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AbacusLaw is a turn-key, fully integrated law practice management solution. Founded in 1983, AbacusLaw works for firms of any size in every industry. Features include rules-based calendaring, document / form automation, matter management, conflict checking, contact management, document and email management, time tracking, billing, balance, accounting, trust accounting and more. AbacusLaw is also available in our private cloud for a complete disaster-proof solution.
Provider
CARET
Located In
United States
Foundation
1983
Open API
Yes
Deployment
Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based, On-Premise Windows, On-Premise Linux
Mobile Apps
Android, iOS
Training
In Person, Documentation, Live Online, Videos, Webinars
Support
Email/Help Desk, Chat, Phone Support, 24/7 (Live rep), FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base
AbacusLaw is flexible and dynamically scalable to support legal professionals from solo practitioners to enterprise law firms from client intake to payment.
Content Source: AbacusLaw
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Reviewers have mixed feelings about AbacusLaw's billing system, noting that while it offers useful features like billing automation and accuracy, it also presents several challenges. Users appreciate the streamlined billing process and the ability to manage financial accounts with ease. However, they also report issues with the complexity and user-friendliness of the billing software, citing problems with too many keystrokes, unreliable performance, and difficulties in formatting invoices.
Users find AbacusLaw's calendaring features beneficial, particularly appreciating its integration with Microsoft Outlook and the efficiency it brings to managing deadlines and events. They highlight the user-friendly interface and the ability to keep their calendars organized and updated seamlessly. Despite these positives, some reviewers mention synchronization issues with other calendars and occasional difficulties in data migration, which can disrupt their scheduling processes.
Pros
Keeping a huge practice under timely control is the best, quick and knowledgeable support from the help center is critical and has been the best part of the experience.
The customer service is the best I have experienced very particularly in the software industry. The techs are all very knowledgeable and carefully resolve every inquiry.
Again, thank you Dean, I cannot express my gratitude to you for going over and beyond to help me help my employer!!! Have a great holiday, and a Happy New Year.
In sum, this is a truly great product, at a reasonable price, with great customer support. I highly recommend you get it.
Cons
When you resort to "we have a contract" with dissatisfied customers, you step decades in the past of bad business practice. I soon as I saw an issue, I addressed it and requested cancellation.
I also had a deadline not show up on the DEADSOL report because it was coded slightly differently. This is major problem if minor coding error makes the deadline invisible.
When my users went down from 4 to 2 they refused to adjust and am forcing me to pay for 2 licenses I don't need. This is outrageous, especially considering how poor the product is.
This software is unstable and customer service is poor. It looses appointments , doesn't bill correctly, and has technical issues in a daily basis.
Most Recent Video User Review for AbacusLaw
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All the Bells and Whistles
Marie M.
"Customizable Software and Amazing Support"
Overall: Every single person I've dealt with at Abacus, from initial sale to professional services to tech support, has been patient, professional, knowledgeable, and effective. I've dealt with too many companies who virtually disappear after making the sale. The people at Abacus are nothing like that; their service and support are first rate.
Pros: The software uses a customizable database structure, so you can create or modify forms and fields to make them relevant for the types of cases you handle. In areas where aspects of the program are not wholly intuitive, Abacus's knowledge base and online instructional videos are very helpful. Abacus tech support is amazing.
Cons: AbacusLaw links to MS Outlook, but not to any other email/calendar client (and I had to quit Outlook for another more reliable email/calendar solution because Outlook is extremely problematic in key, basic areas). I feel like I should be able to drop an email message from any email application -- or any file, for that matter -- into an AbacusLaw matter. I do wish the client portal (for exchanging documents with clients) were available.
"All the Bells and Whistles"
Overall: I have been an AbacusLaw users since I opened my own firm in 2006. I have used the software and switched to APC. I went briefly with a competitor for four months because of the cost difference and learned quickly: you get what you pay for. I promptly switched back to Abacus and determined that the APC was worth it.
Pros: The ease of use, the triple reconciliation feature, and the linking items to client matters.
Cons: I wish the calendar syncing feature with Google calendar/Outlook was easier and not manually required. I also wish the price point was lower for small firms. It's just me and a paralegal.
"Do not buy AbacusLaw Case Management Software "
Overall: Abacus is a disappointment and I strongly recommend against using it. The support blames its customer and Microsoft Abacus' failures. Our program crashes constantly and the supposed case management and document management features are too complicated to use. The phone calendar and contact updates no longer work, which was a major purchase consideration when we purchased Abacus. Now the company will not support its outdated system and is using its failure to extort upgrades from its long-term customers. We started using Abacus over five years ago and experienced many headaches thought that term. Now the system constantly crashes. As an example, for the past week or so we have not been able to add new client contacts or calendar events. Imagine trying to run a law office and you cannot open a file or put an event on the calendar. Abacus support was rude and cavalier about our problems and tried to put the blame on Microsoft Windows 10 and blamed our office for deleting something on our computer -- an utter impossibility. I cannot strongly impress upon anyone considering teaming up with Abacus my disappointment and hope you will steer clear of AbacusLaw.
Cons: The company seems to have abandoned us. We purchased AbacusLaw five years ago and now the program keeps crashing and the rude support personnel blame us for using an outdated version which Abacus says it is trying to faze out an no longer support. We bought the program because it offered case management and document management capabilities, and automatically updated contacts and calendar on the phone. Over the years, we constantly needed to contact support because the calendar and contact update functionality constantly broke down. Now the software crashes all of the time. I could not enter new clients nor could I make calendar entries for the past five (5) days. I called support and they complained that Abacus no longer wants to support this version and claimed my staff must have "deleted something" -- which is an impossibility! and the support blames Microsoft updates. We are beyond frustrated with Abacus. The program is so poorly designed there is no way to utilize many of the features it claims to have. Frankly we gave up on linking documents, producing case management reports, etc. because the software is too complicated to understand. Abacus now wants to up-sell us on its new software products and the pricing could not be more noncompetitive. I sincerely discourage anyone from using Abacus Law and this is the advice from a long term user who gave Abacus an honest and fair chance.
"Abacus Law - A Year In"
Overall: We wanted a product that allowed us to have a 360 view on our productivity, profitability, case management and accounting software. Abacus has provided us with this in one package.
Pros: The time ticket and notes functions have increased our accuracy and efficiency in billing, and provide attorneys and partners with the ability to provide clients with accurate status reports on their matters. The document management function mean that teams can access all information quickly. The software allows partners to track their teams productivity and evaluate work in progress.
Cons: The software does not provide for multiple currency databases - although Abacus built several for us. The outlook function is not so stable and with us use several currency databases, you have to keep switching the outlook function in each database. The reports format takes some getting used to - they would be easier to use if they could be downloaded as excel spreadsheets.
"Good not Great, but what is..."
Overall: Our billable hours have increased, due to the ease of use of the timekeeper processes.
Pros: Linking ability between names, matters, the calendar and to email.
Cons: Least favorite is so ironic. In Abacus Accounting retainers are painstaking and excruciatingly burdensome to keep track of and requires manual allocation to timekeepers.
