Home > Legal Software > Firm Central > Firm Central vs Law Ruler

Firm Central vs Law Ruler

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Our analysts compared Firm Central vs Law Ruler based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Legal Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Overview Pricing Benefits & Features Analyst Ratings Comparison Charts User Ratings Analyst Summary Screenshots
Firm Central Software Tool
Law Ruler Software Tool
SelectHub Award Winner
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Product Basics

Analyst Rating

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Detailed Analysis

User Sentiment

Good User Sentiment (141 Reviews)

Analyst Rating

81 Detailed Analysis

User Sentiment

Excellent User Sentiment (41 Reviews)
Firm Central is an end-to-end cloud-based solution that provides firms with a centralized interface to manage legal matters, accounting, calendaring, time tracking, billing and client communication. Users can track time and expenses efficiently from multiple devices and create flexible payment options and custom invoices for clients. Monitor legal workflows using its legal calendar with custom rules templates, deadline assistance, permissions-based access and multiple viewing options. Dashboards and reports provide up-to-date data-driven insights.

It offers robust data security with encryption, compliant servers and 24/7 security monitoring. It also provides continuous data backups and seamless integrations. Users can access it from anywhere, from any device.
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Law Ruler provides legal practitioners with integrated CRM, case management and billing solutions. Leverage dashboard analytics and immersive visualizations to get data-driven insights on productivity. Add a personal touch to automated workflows for daily procedures such as emails, appointments, invoices and e-Signature requests. Maintain complete visibility over the firm’s communication channels, including social media, digital marketing campaigns, calls and websites. Access a built-in settlement wizard to streamline contingency settlements. Sort contacts and leads with custom tags and reach them instantly via dedicated communication channels.

Create online intake forms with the customizable form builder. Retrieve medical records in case of mass tort and personal injury cases. Use best practice templates to create legal documents and contracts. Automate calls and follow-ups with an AI-powered Click and Call Dialer. Integrate with Microsoft Office 365 for easy access to the entire enterprise technology suite.
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$40/User, Monthly
Free Trial is available →
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Tailored to your specific needs
$40/User, Monthly
Free Trial is available →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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Live Online
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Documentation
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Email
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
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24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Comprehensive Reports: Get detailed daily, weekly and monthly reports of billable and non-billable time tracked. Maximize accuracy by cross-checking before billing. 
  • Easy Access: Directly access Westlaw’s legal research network from the homepage. 
  • Customizable Dashboard: Customize the dashboard with status bars for crucial functions. 
  • Simplify Collaboration: Collaborate with clients and team members by integrating with SharePoint. 
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  • Enhanced Efficiency: Streamline legal processes, automate tasks, and reduce time spent on administrative duties, freeing up attorneys to focus on high-value work.
  • Improved Case Management: Centralize case information, track progress, set deadlines, and manage documents efficiently, ensuring seamless case handling and reducing the risk of errors.
  • Increased Collaboration: Facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among attorneys, paralegals, and clients, fostering a cohesive team environment and enhancing productivity.
  • Enhanced Client Service: Provide clients with real-time case updates, secure document sharing, and personalized communication, building stronger relationships and increasing client satisfaction.
  • Reduced Costs: Optimize resource allocation, minimize administrative expenses, and improve billing accuracy, resulting in significant cost savings for law firms.
  • Improved Compliance: Ensure adherence to ethical and regulatory guidelines, manage conflicts of interest, and maintain accurate records, mitigating risks and protecting the firm's reputation.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Analyze case data, track key performance indicators, and identify areas for improvement, enabling data-informed decision-making and strategic planning.
  • Enhanced Security: Safeguard sensitive client information with robust security measures, including data encryption, access controls, and disaster recovery plans, ensuring data integrity and compliance.
  • Scalability and Flexibility: Adapt to changing caseloads and firm growth with a scalable platform that can accommodate the evolving needs of law firms of all sizes.
  • Exceptional Support: Benefit from dedicated technical support, training, and ongoing updates, ensuring a smooth implementation and maximizing the value of the software investment.
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  • Matter Management: Manage legal matters, tasks, contacts, deadlines and documents from a single platform. Automate the client intake process and store an unlimited amount of documentation and files. 
    • Matter Search: Identify specific legal documents and files with the global search function. 
  • Collaboration: Securely share case files and calendar entries with all team members and counsels. Encourage collaboration between counsels and clients with a dedicated client portal. 
  • Task Management: Assign tasks to staff members, set reminders for important events and appointments and keep track of notifications. Monitor document reviews and updates and perform conflict checks across the client database. 
  • Time Tracking and Billing: Track every single minute of billable time with the Firm Central Time & BIlling portal. Create and operate trust funds, run reports and issue expedited invoices for faster payments. 
    • Financial Reporting: Generate reports with custom datasets to identify profitable practice areas, aging receivables, referral values, important clients and more. 
    • Financial Dashboard: Get real-time access to firm financials, outstanding bills, WIP, year-end reconciliations and more through a single interface. Use the dashboard insights for agile decision-making and strategic future planning. 
    • Time and Expense: Log billable hours with multiple timers from any computer or mobile device. Integrate time tracking and billing capabilities to directly invoice for the time entries. 
    • Billing: Prepare tailored payment plans and payment options for clients. Edit invoices and accept credit card payments with the ClientPay portal. 
  • Accounting: Manage separate trust and operating accounts with purpose-built accounting software. Process invoices ethically and in compliance with industry standards. 
    • Reports: Run regular accounting reports to measure profitability, discounts, write-offs, bank reconciliations, account transactions and more. Stay on top of the firm’s financial health to make informed decisions. 
    • Eliminate Error: Automate data entry to eliminate duplicate data and human errors. 
    • Compliance: Prepare an audit trail for all trust account transactions and simplify year-end reconciliations. Set up internal controls to protect financial data from leaks. 
  • Legal Calendar: Manage deadlines, events, hearings and more with the integrated legal calendar tool. 
    • Deadlines: The Deadlines Assistant automatically computes the deadlines of ongoing projects based on the rules set by the firm’s jurisdiction. Set up custom rules if required. 
    • Calendar Sync: Add, edit and update events in either the built-in calendar or Microsoft Outlook and automatically synchronize entries. 
    • Multiple Calendar Views: Allow all staff members to view the legal calendar for a holistic awareness of deadlines and appointments. Drill down on specific entries by matter and permissions. 
  • Mobile Application: Retain full control over legal matters and tasks while away from the office. Use the mobile application to securely access legal documents, matters, contacts, calendars and more. Track time and process expenses on the go. 
  • Security: Secure firm files and documentation in transit as well as in storage. Additionally, solve any data residency requirements with U.S.-based servers hosted by Thomson Reuters. 
    • Data Encryption: All connections to Firm Central servers are routed via HTTPS sessions with 256-bit SSL and TLS encryption. 
    • Compliance: Ensure the data security standards of the firm are compliant with SOC 2 Type II and AICPA regulations. Physical data centers are ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified. 
  • Client Portal: Provide clients with an encrypted communication environment for secure collaboration with counsels. 
    • Communications: Share documents, bills, case updates, messages and more with clients in real time. Monitor all client activity and maintain a record of all communications. 
    • Self-service: Clients can check case files and matter information, receive push notifications and upload documents. 
    • Security: Maintain ABA ethics mandates with the self-service portal. Use permission-based controls to decide who gets access to what items and documents. 
  • Westlaw Compatibility: Subscribe to Westlaw for built-in case citation flags and integrated global search and research tools. 
  • Integrations: Integrate with multiple Thomson Reuters applications under the same platform. Available inclusions include Westlaw legal research, Westlaw Form Builder, Practical Law and Drafting Assistant. 
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  • Dashboard Analytics: Leverage sonar dashboards and custom analytics to measure key performance indicators for marketing intake, referrals, staff productivity, litigation and case management. Identify historical trends and patterns, track dockets and evaluate return on investment. 
  • CRM: Tag contacts with custom labels. Assign multiple labels to a single contact and mass populate entries based on tags. Create notes, tasks and reminders to always stay on top of deadlines, tasks, meetings and important events. Automatically create new leads from referrals and inquiries. Leverage lead source tracking to gain actionable insights into top-performing marketing sources.  
  • Mobile Application: Enjoy unrestricted mobile access through an app optimized for on-the-go use. 
  • Legal Calendar: Connect to Outlook for two-way synchronization of calendar entries. Link client correspondence in Outlook to associated legal cases to maintain a centralized source of truth. 
  • Case Management: Manage the entire case lifecycle from referral to billing with one dedicated module. Eliminate data duplication and errors and omissions (E&O) with automated entries. Access turnkey integration of the firm’s calls, contacts, cases, websites and legal matters. 
  • Workflow Automation: Create custom templates and apply them to different workflows. Implement automation in regular processes like online intake forms, social media marketing, calls, text messaging and email marketing. Add a personal touch to follow-up emails and text messages regarding matters, invoices, electronic signatures, appointment reminders and more. 
    • Workflow Tracking: Get complete visibility into upcoming tasks, appointments, signature requests, emails and intake forms. 
  • Security: Provides around-the-clock intrusion detection and prevention facilities. HIPAA-compliant cloud hosting available. Secure firm data with 256-bit AES encryption. 
  • Billing: Supports contingency billing, flat-fee billing, timer-based hourly billing, fee splits, pro-bono billing, client medical bills, expenses and settlement tracking. Track time, expenses and invoices in real time and generate UTBMS and LEDES billing codes. 
  • Integrations: Connect to Office 365 for access to robust security and dictation and transcription tools. Other supported integrations include LawPay, Outlook Calendar, Zapier, QuickBooks, ApexChat, Google, Thomson Reuters and more. 
  • Click to Call Dialer: Automate follow-up calls and schedule callbacks with the built-in AI-powered dialer. Automatically follow-up on web and live chat leads and record all communication with date and time stamps. 
  • Online Intake Forms: Leverage a user-friendly form builder to create online intake forms with data fields tailored for every practice area and purpose. Automatically populate forms with existing data and add custom logos and images. Embed forms in the website and application. Send reminders to potential clients with incomplete progress. 
  • Legal Documentation: Automate document creation and delivery with custom templates and workflows. Process documents faster with electronic signatures. Send automated reminders to clients about incomplete contracts, waivers and NDAs. Eliminate redundant data and E&Os. 
  • Settlement Wizard: Evaluate settlement options in real time and approve transactions and payments with a single click. Calculate attorney fees for multiple firms and digitally review and approve settlements. Send invoices and opening and closing statements via text messages, emails or postal service.  
  • Record Retrieval: Directly order medical records for mass tort and injury cases. Get notifications on successful retrievals. 
  • Firm Reports: Use the built-in report builder to prepare custom reports via a no-code interface. Run reports on marketing campaigns, case milestones, productivity, case metrics and conversion rates. 
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Product Ranking

#37

among all
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#78

among all
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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Billing And Payments Calendaring And Legal Docketing Client And Contact Management Dashboard And Reporting Document Management Matter/Case Management Mobile Capabilities Task Management Time And Expense Management 97 95 100 46 92 67 100 79 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Good User Sentiment 141 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 41 reviews
74%
of users recommend this product

Firm Central has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 74% when considering 141 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

96%
of users recommend this product

Law Ruler has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 96% when considering 41 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.1 (5)
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3.8 (11)
4.0 (1)
3.68 (62)
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3.7 (62)
4.8 (40)
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Awards

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SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Law Ruler and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Dashboard and Reporting and Task Management. Law Ruler stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Dashboard and Reporting Award
Task Management Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Data Management: It provides easy and secure access to client records and legal matters, according to 100% of users mentioning data management.
Ease of Use: According to 83% of users who reviewed this aspect, the platform is user-friendly and easy to learn.
Sharing and Collaboration: All reviewers who mentioned this benefit said they found it easy to share and collaborate on legal matters, especially with access to SharePoint.
Task Management: According to 67% of users who reviewed this feature, the legal calendar simplifies tracking pending tasks, assignments and deadlines.
KPI Monitoring: Everyone reviewing this element said that the customizable dashboard made it easy to track KPIs.
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Intuitive Interface: Law Ruler's user-friendly design makes it easy to navigate and find the features you need, even for users with limited technical expertise.
Comprehensive Features: The software offers a wide range of features tailored to the specific needs of legal professionals, including case management, document automation, and billing.
Time-Saving Automation: Law Ruler automates repetitive tasks such as document creation and scheduling, freeing up lawyers to focus on more strategic work.
Enhanced Collaboration: The platform facilitates seamless collaboration between team members, allowing them to share documents, track progress, and communicate efficiently.
Excellent Customer Support: Law Ruler provides responsive and knowledgeable customer support, ensuring that users have the assistance they need to maximize the software's benefits.
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Functionality: Without integrations, it has limited functionalities, according to 57% of users mentioning this element.
Integrations: According to 71% of users who reviewed this feature, integrations can be buggy and expensive.
Service and Support: 64% of users who mentioned this aspect said they found the technical support lacking in knowledge and responsiveness.
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Limited Customization: Law Ruler offers limited customization options, making it difficult to tailor the software to specific firm needs.
Steep Learning Curve: Users have reported a steep learning curve when using Law Ruler, requiring significant time and effort to become proficient.
Lack of Integration: Law Ruler lacks seamless integration with other legal software and applications, limiting its functionality and efficiency.
Limited Reporting Capabilities: Users have expressed concerns about Law Ruler's limited reporting capabilities, making it challenging to generate comprehensive and customized reports.
Inconsistent Support: Some users have experienced inconsistent support from Law Ruler's customer service team, leading to delays and unresolved issues.
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Firm Central provides legal practitioners with a capable practice management solution with direct access to Westlaw. It offers secure and fast web access to basic features, including time tracking, billing, accounting, and matter and task management modules. Access to Westlaw is an important asset and should weigh heavily on any acquisition decision. That said, multiple integrations can drive up costs and put a lot of pressure on the platform. Implementation and technical support can be hard to reach at times. Unless a Westlaw integration is absolutely essential to the firm, there are better options available in this price range.

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Law Ruler has received mixed reviews in the past year. Users praise its intuitive interface, comprehensive features, and affordable pricing. They find it particularly useful for managing cases, tracking time, and generating documents. However, some users have reported occasional bugs and glitches, and they wish the software offered more customization options. Compared to similar products, Law Ruler stands out for its ease of use and affordability. Its intuitive interface makes it accessible to users of all experience levels, and its low price point makes it a great option for small law firms and solo practitioners. However, Law Ruler may lack some of the advanced features found in more expensive software, such as document automation and e-signature capabilities. Overall, Law Ruler is a solid choice for small law firms and solo practitioners who are looking for an affordable and easy-to-use legal software solution. Its strengths lie in its intuitive interface, comprehensive features, and affordable pricing. However, users who require more advanced features or customization options may want to consider other products.

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Screenshots

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