Home > Legal Software > Time Matters > Time Matters vs CARET Legal

Time Matters vs CARET Legal

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared Time Matters vs CARET Legal 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
Time Matters Software Tool
CARET Legal Software Tool
SelectHub Award Winner
Get Free Demo Demo    Request Pricing Pricing
Get Free Demo Demo    Request Pricing Pricing

Product Basics

Analyst Rating

we're gathering data
Detailed Analysis

User Sentiment

Fair User Sentiment (94 Reviews)

Analyst Rating

86 Detailed Analysis

User Sentiment

Excellent User Sentiment (345 Reviews)
Time Matters is a customizable cloud-based solution that provides a centralized database to optimize legal workflows, track billable hours and facilitate collaboration. Users can use it to generate workflows, forms and documents with customizable templates, as well as track billable time easily and remotely from any device. It can streamline legal workflows with task and deadline reminders, shared calendars and automated recurring processes. Legal teams can utilize transparent sharing, enhanced communication messenger and user access controls to collaborate efficiently.

It offers seamless integrations to enrich its functionality, including PCLaw, Juris, Quickbook, Outlook 365 and MS Office. Firms can opt for its billing module, Billing Matters, to generate bills, acquire payments, organize accounts and more. Its personalized reporting modules can deliver data-driven insights on facets such as productivity and profitability. It also provides conflict-check searching, auto-entry forms, to-do lists, events and email management. It was acquired by PCLaw in 2019.
read more...
CARET Legal (formerly Zola Suite) is a cloud-based practice management solution with integrated matter management, CRM, time tracking and billing capabilities. Businesses can centralize all firm and client data, track time and expenses, and manage operating and trust accounts. It helps prepare digital invoices, run financial reports and connect legal matters with associated contacts, documents, communications and tasks to get complete visibility over active cases. The built-in legal calendar tracks important events and touchpoints in real time.

It complies with SOC 2 auditing standards and secures sensitive information via military-grade encryption and user permissions. Companies can expedite client onboarding with trigger-based workflows and intelligent forms. It integrates with third-party applications for continued scalability.
read more...
$179 Monthly
Free Trial is available →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$150/User, Monthly
Free Trial is available →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
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

  • Increased Productivity: Spend more time on billable client activities by automating maintenance and management tasks. 
  • Streamlined Collaboration: Simplify collaboration with clients and team members with a single, centrally accessible source of truth for case information. 
  • Billing Oversight: Identify unbilled hours at the end of the month with an integrated Billing Calendar and Inactivity Watch tools. 
  • Ethical Trust Accounting: Steer clear of unethical and illegal practices while managing trust accounts with built-in safeguards that prevent overdraws and maintain a transparent audit trail. 
  • Large Database Capacity: Save a large number of case files and records without worrying about storage issues. 
read more...
  • Easier Data Management: A centrally accessible data repository provides a single source of truth for all employees and team members. 
  • Prompt Customer Support: Offers multiple support options to clients with quick response times. 
  • Flexible Accounting: Provides in-house accounting tools and integration with QuickBooks. 
  • Onboarding Support: Minimize time to market with dedicated onboarding and data migration support. 
  • Better Insights and Decisions: Comprehensively diagnose the firm’s financial health, productivity, profitability and efficiency metrics with powerful built-in reports. 
  • Global Reach: The mobile app provides unrestricted access to all features, including time tracking, matter management, emails, payment portal, billing and OCR capabilities. 
  • Seamless Integration: CARET Legal seamlessly integrates with your existing systems, streamlining workflows and eliminating data silos.
  • Enhanced Efficiency: Automated processes and intuitive dashboards empower your team to work smarter, saving time and resources.
  • Improved Collaboration: Secure document sharing, real-time communication, and collaborative workspaces foster seamless teamwork.
  • Advanced Analytics: Data-driven insights provide actionable intelligence, empowering you to make informed decisions and optimize operations.
  • Exceptional Security: Industry-leading security measures protect sensitive data, ensuring compliance and safeguarding your clients' information.
  • Tailored to Your Needs: Customizable settings and flexible configurations adapt CARET Legal to the unique requirements of your practice.
  • Enhanced Client Experience: Client portals and self-service options provide transparency and empower clients to actively participate in their cases.
  • Timely Reporting: Automated reporting capabilities deliver real-time visibility into key metrics, enabling proactive decision-making.
  • Expert Support: Our dedicated team of legal experts provides ongoing support, ensuring a smooth implementation and maximizing your ROI.
  • Future-Proof Innovation: CARET Legal is continuously updated with the latest technologies and best practices, ensuring your firm remains at the forefront of legal innovation.
read more...
  • Workflow Management: Configure workflows and automatically trigger recurring daily processes, calendar entries, email outreach and research notes based on specified deadlines. Customize templates of precedents, documents, forms or merge pre-existing ones. 
    • Document Management: Search for keywords in documents quickly and easily from within your firm’s indexed and centralized document library. Use the intuitive AutoEntry forms to process repetitive data input tasks and save time. 
    • Task Management: Stay on top of your meetings, important events, deadlines, contacts, emails, phone calls, outlines, documents and notes with integrated journals and calendar features. Manage and track daily tasks and activities with the ToDo and Events portal. 
    • Employee Management: Ensure matters, contacts and clients have not been overlooked with the Inactivity Watch extension. Record and review employee performance and activity within the organization. 
  • Employee Collaboration: Improve staff cooperation with optimized sharing of intelligence, calendars and communication using a centralized database of information and a dedicated TM Messenger. Reduce malpractice risks with automated logging of all case-related data. 
  • Data Access Control: Control access to data across various levels with permission-based limitations. Monitor activity across specific contacts and matters and ensure compliance with ethical and data security standards. 
  • Firm Insights: Create customized standard and statistical data reports on employee performance, financial health, lead sourcing and more. Vet clients, matters and contacts for conflict of interests with intuitive search tools. 
  • Billing Management: The Billing Matters portal manages accounts, creates bills, logs transactions, receives payments, makes bank deposits and more. Keep track of and identify unbilled hours with the Billing Calendar. 
  • API Integrations: Access a variety of extensions like PCLaw, Juris, QuickBooks, Timeslips, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Acrobat, Reader and WordPerfect. E-file using InfoTrack and synchronize tasks and calendars across Outlook 365 or Exchange. 
  • Mobile App: Use Time Matters Go to enter time on the go and keep track of tasks and documentation. 
read more...
  • Matter Management: Use the matter dashboard to track active cases in real time. Create custom fields with check-boxes, dates, pick lists and currency and record all matter-specific activities, including time entries. Limit access to sensitive information on a per-matter basis and categorize matters based on practice area, responsible attorney, custom fields and open date. 
  • Intelligent Email: Automatically file emails to associated case files and add time entries for sent emails. The proprietary smart suggest feature locates associated contacts. Convert emails to tasks, matters and billable hours. 
  • Integrations: Supported integrations include G Suite, Exchange, Microsoft 365, RPost, Outlook, Google Calendar, NetDocuments, OneDrive, LawPay and QuickBooks. 
  • Calendar: Send ICS invites, create time entries, set private events, mark recurring events and follow up on team obligations. Set up daily, weekly or monthly schedules for report delivery. 
    • Rules-Based Calendaring: Integrate with LawToolBox to automatically track procedural, administrative and regulatory deadlines. 
    • Date Calculator: Factor in days out, federal holidays and weekends while calculating dates for templates and deadlines. 
  • Legal Contacts: Create cards and lists for various legal contacts, including clients, prospects, witnesses, opposition counsels and referral sources. Generate custom fields and categorize them based on contact role, created by and contact type. 
  • Legal Documentation: Store multiple legal documents depending on the subscription plan. Access instant preview of documents, in-document search, complete version history and file locking and tagging capabilities. Create matter-specific document folders and securely share files via the Caseway portal. 
    • Word Ribbon Plugin: Create, open and save documents directly from Microsoft Word. 
  • CRM: Filter leads by source, practice area and potential revenue and convert them to matters. Identify successful referral sources with intelligent metrics. Embed intake forms into the firm’s website. Automatically create lead entries and generate retainer agreements and standard documents.  
  • Task Management: Tag, sort, filter and create sub-tasks based on requirements. Implement standardized procedures using task templates. Delegate tasks to team members, turn on notifications and assign deadlines. 
  • Client Portal: Allow clients to exchange case-related documents via a 256-bit encrypted channel. The payment portal can process both debit and credit card transactions. Request and approve eSignatures instantly. 
  • Mobile App: Available for both Android and iOS users. Insurers can design custom logos, send and receive documents, share invoices and receive payments. Secures access via fingerprint authentication and Apple TouchID. 
  • Time and Billing: Choose from over 11 ways to create time entries. Build custom invoices with support for UTBMS codes and LEDES format. Run financial reports, develop accounts payable and trust checks, process payments and more. Manages vendor bills and supports split, consolidated and separate billing frequencies. 
    • Time Entry: Create automated time entries and assign “no charge” and “no charge don’t show” labels. Designate round-up increments and log time entries in decimals or HH:MM format. 
    • Rate Cards: Create rate cards with custom user rates. Allow clients to inherit rate cards and set matter-specific discount rates. 
    • Expenses: Automatically track all expenses. Charge soft costs and import copy activities from photocopier devices via the uniFLOW importer. 
  • Business Accounting: Earmark part of payments for expenses and to timekeepers. Set up firm-wide budgets to predict revenue on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. Run year-end reconciliations and add time entries for individual transactions. 
    • Reports: Run built-in client, compensation, productivity, accounting, trust and vendor reports. 
  • Trust Accounting: Manage trust accounts separately. Accept payments via checks and debit and credit cards. Administrators can withdraw money from trust accounts to avoid overdrawing from operating accounts. 
    • Retainer/Trust Fund: Create retainers for trust and operating accounts and get notifications when the balance falls below the minimum. View and print ledgers and trust account summaries with sub-ledgers. Run three-way reconciliation reports. 
  • Smart Settlement: Intelligently manage settlement workflows, including percentages and memo generation for all involved parties. Create a settlement statement for every settlement memo. Capture expenses incurred by the firm, clients and third parties in a detailed value list.  
read more...

Product Ranking

#44

among all
Legal Software

#46

among all
Legal Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

we're gathering data
86
we're gathering data
100
we're gathering data
90
we're gathering data
99
Show More Show More

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Time Matters
CARET Legal
+ Add Product + Add Product
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 100 90 99 65 92 67 100 100 0 25 50 75 100
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
92%
0%
8%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
64%
0%
36%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
89%
0%
11%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
67%
0%
33%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
86%
0%
14%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
75%
0%
25%

User Sentiment Summary

Fair User Sentiment 94 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 345 reviews
69%
of users recommend this product

Time Matters has a 'fair' User Satisfaction Rating of 69% when considering 94 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

94%
of users recommend this product

CARET Legal has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 94% when considering 345 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

3.3 (39)
4.8 (114)
n/a
4.64 (119)
3.4 (46)
n/a
n/a
4.6 (112)
4.4 (9)
n/a

Awards

we're gathering data

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

User Favorite Award
Billing and Payments Award
Task Management Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Customizable: Time Matters is highly customizable to fit the specific needs of a law firm, including workflows, billing arrangements, and reporting.
Integrations: Time Matters integrates with a variety of other software programs, such as Microsoft Office and QuickBooks, which can save time and improve efficiency.
Document Management: Time Matters includes robust document management features, such as version control and full-text search, which can help law firms keep track of their important documents.
Client Communication: Time Matters includes features that can help law firms communicate with their clients more effectively, such as email integration and client portals.
Reporting: Time Matters includes a variety of reporting features that can help law firms track their performance and make better business decisions.
Show more
Robust Legal Case Management: CARET Legal offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing cases, including document management, calendaring, and time tracking, streamlining legal operations.
Excellent Collaboration Features: Its intuitive interface fosters collaboration among team members, allowing seamless sharing of documents, notes, and tasks, enhancing teamwork.
Customized Reporting: CARET Legal's customizable reporting capabilities provide tailored insights into case progress, resource allocation, and billing, enabling data-driven decision-making.
Automated Workflows: The software automates repetitive tasks such as document generation and approval processes, freeing up lawyers to focus on higher-value work.
Improved Efficiency and Productivity: By centralizing legal operations and automating tasks, CARET Legal helps firms improve efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and enhance productivity.
Show more
Dated Interface: The user interface appears outdated and can feel clunky to navigate, especially for users accustomed to modern software design.
Learning Curve: Time Matters has a steep learning curve due to its complex features and functionalities, requiring significant time investment to master.
Customization Challenges: Customizing the software to fit specific workflows can be difficult and may require technical expertise or assistance from the vendor.
Performance Issues: Some users report experiencing performance issues, such as slow loading times or occasional crashes, which can disrupt productivity.
Cost: Time Matters can be expensive, especially for smaller firms or solo practitioners, with costs associated with licensing, implementation, and ongoing support.
Show more
Limited Customization: Many users find that CARET Legal's customization options are limited, making it difficult to tailor the software to their specific needs.
Steep Learning Curve: The software's complex interface and lack of user-friendly features can make it challenging for users to navigate and use effectively.
Expensive: CARET Legal's pricing model is often seen as expensive, especially for small to medium-sized law firms with limited budgets.
Integration Issues: Users have reported difficulties integrating CARET Legal with other software applications, leading to workflow disruptions and data management challenges.
Limited Support: Some users have experienced slow response times and inadequate support from CARET Legal's customer service team, leading to frustration and delays in resolving issues.
Show more

Time Matters has been a mainstay in the legal software arena for decades, but how does it hold up in today's fast-paced technological landscape? User reviews from the past year paint a picture of a powerful, feature-rich platform that, while not without its quirks, remains a top contender for law firms seeking comprehensive case management. Time Matters shines in its ability to centralize client and case information, streamline document management, and automate routine tasks. The software's integration with popular legal research tools like LexisNexis and billing applications like PCLaw is a major plus for many users, boosting efficiency and saving precious time. However, some users find the interface a bit clunky and dated compared to newer, more intuitive platforms. The learning curve can be steep, especially for those transitioning from simpler systems. Despite these drawbacks, Time Matters' robust functionality and customizability make it a compelling choice for larger firms with complex caseloads and a need for granular control over their workflows. Smaller firms or solo practitioners might find the extensive features overwhelming and may prefer more streamlined options like Clio or MyCase.

Show more

CARET Legal has garnered significant user praise over the past year, with reviewers consistently highlighting its strengths in legal research and document automation. One user remarked that CARET Legal's "research tools are top-notch, making it easy to find relevant case law and statutes." Another reviewer lauded its "intuitive document automation features, which have saved me countless hours drafting contracts and pleadings." Compared to similar products, CARET Legal stands out for its user-friendly interface, comprehensive research capabilities, and robust automation tools. Users have noted that its "clean and organized interface makes it a breeze to navigate," while its "deep integration with legal databases provides access to a wealth of information." The software's ability to automate repetitive tasks has also been a major differentiator, with one reviewer stating that "CARET Legal has streamlined my workflow, freeing up more time for high-value tasks." In summary, CARET Legal is highly recommended for legal professionals seeking a comprehensive and user-friendly legal software solution. Its strengths in research, document automation, and user experience make it an ideal choice for lawyers, paralegals, and legal teams looking to enhance their productivity and efficiency.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in Legal Software

AbacusLaw
Amicus Attorney
Bill4Time
CARET Legal
CaseFleet
CASEpeer
Clio
CosmoLex
Filevine
Law Ruler
Lawcus
MyCase
PracticePanther
Rocket Matter
Smokeball
Tabs3

Related Categories

Bankruptcy Software
Case Management Software
Client Intake Software
eDiscovery Software
Estate Planning Software
Family Law Software
Legal Billing Software
Legal Calendaring and Docketing Software
Legal Document Management Software
Legal Practice Management Software
Personal Injury Software
Social Work Case Management Software
Workers Compensation Software
Show more
Bankruptcy Software
Case Management Software
Client Intake Software
eDiscovery Software
Estate Planning Software
Family Law Software
Legal Billing Software
Legal Calendaring and Docketing Software
Legal Document Management Software
Legal Practice Management Software
Personal Injury Software
Social Work Case Management Software
Workers Compensation Software
Show more

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics
Build Your Requirements
SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide
Get Your Free Comparison Report
Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
    Table settings