No matter what type of law you practice, people will always be at the heart of what you do. Whether it is about keeping your team on the same page, getting new clients, or managing those essential business connections, it is your connection that determines your victory.
But with so many tasks, clients, and issues to keep track of, staying on top of things- and staying compliant- can be an actual headache. And that is where a CRM solution enters.
CRM helps in profiling prospects, understanding their needs, and creating a relationship with them by providing the most suitable products and a very high level of customer service.
It integrates back and front office systems to make a database of customer contacts, purchases, information requested, technical support, and many more. It presents a firm to bring a unified face to its customers and enhances the quality of the relationship.
Automating as many of them as possible will enhance efficiency and productivity. Among the different types of automation that law firms can benefit from is marketing. Fortunately, there are various marketing solutions available.
One of the famous CRM Software, HubSpot is widely used in different industries including the legal field.
The unique thing that makes HubSpot perfect is that it is free to us, so you do not have to find room for it in your budget. Besides, it also allows you to progress your plan if your business flourishes in the coming day.
This software allows you to track interactions via social media, email, and phone. And when the matter comes to email marketing, automation is a major force for staying top of mind with clients. Also, it has powerful email automation abilities through its workflow functionality.
OnePlace is a CRM system created on Salesforce's cloud infrastructure. It has features like recording meeting details, making proposals, and enterprise-level security which allow law firms to benefit from this software.
OnePlace allows for integration with MS Outlook, time as well as billing systems, NetDocuments, and many email marketing tools. When it comes to integration, this software has the most options and enables you to view all customer-related data in one place.
Social collaboration works and different mobile applications make sure for constant and smooth communication with your team.
Known as one of the best CRM solutions, Salesforce brings some serious pedigree. It boosts the business of more than 150,000 companies across the world. Its cloud-based software allows your team to collaborate on cases and projects.
By using this software, one can easily know who is dealing with whom, and what progress has been made so far.
Apart from allowing you to run your firm from your phone, Salesforce also offers the most advanced business analytics on the market. It enables you to drill down into how people get your services, how they tick, and most importantly how to turn them into potential clients.
Cloud-basedCRM and client intake software, Law Ruler is designed specifically for use by law firms and lawyers. It is powered by AI and many other advanced technologies. This application holds notable features, personalized text messages that it sends.
These are welcome texts that include an intake form. Also, Law Rulers allow your staff to know about client calls. This CRM solution also has a mobile version available and a focus on setting up the software and then forgetting about it
OspreyApproach is a high-flying level CRM solution, it is tailor-made for the industry. This software offers practice and case management functions, budget planning, and simple email integration.
Moreover, Osprey Approach is highly preferred because it boasts some of the highest levels of data security. This means, here data is safe, and freeing about the GDPR obligations become a thing of the past.
This extremely user-friendly software provides a range of bespoke packages to fit the unique need of law firms.
Lexicata is specifically created for lawyers. It is more of a hybrid between CRM and client intake software that makes the most sense for law firms.
It allows you to gain lead information with its intake form system, make and send documents for signing, and track your matters up until the client is signed. Lexicata also integrates with Clio, which is the most famous cloud-based practice management software for lawyers.
Actionstep is one of the unique CRM solutions which are made solely for the legal industry. It brings a complete, cloud-based practice management system. The intelligent workflow technology of the software can break the workload down into decision trees and manageable, bite-sized chunks.
Actionstep provides relief to service providers from getting bogged down in repetitive admin stuff and frees them up to get stuck into cases and grow their firms. It also provides an easy-to-use client portal- this is a secure space where one can chat with his clients and collaborate on a document in real-time.
Created especially for building relationships, Contactually is one of the best CRMs for law firms. With it, one can categorize his contacts into different groups like potential clients and referral sources, and at specific time intervals, you are reminded to get back in touch with them.
The best thing about this software is that it is easy to use and not too intimidating. It also has automation sequences to schedule repeated activities and outreach that involved auto-sending emails and making new tasks.
One of the most expensive CRMs, Infusionsoft brings a lot of additional features like marketing and sales automation tools.
This platform is more expensive than Salesforce and there is an industry of Infusionsoft consultants because of how much there is to the platform. This is what most law firm consultants charge you thousands to customize, but it is also very powerful.
Acloud-based secure software; Clio is targeted to meet the need of sole practitioners and small law firms. It easily makes legal practice management.
It also brings document management, time-tracking billing, and accounting features. Functioning as a single resource, Clio eliminates the need for different specialized applications by including the principal talents of each. With this application, there is also a free trial.
When you finally dedicate yourself to taking the plunge and adding a CRM to your practice, first of all, make sure that the CRM you are purchasing;
It will add value to your firm
With it, you can train people to use it if needed
You will use it consistently
Given that there are many multiple options for CRMs out there, here the best way is to try out a few to find what feels the most comfortable to you and seems like it can integrate well into your day-to-day and also with the other software solutions you are presently using.
Apart from the above list, there are a lot of CRMs with amazing features and integrations. But, you may not have very advanced or very simple software. So ignore the bells and whistles and focus on what aspects of the CRM you will use;
Goals: Every software does different things and holds slightly different goals, you need to find your first business objective for implementing a CRM is, and pick around that goal.
Core features: Check the core features and pick the CRM whose features meet your need.
User interface: Stop, and think you need an easy-to-operate system or you can manage a highly advanced interface.
Pricing: Pricing should not be the biggest concern as a CRM that is a good fit for your firm but still it plays a major role. First, find what works for you, and then worry about the price.
It does not matter whether you are a partner, an associate, or a paralegal, CRM software is a powerful tool to support law firms or lawyers develop their practices and improve the speed and efficiency of your workload at the same.
It also brings your remote teams closer together and promotes better, more open communication with your clients. And, automating and simplifying key processes, will free you up for what you did rather be doing.
That's why today CRMs are used widely by small and large businesses to keep track of their potential clients, and their firms could likely benefit from using one. So don't get late, select a reliable and efficient CRM solution for your law firm.
