительных раздумьях рукоять наследного меча, до скрипа кожаной перчатки. Только сейчас её сердце забилось. И где-то  не в груди, в районе солнечного сплетения, сбивчиво, перехватывая дыхание. Так сквозь шейку песочных часов стремительной упорной струйкой неудержимо просачивается время-песок… И внезапно последний удар старинных часов с маятником – бом!.. Этакая краткая симфония времени в одном сердце за пару мгновений. Икоми знала, пожалуй. Она подошла к скакуну и положила ладонь ему на гриву, несильно сжав жёсткий волос, и прикрыла глаза. Конь недовольно всхрапнул от бесцеремонного обращения незнакомки. Но она не спешила опираться рукой и садиться в седло; она просто стояла, и единственным движением в её фигуре было слабое вздымание грудной клетки да едва заметное подрагивание век. В затылке просыпалось гнетущее ощущение, нарастающее вплоть до болезненного; а сознание рывками уплывало сквозь туман, растеряно нащупывая в пространстве вокруг хозяйки особые горячие сгустки, сродни ему. И вот оно слегка зацепилось за один, подтянуло себя к нему и обхватило всем собой, обволакивая и просачиваясь неглубоко внутрь. Оттого, от частичного слияния двух этих сгустков, внутренний умерил пыл пульсации и сменил свечение с грязно-оранжевого на водянисто-голубой. А после…
Через 30 секунд Икоми открыла глаза и, абсолютно спокойно, поднялась в седло, в качестве извинения погладив коня по загривку. Словно ничего не происходило, только волосы её приобрели пепельно-русый оттенок, а в уголки глаз и губ залегла немая грусть и тень усталости. Злость и непокорность оставили душу странницы и вечной одиночки, но в опустевшей тишине плескалось нечто иное.
Девушка наклонилась к скакуну и со вздохом прошептала словесную просьбу на древнем языке,  после чего стало ясно: она молча исполнит указания Феанора.

The 9 Best Case Management Software For Law Firms in 2022
AUG 23, 2022

Law firms can sometimes be endlessly chaotic. Lawyers, paralegals, and staff members must organize, analyze, and manage every aspect of multiple cases. They must track and monitor:

Deadlines,
Statutes of limitations,
Filing requirements,
Client records,
Billing,
Expert witnesses,
Evidence,
and much more.

Even a smaller case can require a great deal of time organizing documents and tracking details.

Effective case management is crucial in every law office.

Regardless of the size of the case or the size of the law firm, failing to have an efficient case management system makes your job much more difficult, at the very least.

Even worse, failing to manage your cases could result in a costly error or a mistake with irreversible consequences.

Your law practice doesn’t have to be ruled by chaos. The best case management software available today allows you to incorporate all aspects of managing a case into one platform.

Table of Contents
What Should You Look for When Choosing Case Management Software?
There are many options for case management software. You need to choose software that meets your specific needs.

Each law firm is unique, and lawyers may have different preferences.

Fortunately, there are options that allow you to customize a case management program to fit your needs.

Things you may want to consider include:

The ease of transferring, storing, and retrieving information
The ability of the software to work with other programs to gather information and data
Make minor adjustments and modifications to the system without going through the provider
The provider offers ongoing, quality support
Ability to configure the system to adapt it to your needs and current systems
Ease of retrieving data and create reports, forms, and other documents
The ability to track time, expenses, and generate invoices and billing documents
Accept online and credit card payments
Prepare documents for trial and monitor litigation deadlines
Many software companies offer free demos or free trial periods. You might need to try several case management software systems before finding the best system for you.

What Are Some Popular Case Management Software Systems for Law Firms?
Some of the popular case management software systems available today include:

CASEpeer,
FileVine,
SmartAdvocate,
Litify,
MyCase,
Clio,
Thomson Reuter’s Legal Tracker,
Trialworks, and
LawRuler.
Here’s a brief overview of each of these top-rated attorney case management systems:

CASEPeer Logo
CASEPeer is designed specifically for personal injury law firms. This cloud-based system offers time-saving and organizational features such as:

Settlement tools to track demands, offers, liens, fees, and costs
Dedicated tracking of discovery requests and responses
Integrated calendar
Automated notifications for statute of limitations
From the company: “CASEpeer’s powerful built-in tools allow you to constantly evaluate your organization’s workflow, identify opportunities to further develop employees, more effectively communicate on client’s cases, and maximize productivity and results.” -Lucero Smith, COO, CASEPeer

Demo: Interested in seeing how CASEPeer can help to transform your law firm into a well-oiled machine? Contact CASEPeer today to get started with a free demo.

Filevine Logo
FileVine is highly customizable and allows you to keep notes, documents, client communication, and calendar in one place.

Additional features include:

Allows multiple users
Ability to text and email clients
Task and deadline management
Integrates with more than 2,000 programs
Good choice for document management
Demo: Want to see how FileVine can help you transform your law firm operations? Book a free demo that’s customized to your firm’s particular needs.

Smart Advocate Logo
SmartAdvocate is a fully integrated legal case management system. Initially designed for personal injury and mass tort litigation practices, it is now used by a large range of litigation firms.

Features include:

Specific tool for tracking insurance information
Automated workflows
Medical records tracker
Fee calculator lets you enter the settlement amount and break out your firm’s fee, any referral fees or other costs for each client
From the company: “We take pride with each annual release,” Igor Selizhuk, CTO at SmartAdvocate states, “because with each release, we fulfill our promise to our clients to continually provide them with a system that matches their evolving needs.”

Demo: Interested in learning more about Smart Advocate? Check out their story and discover how this top-rated case management system can be a catalyst for success.

Litify Logo
Litify is an integrated solution designed for mid-size and large law firms. It is built on the popular Salesforce platform used by many businesses for automation and analytics.

It features:

Robust security
Automated tasks
Customizable dashboard to track key performance indicators
Testimonial: “Working with Litify is like having the best developers in the world as my software guys,” said Johnson. “They understand the legal industry, know what works for the big firms, and bake the best practices right into the platform.

As the owner of a younger firm, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” Anthony Johnson Owner, Attorney at Law Johnson Firm

Visit www litify com to learn more about how you, your team, and your clients could all benefit from a partnership with Litify.

Mycase Logo
MyCase offers an all-in-one case management software solution to document management, time tracking, invoicing, payment collection, and calendaring.

Some of its key features are:

Simple user-friendly interface
Simple pricing structure includes all features instead of having to add options
Unlimited e-signatures included
MyCase offers a free 10-day trial, so you can test the software and see if it’s a good fit for your practice.

Clio Manage Logo
Clio Manage offers a variety of features, including billing, contact management, document management, calendaring, accounting, task management, online payments, and time tracking.

A few highlights of Clio include:

Secure client portal for document sharing
Matter timelines display who made changes and when updates were made
Separate module available for client intake/client relationship management
Clio is versatile and has customizable solutions for everything from solo to large firms.

Thomson Reuters >ogo
Legal Tracker has features such as eBilling, matter management, reporting, analytics, cloud integrations, data services, and legal operations.

It offers such features as:

Legal analytics to track budgets and compare performance of outside legal counsel
Robust reporting system
Excellent collaboration tools
This Thomson Reuters system is geared towards helping corporate in-house legal departments track and organize their legal teams.

Trialworks Logo
Trialworks is a cloud-based solution created by trial lawyers with options for mobile case intake, document management, calendaring, and trial management.

Some distinct features include:

Litigation-centered tools
Based on familiar Microsoft Office platform
Available as software to be used on local network or cloud-based
Offers database conversion (as a separate service)
Check out their website to learn more and schedule a free demo.

Law Ruler Logo
Law Ruler has customized solutions for litigation firms and is integrated with Office 365 for convenient workflow. Its detailed dashboard analytics help you keep track of case status, leads, and marketing performance.

Other features include:

Built-in settlement calculators
Automated text and email reminders
Integrated click-to-call dialer powered by artificial intelligence
Managing your cases effectively improves customer service, as well as your legal services. You have more time to devote to your clients and work on their cases when you do not need to worry about the day-to-day logistics of case management.

FAQs About Law Firm Case Management Software
If you are not familiar with case management software, these frequently asked questions may help you understand why your law firm needs to invest in high-quality case management software.

WHAT IS CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
Managing legal cases requires a system for keeping up with detailed information about each case. Case management begins before your client hires your law firm. You need an effective way to perform conflict checks before your client signs a retainer agreement.

Throughout the case, there could be hundreds or thousands of documents to organize, deadlines to monitor, statements to process, and other details that must be analyzed and organized into categories that are easy to search.

You also have billing, client communications, contact information, appointment scheduling, court information, and case notes to organize and manage.

After closing the case, you need a system for storing and archiving the case that allows for continued conflict checks. You may also need to access information in one case to assist with a matter in a related case or similar case.

Today, digital files must be stored, organized, and cataloged. The days of managing legal cases by hand are over.

WHAT CAN CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DO FOR MY PRACTICE?
Gathering, analyzing, and organizing large amounts of information, data, and documents is a significant element of case management. Many lawyers, paralegals, and case managers have multiple cases they handle. As a result, the volume of data can be overwhelming.

Case management software provides an efficient way to collect and organize data.

Many software programs link to email, telephone, and other systems to create calls and message logs. The information is stored in the client’s file immediately.

Tracking contacts with clients, including calls and emails, through the software help to ensure that you do not miss anything.

Having all the information in one place makes it easy to:

create reports,
visualize evidence, and
collaborate with other staff members.
In addition, everyone within the law firm can access the case files and all information stored in the files from their desktop or tablet.

WHAT ARE OTHER BENEFITS OF CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
In addition to managing the data, documents, and other information associated with a client’s case, there are other benefits of using case management software.

REDUCE THE RISK OF MISTAKES
Case management software can reduce the risk of human error. Mistakes happen when you are handling multiple cases and thousands of documents. Case management software completes many of the tasks automatically, which reduces the risk of errors and mistakes.

For example, errors in transferring data to forms could be costly and time-consuming.

When the data is contained in case management software, the software transfers the data ensuring there are no errors.

ENHANCE SECURITY
Lawyers have a fiduciary duty to protect confidential information. A data breach could result in the theft or exposure of sensitive information. Case management software can add another layer of security for data.

The software also automatically backs up entire files to ensure that nothing is lost in case of a data breach or natural disaster.

FACILITATE REMOTE WORK
Lawyers and staff members can access client files and data from work, home, and other locations. In addition, case management software that is cloud-based allows employees to access data even when telecommuting.

TRACK LEADS
In addition to managing your current cases, case management software can help you track leads. An efficient, easy-to-use system to track and follow up with leads increases retention rates for the law firm.

A lead can be entered into the system, forwarded to the correct person to respond, and scheduled for a follow-up. All information about the lead is in one location that is accessible to everyone.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
Case management software increases efficiency. Everyone working on a case can access and update information. Having data in a system that permits easy retrieval reduces the time it takes to locate information.

Get More Insight Into Case Management For Your Law Firm
At LawRank, we specialize in SEO for lawyers: getting law firms like yours to rank for competitive, high-volume keywords in competitive markets.

We know that your business operations have to be set up for success when you begin to see an influx of calls and clients.

That’s why we’re ready to help you discuss your case management needs and provide some insight into popular systems. We can even connect with you with leading case management software providers.

Get in touch with our law firm SEO specialists to learn more today.

Updated 2022

The 9 Best Case Management Software For Law Firms in 2022
AUG 23, 2022

Law firms can sometimes be endlessly chaotic. Lawyers, paralegals, and staff members must organize, analyze, and manage every aspect of multiple cases. They must track and monitor:

Deadlines,
Statutes of limitations,
Filing requirements,
Client records,
Billing,
Expert witnesses,
Evidence,
and much more.

Even a smaller case can require a great deal of time organizing documents and tracking details.

Effective case management is crucial in every law office.

Regardless of the size of the case or the size of the law firm, failing to have an efficient case management system makes your job much more difficult, at the very least.

Even worse, failing to manage your cases could result in a costly error or a mistake with irreversible consequences.

Your law practice doesn’t have to be ruled by chaos. The best case management software available today allows you to incorporate all aspects of managing a case into one platform.

Table of Contents
What Should You Look for When Choosing Case Management Software?
There are many options for case management software. You need to choose software that meets your specific needs.

Each law firm is unique, and lawyers may have different preferences.

Fortunately, there are options that allow you to customize a case management program to fit your needs.

Things you may want to consider include:

The ease of transferring, storing, and retrieving information
The ability of the software to work with other programs to gather information and data
Make minor adjustments and modifications to the system without going through the provider
The provider offers ongoing, quality support
Ability to configure the system to adapt it to your needs and current systems
Ease of retrieving data and create reports, forms, and other documents
The ability to track time, expenses, and generate invoices and billing documents
Accept online and credit card payments
Prepare documents for trial and monitor litigation deadlines
Many software companies offer free demos or free trial periods. You might need to try several case management software systems before finding the best system for you.

What Are Some Popular Case Management Software Systems for Law Firms?
Some of the popular case management software systems available today include:

CASEpeer,
FileVine,
SmartAdvocate,
Litify,
MyCase,
Clio,
Thomson Reuter’s Legal Tracker,
Trialworks, and
LawRuler.
Here’s a brief overview of each of these top-rated attorney case management systems:

CASEPeer Logo
CASEPeer is designed specifically for personal injury law firms. This cloud-based system offers time-saving and organizational features such as:

Settlement tools to track demands, offers, liens, fees, and costs
Dedicated tracking of discovery requests and responses
Integrated calendar
Automated notifications for statute of limitations
From the company: “CASEpeer’s powerful built-in tools allow you to constantly evaluate your organization’s workflow, identify opportunities to further develop employees, more effectively communicate on client’s cases, and maximize productivity and results.” -Lucero Smith, COO, CASEPeer

Demo: Interested in seeing how CASEPeer can help to transform your law firm into a well-oiled machine? Contact CASEPeer today to get started with a free demo.

Filevine Logo
FileVine is highly customizable and allows you to keep notes, documents, client communication, and calendar in one place.

Additional features include:

Allows multiple users
Ability to text and email clients
Task and deadline management
Integrates with more than 2,000 programs
Good choice for document management
Demo: Want to see how FileVine can help you transform your law firm operations? Book a free demo that’s customized to your firm’s particular needs.

Smart Advocate Logo
SmartAdvocate is a fully integrated legal case management system. Initially designed for personal injury and mass tort litigation practices, it is now used by a large range of litigation firms.

Features include:

Specific tool for tracking insurance information
Automated workflows
Medical records tracker
Fee calculator lets you enter the settlement amount and break out your firm’s fee, any referral fees or other costs for each client
From the company: “We take pride with each annual release,” Igor Selizhuk, CTO at SmartAdvocate states, “because with each release, we fulfill our promise to our clients to continually provide them with a system that matches their evolving needs.”

Demo: Interested in learning more about Smart Advocate? Check out their story and discover how this top-rated case management system can be a catalyst for success.

Litify Logo
Litify is an integrated solution designed for mid-size and large law firms. It is built on the popular Salesforce platform used by many businesses for automation and analytics.

It features:

Robust security
Automated tasks
Customizable dashboard to track key performance indicators
Testimonial: “Working with Litify is like having the best developers in the world as my software guys,” said Johnson. “They understand the legal industry, know what works for the big firms, and bake the best practices right into the platform.

As the owner of a younger firm, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” Anthony Johnson Owner, Attorney at Law Johnson Firm

Visit www litify com to learn more about how you, your team, and your clients could all benefit from a partnership with Litify.

Mycase Logo
MyCase offers an all-in-one case management software solution to document management, time tracking, invoicing, payment collection, and calendaring.

Some of its key features are:

Simple user-friendly interface
Simple pricing structure includes all features instead of having to add options
Unlimited e-signatures included
MyCase offers a free 10-day trial, so you can test the software and see if it’s a good fit for your practice.

Clio Manage Logo
Clio Manage offers a variety of features, including billing, contact management, document management, calendaring, accounting, task management, online payments, and time tracking.

A few highlights of Clio include:

Secure client portal for document sharing
Matter timelines display who made changes and when updates were made
Separate module available for client intake/client relationship management
Clio is versatile and has customizable solutions for everything from solo to large firms.

Thomson Reuters >ogo
Legal Tracker has features such as eBilling, matter management, reporting, analytics, cloud integrations, data services, and legal operations.

It offers such features as:

Legal analytics to track budgets and compare performance of outside legal counsel
Robust reporting system
Excellent collaboration tools
This Thomson Reuters system is geared towards helping corporate in-house legal departments track and organize their legal teams.

Trialworks Logo
Trialworks is a cloud-based solution created by trial lawyers with options for mobile case intake, document management, calendaring, and trial management.

Some distinct features include:

Litigation-centered tools
Based on familiar Microsoft Office platform
Available as software to be used on local network or cloud-based
Offers database conversion (as a separate service)
Check out their website to learn more and schedule a free demo.

Law Ruler Logo
Law Ruler has customized solutions for litigation firms and is integrated with Office 365 for convenient workflow. Its detailed dashboard analytics help you keep track of case status, leads, and marketing performance.

Other features include:

Built-in settlement calculators
Automated text and email reminders
Integrated click-to-call dialer powered by artificial intelligence
Managing your cases effectively improves customer service, as well as your legal services. You have more time to devote to your clients and work on their cases when you do not need to worry about the day-to-day logistics of case management.

FAQs About Law Firm Case Management Software
If you are not familiar with case management software, these frequently asked questions may help you understand why your law firm needs to invest in high-quality case management software.

WHAT IS CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
Managing legal cases requires a system for keeping up with detailed information about each case. Case management begins before your client hires your law firm. You need an effective way to perform conflict checks before your client signs a retainer agreement.

Throughout the case, there could be hundreds or thousands of documents to organize, deadlines to monitor, statements to process, and other details that must be analyzed and organized into categories that are easy to search.

You also have billing, client communications, contact information, appointment scheduling, court information, and case notes to organize and manage.

After closing the case, you need a system for storing and archiving the case that allows for continued conflict checks. You may also need to access information in one case to assist with a matter in a related case or similar case.

Today, digital files must be stored, organized, and cataloged. The days of managing legal cases by hand are over.

WHAT CAN CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DO FOR MY PRACTICE?
Gathering, analyzing, and organizing large amounts of information, data, and documents is a significant element of case management. Many lawyers, paralegals, and case managers have multiple cases they handle. As a result, the volume of data can be overwhelming.

Case management software provides an efficient way to collect and organize data.

Many software programs link to email, telephone, and other systems to create calls and message logs. The information is stored in the client’s file immediately.

Tracking contacts with clients, including calls and emails, through the software help to ensure that you do not miss anything.

Having all the information in one place makes it easy to:

create reports,
visualize evidence, and
collaborate with other staff members.
In addition, everyone within the law firm can access the case files and all information stored in the files from their desktop or tablet.

WHAT ARE OTHER BENEFITS OF CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
In addition to managing the data, documents, and other information associated with a client’s case, there are other benefits of using case management software.

REDUCE THE RISK OF MISTAKES
Case management software can reduce the risk of human error. Mistakes happen when you are handling multiple cases and thousands of documents. Case management software completes many of the tasks automatically, which reduces the risk of errors and mistakes.

For example, errors in transferring data to forms could be costly and time-consuming.

When the data is contained in case management software, the software transfers the data ensuring there are no errors.

ENHANCE SECURITY
Lawyers have a fiduciary duty to protect confidential information. A data breach could result in the theft or exposure of sensitive information. Case management software can add another layer of security for data.

The software also automatically backs up entire files to ensure that nothing is lost in case of a data breach or natural disaster.

FACILITATE REMOTE WORK
Lawyers and staff members can access client files and data from work, home, and other locations. In addition, case management software that is cloud-based allows employees to access data even when telecommuting.

TRACK LEADS
In addition to managing your current cases, case management software can help you track leads. An efficient, easy-to-use system to track and follow up with leads increases retention rates for the law firm.

A lead can be entered into the system, forwarded to the correct person to respond, and scheduled for a follow-up. All information about the lead is in one location that is accessible to everyone.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
Case management software increases efficiency. Everyone working on a case can access and update information. Having data in a system that permits easy retrieval reduces the time it takes to locate information.

Get More Insight Into Case Management For Your Law Firm
At LawRank, we specialize in SEO for lawyers: getting law firms like yours to rank for competitive, high-volume keywords in competitive markets.

We know that your business operations have to be set up for success when you begin to see an influx of calls and clients.

That’s why we’re ready to help you discuss your case management needs and provide some insight into popular systems. We can even connect with you with leading case management software providers.

Get in touch with our law firm SEO specialists to learn more today.

Updated 2022

The 9 Best Case Management Software For Law Firms in 2022
AUG 23, 2022

Law firms can sometimes be endlessly chaotic. Lawyers, paralegals, and staff members must organize, analyze, and manage every aspect of multiple cases. They must track and monitor:

Deadlines,
Statutes of limitations,
Filing requirements,
Client records,
Billing,
Expert witnesses,
Evidence,
and much more.

Even a smaller case can require a great deal of time organizing documents and tracking details.

Effective case management is crucial in every law office.

Regardless of the size of the case or the size of the law firm, failing to have an efficient case management system makes your job much more difficult, at the very least.

Even worse, failing to manage your cases could result in a costly error or a mistake with irreversible consequences.

Your law practice doesn’t have to be ruled by chaos. The best case management software available today allows you to incorporate all aspects of managing a case into one platform.

Table of Contents
What Should You Look for When Choosing Case Management Software?
There are many options for case management software. You need to choose software that meets your specific needs.

Each law firm is unique, and lawyers may have different preferences.

Fortunately, there are options that allow you to customize a case management program to fit your needs.

Things you may want to consider include:

The ease of transferring, storing, and retrieving information
The ability of the software to work with other programs to gather information and data
Make minor adjustments and modifications to the system without going through the provider
The provider offers ongoing, quality support
Ability to configure the system to adapt it to your needs and current systems
Ease of retrieving data and create reports, forms, and other documents
The ability to track time, expenses, and generate invoices and billing documents
Accept online and credit card payments
Prepare documents for trial and monitor litigation deadlines
Many software companies offer free demos or free trial periods. You might need to try several case management software systems before finding the best system for you.

What Are Some Popular Case Management Software Systems for Law Firms?
Some of the popular case management software systems available today include:

CASEpeer,
FileVine,
SmartAdvocate,
Litify,
MyCase,
Clio,
Thomson Reuter’s Legal Tracker,
Trialworks, and
LawRuler.
Here’s a brief overview of each of these top-rated attorney case management systems:

CASEPeer Logo
CASEPeer is designed specifically for personal injury law firms. This cloud-based system offers time-saving and organizational features such as:

Settlement tools to track demands, offers, liens, fees, and costs
Dedicated tracking of discovery requests and responses
Integrated calendar
Automated notifications for statute of limitations
From the company: “CASEpeer’s powerful built-in tools allow you to constantly evaluate your organization’s workflow, identify opportunities to further develop employees, more effectively communicate on client’s cases, and maximize productivity and results.” -Lucero Smith, COO, CASEPeer

Demo: Interested in seeing how CASEPeer can help to transform your law firm into a well-oiled machine? Contact CASEPeer today to get started with a free demo.

Filevine Logo
FileVine is highly customizable and allows you to keep notes, documents, client communication, and calendar in one place.

Additional features include:

Allows multiple users
Ability to text and email clients
Task and deadline management
Integrates with more than 2,000 programs
Good choice for document management
Demo: Want to see how FileVine can help you transform your law firm operations? Book a free demo that’s customized to your firm’s particular needs.

Smart Advocate Logo
SmartAdvocate is a fully integrated legal case management system. Initially designed for personal injury and mass tort litigation practices, it is now used by a large range of litigation firms.

Features include:

Specific tool for tracking insurance information
Automated workflows
Medical records tracker
Fee calculator lets you enter the settlement amount and break out your firm’s fee, any referral fees or other costs for each client
From the company: “We take pride with each annual release,” Igor Selizhuk, CTO at SmartAdvocate states, “because with each release, we fulfill our promise to our clients to continually provide them with a system that matches their evolving needs.”

Demo: Interested in learning more about Smart Advocate? Check out their story and discover how this top-rated case management system can be a catalyst for success.

Litify Logo
Litify is an integrated solution designed for mid-size and large law firms. It is built on the popular Salesforce platform used by many businesses for automation and analytics.

It features:

Robust security
Automated tasks
Customizable dashboard to track key performance indicators
Testimonial: “Working with Litify is like having the best developers in the world as my software guys,” said Johnson. “They understand the legal industry, know what works for the big firms, and bake the best practices right into the platform.

As the owner of a younger firm, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” Anthony Johnson Owner, Attorney at Law Johnson Firm

Visit www litify com to learn more about how you, your team, and your clients could all benefit from a partnership with Litify.

Mycase Logo
MyCase offers an all-in-one case management software solution to document management, time tracking, invoicing, payment collection, and calendaring.

Some of its key features are:

Simple user-friendly interface
Simple pricing structure includes all features instead of having to add options
Unlimited e-signatures included
MyCase offers a free 10-day trial, so you can test the software and see if it’s a good fit for your practice.

Clio Manage Logo
Clio Manage offers a variety of features, including billing, contact management, document management, calendaring, accounting, task management, online payments, and time tracking.

A few highlights of Clio include:

Secure client portal for document sharing
Matter timelines display who made changes and when updates were made
Separate module available for client intake/client relationship management
Clio is versatile and has customizable solutions for everything from solo to large firms.

Thomson Reuters >ogo
Legal Tracker has features such as eBilling, matter management, reporting, analytics, cloud integrations, data services, and legal operations.

It offers such features as:

Legal analytics to track budgets and compare performance of outside legal counsel
Robust reporting system
Excellent collaboration tools
This Thomson Reuters system is geared towards helping corporate in-house legal departments track and organize their legal teams.

Trialworks Logo
Trialworks is a cloud-based solution created by trial lawyers with options for mobile case intake, document management, calendaring, and trial management.

Some distinct features include:

Litigation-centered tools
Based on familiar Microsoft Office platform
Available as software to be used on local network or cloud-based
Offers database conversion (as a separate service)
Check out their website to learn more and schedule a free demo.

Law Ruler Logo
Law Ruler has customized solutions for litigation firms and is integrated with Office 365 for convenient workflow. Its detailed dashboard analytics help you keep track of case status, leads, and marketing performance.

Other features include:

Built-in settlement calculators
Automated text and email reminders
Integrated click-to-call dialer powered by artificial intelligence
Managing your cases effectively improves customer service, as well as your legal services. You have more time to devote to your clients and work on their cases when you do not need to worry about the day-to-day logistics of case management.

FAQs About Law Firm Case Management Software
If you are not familiar with case management software, these frequently asked questions may help you understand why your law firm needs to invest in high-quality case management software.

WHAT IS CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
Managing legal cases requires a system for keeping up with detailed information about each case. Case management begins before your client hires your law firm. You need an effective way to perform conflict checks before your client signs a retainer agreement.

Throughout the case, there could be hundreds or thousands of documents to organize, deadlines to monitor, statements to process, and other details that must be analyzed and organized into categories that are easy to search.

You also have billing, client communications, contact information, appointment scheduling, court information, and case notes to organize and manage.

After closing the case, you need a system for storing and archiving the case that allows for continued conflict checks. You may also need to access information in one case to assist with a matter in a related case or similar case.

Today, digital files must be stored, organized, and cataloged. The days of managing legal cases by hand are over.

WHAT CAN CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DO FOR MY PRACTICE?
Gathering, analyzing, and organizing large amounts of information, data, and documents is a significant element of case management. Many lawyers, paralegals, and case managers have multiple cases they handle. As a result, the volume of data can be overwhelming.

Case management software provides an efficient way to collect and organize data.

Many software programs link to email, telephone, and other systems to create calls and message logs. The information is stored in the client’s file immediately.

Tracking contacts with clients, including calls and emails, through the software help to ensure that you do not miss anything.

Having all the information in one place makes it easy to:

create reports,
visualize evidence, and
collaborate with other staff members.
In addition, everyone within the law firm can access the case files and all information stored in the files from their desktop or tablet.

WHAT ARE OTHER BENEFITS OF CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
In addition to managing the data, documents, and other information associated with a client’s case, there are other benefits of using case management software.

REDUCE THE RISK OF MISTAKES
Case management software can reduce the risk of human error. Mistakes happen when you are handling multiple cases and thousands of documents. Case management software completes many of the tasks automatically, which reduces the risk of errors and mistakes.

For example, errors in transferring data to forms could be costly and time-consuming.

When the data is contained in case management software, the software transfers the data ensuring there are no errors.

ENHANCE SECURITY
Lawyers have a fiduciary duty to protect confidential information. A data breach could result in the theft or exposure of sensitive information. Case management software can add another layer of security for data.

The software also automatically backs up entire files to ensure that nothing is lost in case of a data breach or natural disaster.

FACILITATE REMOTE WORK
Lawyers and staff members can access client files and data from work, home, and other locations. In addition, case management software that is cloud-based allows employees to access data even when telecommuting.

TRACK LEADS
In addition to managing your current cases, case management software can help you track leads. An efficient, easy-to-use system to track and follow up with leads increases retention rates for the law firm.

A lead can be entered into the system, forwarded to the correct person to respond, and scheduled for a follow-up. All information about the lead is in one location that is accessible to everyone.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
Case management software increases efficiency. Everyone working on a case can access and update information. Having data in a system that permits easy retrieval reduces the time it takes to locate information.

Get More Insight Into Case Management For Your Law Firm
At LawRank, we specialize in SEO for lawyers: getting law firms like yours to rank for competitive, high-volume keywords in competitive markets.

We know that your business operations have to be set up for success when you begin to see an influx of calls and clients.

That’s why we’re ready to help you discuss your case management needs and provide some insight into popular systems. We can even connect with you with leading case management software providers.

Get in touch with our law firm SEO specialists to learn more today.

Updated 2022

The 9 Best Case Management Software For Law Firms in 2022
AUG 23, 2022

Law firms can sometimes be endlessly chaotic. Lawyers, paralegals, and staff members must organize, analyze, and manage every aspect of multiple cases. They must track and monitor:

Deadlines,
Statutes of limitations,
Filing requirements,
Client records,
Billing,
Expert witnesses,
Evidence,
and much more.

Even a smaller case can require a great deal of time organizing documents and tracking details.

Effective case management is crucial in every law office.

Regardless of the size of the case or the size of the law firm, failing to have an efficient case management system makes your job much more difficult, at the very least.

Even worse, failing to manage your cases could result in a costly error or a mistake with irreversible consequences.

Your law practice doesn’t have to be ruled by chaos. The best case management software available today allows you to incorporate all aspects of managing a case into one platform.

Table of Contents
What Should You Look for When Choosing Case Management Software?
There are many options for case management software. You need to choose software that meets your specific needs.

Each law firm is unique, and lawyers may have different preferences.

Fortunately, there are options that allow you to customize a case management program to fit your needs.

Things you may want to consider include:

The ease of transferring, storing, and retrieving information
The ability of the software to work with other programs to gather information and data
Make minor adjustments and modifications to the system without going through the provider
The provider offers ongoing, quality support
Ability to configure the system to adapt it to your needs and current systems
Ease of retrieving data and create reports, forms, and other documents
The ability to track time, expenses, and generate invoices and billing documents
Accept online and credit card payments
Prepare documents for trial and monitor litigation deadlines
Many software companies offer free demos or free trial periods. You might need to try several case management software systems before finding the best system for you.

What Are Some Popular Case Management Software Systems for Law Firms?
Some of the popular case management software systems available today include:

CASEpeer,
FileVine,
SmartAdvocate,
Litify,
MyCase,
Clio,
Thomson Reuter’s Legal Tracker,
Trialworks, and
LawRuler.
Here’s a brief overview of each of these top-rated attorney case management systems:

CASEPeer Logo
CASEPeer is designed specifically for personal injury law firms. This cloud-based system offers time-saving and organizational features such as:

Settlement tools to track demands, offers, liens, fees, and costs
Dedicated tracking of discovery requests and responses
Integrated calendar
Automated notifications for statute of limitations
From the company: “CASEpeer’s powerful built-in tools allow you to constantly evaluate your organization’s workflow, identify opportunities to further develop employees, more effectively communicate on client’s cases, and maximize productivity and results.” -Lucero Smith, COO, CASEPeer

Demo: Interested in seeing how CASEPeer can help to transform your law firm into a well-oiled machine? Contact CASEPeer today to get started with a free demo.

Filevine Logo
FileVine is highly customizable and allows you to keep notes, documents, client communication, and calendar in one place.

Additional features include:

Allows multiple users
Ability to text and email clients
Task and deadline management
Integrates with more than 2,000 programs
Good choice for document management
Demo: Want to see how FileVine can help you transform your law firm operations? Book a free demo that’s customized to your firm’s particular needs.

Smart Advocate Logo
SmartAdvocate is a fully integrated legal case management system. Initially designed for personal injury and mass tort litigation practices, it is now used by a large range of litigation firms.

Features include:

Specific tool for tracking insurance information
Automated workflows
Medical records tracker
Fee calculator lets you enter the settlement amount and break out your firm’s fee, any referral fees or other costs for each client
From the company: “We take pride with each annual release,” Igor Selizhuk, CTO at SmartAdvocate states, “because with each release, we fulfill our promise to our clients to continually provide them with a system that matches their evolving needs.”

Demo: Interested in learning more about Smart Advocate? Check out their story and discover how this top-rated case management system can be a catalyst for success.

Litify Logo
Litify is an integrated solution designed for mid-size and large law firms. It is built on the popular Salesforce platform used by many businesses for automation and analytics.

It features:

Robust security
Automated tasks
Customizable dashboard to track key performance indicators
Testimonial: “Working with Litify is like having the best developers in the world as my software guys,” said Johnson. “They understand the legal industry, know what works for the big firms, and bake the best practices right into the platform.

As the owner of a younger firm, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” Anthony Johnson Owner, Attorney at Law Johnson Firm

Visit www litify com to learn more about how you, your team, and your clients could all benefit from a partnership with Litify.

Mycase Logo
MyCase offers an all-in-one case management software solution to document management, time tracking, invoicing, payment collection, and calendaring.

Some of its key features are:

Simple user-friendly interface
Simple pricing structure includes all features instead of having to add options
Unlimited e-signatures included
MyCase offers a free 10-day trial, so you can test the software and see if it’s a good fit for your practice.

Clio Manage Logo
Clio Manage offers a variety of features, including billing, contact management, document management, calendaring, accounting, task management, online payments, and time tracking.

A few highlights of Clio include:

Secure client portal for document sharing
Matter timelines display who made changes and when updates were made
Separate module available for client intake/client relationship management
Clio is versatile and has customizable solutions for everything from solo to large firms.

Thomson Reuters >ogo
Legal Tracker has features such as eBilling, matter management, reporting, analytics, cloud integrations, data services, and legal operations.

It offers such features as:

Legal analytics to track budgets and compare performance of outside legal counsel
Robust reporting system
Excellent collaboration tools
This Thomson Reuters system is geared towards helping corporate in-house legal departments track and organize their legal teams.

Trialworks Logo
Trialworks is a cloud-based solution created by trial lawyers with options for mobile case intake, document management, calendaring, and trial management.

Some distinct features include:

Litigation-centered tools
Based on familiar Microsoft Office platform
Available as software to be used on local network or cloud-based
Offers database conversion (as a separate service)
Check out their website to learn more and schedule a free demo.

Law Ruler Logo
Law Ruler has customized solutions for litigation firms and is integrated with Office 365 for convenient workflow. Its detailed dashboard analytics help you keep track of case status, leads, and marketing performance.

Other features include:

Built-in settlement calculators
Automated text and email reminders
Integrated click-to-call dialer powered by artificial intelligence
Managing your cases effectively improves customer service, as well as your legal services. You have more time to devote to your clients and work on their cases when you do not need to worry about the day-to-day logistics of case management.

FAQs About Law Firm Case Management Software
If you are not familiar with case management software, these frequently asked questions may help you understand why your law firm needs to invest in high-quality case management software.

WHAT IS CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
Managing legal cases requires a system for keeping up with detailed information about each case. Case management begins before your client hires your law firm. You need an effective way to perform conflict checks before your client signs a retainer agreement.

Throughout the case, there could be hundreds or thousands of documents to organize, deadlines to monitor, statements to process, and other details that must be analyzed and organized into categories that are easy to search.

You also have billing, client communications, contact information, appointment scheduling, court information, and case notes to organize and manage.

After closing the case, you need a system for storing and archiving the case that allows for continued conflict checks. You may also need to access information in one case to assist with a matter in a related case or similar case.

Today, digital files must be stored, organized, and cataloged. The days of managing legal cases by hand are over.

WHAT CAN CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DO FOR MY PRACTICE?
Gathering, analyzing, and organizing large amounts of information, data, and documents is a significant element of case management. Many lawyers, paralegals, and case managers have multiple cases they handle. As a result, the volume of data can be overwhelming.

Case management software provides an efficient way to collect and organize data.

Many software programs link to email, telephone, and other systems to create calls and message logs. The information is stored in the client’s file immediately.

Tracking contacts with clients, including calls and emails, through the software help to ensure that you do not miss anything.

Having all the information in one place makes it easy to:

create reports,
visualize evidence, and
collaborate with other staff members.
In addition, everyone within the law firm can access the case files and all information stored in the files from their desktop or tablet.

WHAT ARE OTHER BENEFITS OF CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
In addition to managing the data, documents, and other information associated with a client’s case, there are other benefits of using case management software.

REDUCE THE RISK OF MISTAKES
Case management software can reduce the risk of human error. Mistakes happen when you are handling multiple cases and thousands of documents. Case management software completes many of the tasks automatically, which reduces the risk of errors and mistakes.

For example, errors in transferring data to forms could be costly and time-consuming.

When the data is contained in case management software, the software transfers the data ensuring there are no errors.

ENHANCE SECURITY
Lawyers have a fiduciary duty to protect confidential information. A data breach could result in the theft or exposure of sensitive information. Case management software can add another layer of security for data.

The software also automatically backs up entire files to ensure that nothing is lost in case of a data breach or natural disaster.

FACILITATE REMOTE WORK
Lawyers and staff members can access client files and data from work, home, and other locations. In addition, case management software that is cloud-based allows employees to access data even when telecommuting.

TRACK LEADS
In addition to managing your current cases, case management software can help you track leads. An efficient, easy-to-use system to track and follow up with leads increases retention rates for the law firm.

A lead can be entered into the system, forwarded to the correct person to respond, and scheduled for a follow-up. All information about the lead is in one location that is accessible to everyone.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
Case management software increases efficiency. Everyone working on a case can access and update information. Having data in a system that permits easy retrieval reduces the time it takes to locate information.

Get More Insight Into Case Management For Your Law Firm
At LawRank, we specialize in SEO for lawyers: getting law firms like yours to rank for competitive, high-volume keywords in competitive markets.

We know that your business operations have to be set up for success when you begin to see an influx of calls and clients.

That’s why we’re ready to help you discuss your case management needs and provide some insight into popular systems. We can even connect with you with leading case management software providers.

Get in touch with our law firm SEO specialists to learn more today.

Updated 2022

The 9 Best Case Management Software For Law Firms in 2022
AUG 23, 2022

Law firms can sometimes be endlessly chaotic. Lawyers, paralegals, and staff members must organize, analyze, and manage every aspect of multiple cases. They must track and monitor:

Deadlines,
Statutes of limitations,
Filing requirements,
Client records,
Billing,
Expert witnesses,
Evidence,
and much more.

Even a smaller case can require a great deal of time organizing documents and tracking details.

Effective case management is crucial in every law office.

Regardless of the size of the case or the size of the law firm, failing to have an efficient case management system makes your job much more difficult, at the very least.

Even worse, failing to manage your cases could result in a costly error or a mistake with irreversible consequences.

Your law practice doesn’t have to be ruled by chaos. The best case management software available today allows you to incorporate all aspects of managing a case into one platform.

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What Should You Look for When Choosing Case Management Software?
There are many options for case management software. You need to choose software that meets your specific needs.

Each law firm is unique, and lawyers may have different preferences.

Fortunately, there are options that allow you to customize a case management program to fit your needs.

Things you may want to consider include:

The ease of transferring, storing, and retrieving information
The ability of the software to work with other programs to gather information and data
Make minor adjustments and modifications to the system without going through the provider
The provider offers ongoing, quality support
Ability to configure the system to adapt it to your needs and current systems
Ease of retrieving data and create reports, forms, and other documents
The ability to track time, expenses, and generate invoices and billing documents
Accept online and credit card payments
Prepare documents for trial and monitor litigation deadlines
Many software companies offer free demos or free trial periods. You might need to try several case management software systems before finding the best system for you.

What Are Some Popular Case Management Software Systems for Law Firms?
Some of the popular case management software systems available today include:

CASEpeer,
FileVine,
SmartAdvocate,
Litify,
MyCase,
Clio,
Thomson Reuter’s Legal Tracker,
Trialworks, and
LawRuler.
Here’s a brief overview of each of these top-rated attorney case management systems:

CASEPeer Logo
CASEPeer is designed specifically for personal injury law firms. This cloud-based system offers time-saving and organizational features such as:

Settlement tools to track demands, offers, liens, fees, and costs
Dedicated tracking of discovery requests and responses
Integrated calendar
Automated notifications for statute of limitations
From the company: “CASEpeer’s powerful built-in tools allow you to constantly evaluate your organization’s workflow, identify opportunities to further develop employees, more effectively communicate on client’s cases, and maximize productivity and results.” -Lucero Smith, COO, CASEPeer

Demo: Interested in seeing how CASEPeer can help to transform your law firm into a well-oiled machine? Contact CASEPeer today to get started with a free demo.

Filevine Logo
FileVine is highly customizable and allows you to keep notes, documents, client communication, and calendar in one place.

Additional features include:

Allows multiple users
Ability to text and email clients
Task and deadline management
Integrates with more than 2,000 programs
Good choice for document management
Demo: Want to see how FileVine can help you transform your law firm operations? Book a free demo that’s customized to your firm’s particular needs.

Smart Advocate Logo
SmartAdvocate is a fully integrated legal case management system. Initially designed for personal injury and mass tort litigation practices, it is now used by a large range of litigation firms.

Features include:

Specific tool for tracking insurance information
Automated workflows
Medical records tracker
Fee calculator lets you enter the settlement amount and break out your firm’s fee, any referral fees or other costs for each client
From the company: “We take pride with each annual release,” Igor Selizhuk, CTO at SmartAdvocate states, “because with each release, we fulfill our promise to our clients to continually provide them with a system that matches their evolving needs.”

Demo: Interested in learning more about Smart Advocate? Check out their story and discover how this top-rated case management system can be a catalyst for success.

Litify Logo
Litify is an integrated solution designed for mid-size and large law firms. It is built on the popular Salesforce platform used by many businesses for automation and analytics.

It features:

Robust security
Automated tasks
Customizable dashboard to track key performance indicators
Testimonial: “Working with Litify is like having the best developers in the world as my software guys,” said Johnson. “They understand the legal industry, know what works for the big firms, and bake the best practices right into the platform.

As the owner of a younger firm, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” Anthony Johnson Owner, Attorney at Law Johnson Firm

Visit www litify com to learn more about how you, your team, and your clients could all benefit from a partnership with Litify.

Mycase Logo
MyCase offers an all-in-one case management software solution to document management, time tracking, invoicing, payment collection, and calendaring.

Some of its key features are:

Simple user-friendly interface
Simple pricing structure includes all features instead of having to add options
Unlimited e-signatures included
MyCase offers a free 10-day trial, so you can test the software and see if it’s a good fit for your practice.

Clio Manage Logo
Clio Manage offers a variety of features, including billing, contact management, document management, calendaring, accounting, task management, online payments, and time tracking.

A few highlights of Clio include:

Secure client portal for document sharing
Matter timelines display who made changes and when updates were made
Separate module available for client intake/client relationship management
Clio is versatile and has customizable solutions for everything from solo to large firms.

Thomson Reuters >ogo
Legal Tracker has features such as eBilling, matter management, reporting, analytics, cloud integrations, data services, and legal operations.

It offers such features as:

Legal analytics to track budgets and compare performance of outside legal counsel
Robust reporting system
Excellent collaboration tools
This Thomson Reuters system is geared towards helping corporate in-house legal departments track and organize their legal teams.

Trialworks Logo
Trialworks is a cloud-based solution created by trial lawyers with options for mobile case intake, document management, calendaring, and trial management.

Some distinct features include:

Litigation-centered tools
Based on familiar Microsoft Office platform
Available as software to be used on local network or cloud-based
Offers database conversion (as a separate service)
Check out their website to learn more and schedule a free demo.

Law Ruler Logo
Law Ruler has customized solutions for litigation firms and is integrated with Office 365 for convenient workflow. Its detailed dashboard analytics help you keep track of case status, leads, and marketing performance.

Other features include:

Built-in settlement calculators
Automated text and email reminders
Integrated click-to-call dialer powered by artificial intelligence
Managing your cases effectively improves customer service, as well as your legal services. You have more time to devote to your clients and work on their cases when you do not need to worry about the day-to-day logistics of case management.

FAQs About Law Firm Case Management Software
If you are not familiar with case management software, these frequently asked questions may help you understand why your law firm needs to invest in high-quality case management software.

WHAT IS CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
Managing legal cases requires a system for keeping up with detailed information about each case. Case management begins before your client hires your law firm. You need an effective way to perform conflict checks before your client signs a retainer agreement.

Throughout the case, there could be hundreds or thousands of documents to organize, deadlines to monitor, statements to process, and other details that must be analyzed and organized into categories that are easy to search.

You also have billing, client communications, contact information, appointment scheduling, court information, and case notes to organize and manage.

After closing the case, you need a system for storing and archiving the case that allows for continued conflict checks. You may also need to access information in one case to assist with a matter in a related case or similar case.

Today, digital files must be stored, organized, and cataloged. The days of managing legal cases by hand are over.

WHAT CAN CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DO FOR MY PRACTICE?
Gathering, analyzing, and organizing large amounts of information, data, and documents is a significant element of case management. Many lawyers, paralegals, and case managers have multiple cases they handle. As a result, the volume of data can be overwhelming.

Case management software provides an efficient way to collect and organize data.

Many software programs link to email, telephone, and other systems to create calls and message logs. The information is stored in the client’s file immediately.

Tracking contacts with clients, including calls and emails, through the software help to ensure that you do not miss anything.

Having all the information in one place makes it easy to:

create reports,
visualize evidence, and
collaborate with other staff members.
In addition, everyone within the law firm can access the case files and all information stored in the files from their desktop or tablet.

WHAT ARE OTHER BENEFITS OF CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
In addition to managing the data, documents, and other information associated with a client’s case, there are other benefits of using case management software.

REDUCE THE RISK OF MISTAKES
Case management software can reduce the risk of human error. Mistakes happen when you are handling multiple cases and thousands of documents. Case management software completes many of the tasks automatically, which reduces the risk of errors and mistakes.

For example, errors in transferring data to forms could be costly and time-consuming.

When the data is contained in case management software, the software transfers the data ensuring there are no errors.

ENHANCE SECURITY
Lawyers have a fiduciary duty to protect confidential information. A data breach could result in the theft or exposure of sensitive information. Case management software can add another layer of security for data.

The software also automatically backs up entire files to ensure that nothing is lost in case of a data breach or natural disaster.

FACILITATE REMOTE WORK
Lawyers and staff members can access client files and data from work, home, and other locations. In addition, case management software that is cloud-based allows employees to access data even when telecommuting.

TRACK LEADS
In addition to managing your current cases, case management software can help you track leads. An efficient, easy-to-use system to track and follow up with leads increases retention rates for the law firm.

A lead can be entered into the system, forwarded to the correct person to respond, and scheduled for a follow-up. All information about the lead is in one location that is accessible to everyone.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
Case management software increases efficiency. Everyone working on a case can access and update information. Having data in a system that permits easy retrieval reduces the time it takes to locate information.

Get More Insight Into Case Management For Your Law Firm
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We know that your business operations have to be set up for success when you begin to see an influx of calls and clients.

That’s why we’re ready to help you discuss your case management needs and provide some insight into popular systems. We can even connect with you with leading case management software providers.

Get in touch with our law firm SEO specialists to learn more today.

Updated 2022