Home > Legal Software > MerusCase > MerusCase vs Firm Central

MerusCase vs Firm Central

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Our analysts compared MerusCase vs Firm Central 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 User Ratings Analyst Summary Screenshots
MerusCase Software Tool
SelectHub Award Winner
Firm Central Software Tool
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Product Basics

Meruscase is a scalable cloud-based solution for firms of all sizes to save time on various practice operations: automate documents, track billable time and manage calendaring, email and legal cases. It provides 360 degree visibility of relevant case data with robust predictive searching modules. Users can batch scan documents and auto-populate forms using custom templates. Maximize revenues with intuitive time tracking, customized e-billing and comprehensive bookkeeping.

Administrators can delegate tasks, while team members can collaborate on them with increased transparency using color-coded tiered calendaring. Leverage 35 built-in reporting modules to gain data-driven insights on billing and cash flow patterns, workloads, performance and more. Keeps data secure with SSL encryption and regular backups. The vendor also offers automatic updates, seamless migration, personalized training, unlimited cloud storage, remote accessibility and dedicated support.
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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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$39/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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Large 
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Quick Access: Locate specific documents, client information and case records easily with purpose-built data management tools. 
  • Automated Data Collection: Automatically collect, review and store case documents and legal records with AI-enabled scanning tools, eliminating human errors and omissions. 
  • Universally Accessible Training: Prepare tailored training routines and timelines with an open knowledge base. 
  • Manage Work Comp: Streamline workers' compensation adjudication cases by accessing Jet File and EAMS (Electronic Adjudication Management System). 
  • Easy Data Recovery: Recover data at a moment’s notice with regular backups. 
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  • 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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  • Document Management: Connect legal documents with associated matters, cases, contacts and assignments. Keep track of pending documents and case status with regular reporting. 
    • Form Automation: Pull case data from associated matters like client names, addresses, case notes, numbers and more to automatically fill out legal forms and documents. Convert documents into PDF court forms or Word format, as per firm requirements. 
    • Predictive Search: Search for specific legal documents with stackable search filters and the Global Search tool. Turbo-caching predictive algorithms search associated matters for any and all relevant documents. 
    • Batch Scanning: Scan and upload multiple sets of documentation at once. Process the records into single and multi-page documents and sort them into relevant case files. 
  • Time and Expense Tracking: Interact directly with the time tracking and billing portals to identify billable hours and track payments, year-end reconciliations, balance forwards and overpayments. Create and manage separate trust and operating accounts in accordance with industry regulations. 
    • Time Tracking: Track billable hours spent on client activities like meetings, hearings, communications and documentation. Add notes to specific time entries and retroactively edit the ledger in case of errors. 
    • Billing Management: Provide clients with versatile payment methods supported by Ledes, ESIS, Chubb, PDF and more. 
    • Reporting: Generate reports based on preset data fields to create insights into the firm’s cash flow patterns, reliable clients, profitable practice areas and productivity. 
  • Teamwork and Collaboration: Synchronize calendar and email entries for seamless collaboration between team members and clients. 
    • Email Management: Integrate existing email clients with the in-platform tool to automatically organize all correspondence. Link emails to relevant matters and track related communications between team members and clients. 
    • Calendar Management: Stay on top of deadlines, events, hearings and appointments with synchronized calendar entries. Connect events to associated legal matters and allow access to everyone on the case files. 
    • Task Management: Assign tasks to team members, track individual attorney contributions and set up alerts for pending tasks. 
  • Backup and Security: Secure firm data and documentation with daily backups performed nightly. Updates are issued regularly and are easy to install. 
    • Cloud Storage: Store an unlimited number of legal documents and files and access them globally from any device with an internet connection. 
    • Security: Protect firm information from vulnerabilities with SSL encryption. It is HIPAA compliant. 
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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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Product Ranking

#34

among all
Legal Software

#37

among all
Legal Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 157 reviews
Good User Sentiment 141 reviews
94%
of users recommend this product

MerusCase has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 94% when considering 157 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

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.

4.3 (4)
4.1 (5)
4.6 (5)
3.8 (11)
4.7 (70)
3.68 (62)
4.7 (78)
3.7 (62)
n/a
3.0 (1)

Awards

MerusCase stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive Interface: Many users find MerusCase easy to navigate and use, even without prior experience with legal software. They appreciate the logical layout and straightforward design.
Robust Features: MerusCase offers a comprehensive suite of tools that streamline various aspects of legal practice, such as calendar management, task assignment, and document storage. This allows lawyers to manage their cases efficiently.
Strong Customer Support: Users consistently praise MerusCase's responsive and helpful customer support team. They appreciate the quick response times and knowledgeable assistance provided.
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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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Billing Issues: Some users have reported problems with the billing system, such as difficulty generating invoices and tracking payments.
Customization Limitations: Users have expressed frustration with the limited customization options, making it challenging to tailor the software to their specific workflows.
Learning Curve: The software's interface and features can be complex, leading to a steep learning curve for new users.
Mobile App: The mobile app has received negative feedback for its limited functionality and user-friendliness.
Customer Support: Some users have reported challenges with customer support, including slow response times and difficulty resolving issues.
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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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MerusCase is generally praised for its user-friendly design and ability to manage complex legal cases, particularly its document management, case file organization, and customizable dashboards. Users specifically appreciate the platform's scalability, making it suitable for both small and large firms. Features like batch scanning for efficient mail processing and email integration with automatic linking to cases are highlighted as major advantages. However, some users find the software's learning curve steep and desire more comprehensive features. For example, users express the need for better legal document creation tools and smoother integration with external calendars like Google Calendar. Compared to competitors like Rocket Matter Premier, MerusCase shines in its user-friendly interface and integrated accounting tools. However, Rocket Matter Premier is considered more robust in billing and time tracking, offering advanced features and customization. Ultimately, MerusCase is best suited for legal professionals who prioritize ease of use, efficient case management, and document organization. Its strengths lie in simplifying complex legal processes, making it ideal for firms transitioning to digital case files or those seeking a straightforward, scalable solution. However, firms requiring advanced billing features or extensive customization might find other platforms more suitable.

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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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