8 Appointment Scheduling Software for Lawyers
What is an Appointment Scheduling Software?
Lawyers use appointment scheduling software to manage client meetings and consultations. Most scheduling software designed for law firms includes calendar integration, automated reminders, client communication, and integration with other legal practice management software.
Why Should Lawyers Use Scheduling Software?
Lawyers should use scheduling software for the following reasons:
- Avoid double-bookings. A legal scheduling software helps lawyers ensure booking availability and that all events are scheduled without conflicts.
- Automated process. Appointment scheduling apps automate the process of setting, rescheduling, and canceling appointments, eliminating back-and-forth emails.
- Improved client experience. Potential and existing clients can book appointments with lawyers online and immediately get a confirmation.
8 Best Appointment Scheduling for Lawyers
Here are the eight best attorney scheduling software based on features, pricing, and user feedback.
1. Clio
Clio is a legal practice management software that provides comprehensive features for all aspects of managing a law firm. In addition to appointment scheduling, it supports case management, document management, client intake process, billing, and trust accounting. Its appointment scheduling feature, called Clio Scheduler, is included in Clio’s platform.
Key features:
- Manage multiple calendars
- Create events based on court rules
- Receive text message invites and reminders
Pricing: EasyStart: $49 per user/month; Essentials: $89 per user/month; Advanced: $129 per user/month; Complete: $159 per user/month
Pros:
- Allows clients to set appointments on their own
- Integrates well with Outlook and Google
- Clients can pay for appointments in advance
Cons:
- Problems with appointments set in incorrect time zones
- Setup takes time and may be complex for some users
2. Calendly
Calendly is a simple and flexible scheduling tool and appointment booking platform designed for users to schedule meetings in just a few clicks. The app’s main feature is sharing a link to the user’s calendar where recipients can choose a meeting date and time. It also syncs with video conferencing apps like Zoom when you schedule virtual consultations.
Key features:
- Customizable time slots
- Branded booking page
- Sync appointments with Zoom, Outlook, and Google Calendar
- Account sharing
Pricing: Free (limited features); Standard: $12 per seat/month; Teams: $20 per seat/month; Enterprise: 15k/year
Pros:
- Can be used for free
- Easy to use
- Works well with Outlook and Google Calendar
Cons:
- Limited search functionality
- Customer support can be improved
3. Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling (acquired by Squarespace) is an advanced scheduling software that supports various businesses including law firms. In addition to scheduling, it integrates with payment processing, allows client intake forms, and provides reports on booking trends.
Key features:
- Customizable booking page
- Integrated payment processing
- Group bookings
Pricing: Emerging: $20/month; Growing: $34/month; Powerhouse: $61/month; Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros:
- Flexible settings for appointment details
- User-friendly interface
- Responsive customer support
Cons:
- Limited integration with online meeting platforms
- Limited payment processors
4. Google Calendar
Google Calendar is a popular calendar that can be used as an appointment-scheduling tool with premium features enabled when you sign up for a Google Workspace account. The app lets you create a booking page where clients can set a meeting time and date according to your and your client’s availability.
Key features:
- Customizable appointment settings
- Add up to 20 co-hosts for an appointment
- Layered calendar view
- Integrated payment processing via Stripe
Pricing: Free (limited features); Business Starter: $6.30 per user/month; Business Standard: $12.60 per user/month; Business Plus: $22 per user/month; Enterprise: Contact for pricing
Pros:
- Offers a free account for basic features
- Works well with other Google apps like Gmail, Google Meet, and Google Drive
- Can view appointments across multiple devices
Cons:
- Multiple appointments can be hard to view on smaller screens
- Booking page customization can be improved
5. Microsoft Bookings
Microsoft Bookings is a booking platform that comes with Microsoft 365. Appointments are synced with your Outlook calendar, and virtual meetings are done in Teams. Clients can easily reschedule or cancel a booking from your booking page, or you can create a booking for them and send email confirmations.
Key features:
- Built-in Outlook and Teams integration
- Multiple booking calendars
- Customizable booking page settings
Pricing: Business Basic: $7.20 per user/month; Business Standard: $15 per user/month; Business Premium: $26.40 per user/month
Pros:
- Great for firms already using Microsoft
- Easy to use
- Can set appointments within Teams
Cons:
- Limited customization for the booking page
- Can’t book recurring appointments
6. HubSpot
HubSpot is a customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing platform that provides support for businesses serving clients in various industries. It has a meeting scheduler with basic features for a free plan and more advanced features like custom branding for booking pages and appointment management.
Key features:
- Supports one-on-one, group, and round-robin meetings
- Sync with HubSpot’s database
- Syncs to Google or Outlook calendar
Pricing: Free (limited features); Service Hub Starter: $20 per seat/month; Starter Customer Platform: $20 per seat/month; Service Hub Professional: $100 per seat/month
Pros:
- Great for firms already using HubSpot
- Flexible pricing for growing teams
- Paid plans include access to useful HubSpot features like email tracking, documents, ticketing, and live chat
Cons:
- Limited customization options
7. Setmore
Setmore is an appointment scheduling software that provides custom booking pages and seamless appointment syncing with Google Calendar and iCal. Booking pages can be shared via a website or social media profiles like Facebook and Instagram. The paid version supports recurring appointments, 2-way calendar sync, and SMS reminders.
Key features:
- Web-based, desktop, and mobile platforms
- Payment processing
- Add Zoom or Google Meet video links to appointments
Pricing: Free (up to 200 appointments); Pro (1-2 users): $12 per user/month; Team (unlimited users): $9 per user/month
Pros:
- Free option includes payment processing
- Competitive pricing
- Great customer support
Cons:
- Booking page has limited customization options
- Limitations in built-in video conferencing tool, Teleport
8. SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is a versatile appointment scheduling tool for service-based companies to manage multiple bookings with ease. It’s not an exclusive appointment scheduling software for attorneys, but it works great for law firms. Booking pages can be customized with many options, including showing prices for services. These can be shared on your law firm website, Facebook, or a page hosted by SimplyBook.me. A unique feature is a point-of-sale (POS) system for accepting payments in person (requires a paid plan).
Key features:
- Multi-channel support
- Personalized, automated reminders
- Accept in-person payments
- Recurring appointments
Pricing: Free (up to 50 bookings); Basic (up to 100 bookings): $10.38/month; Standard (up to 500 bookings): $31.34/month; Premium (up to 2000 bookings): $62.78/month
Pros:
- Highly customizable booking pages
- Automated reminders for all appointment events (confirmation and cancellations)
- Easily track bookings via mobile app
Cons:
- Customizing booking settings can be time-intensive
- Confusing interface
How To Choose The Best Appointment Scheduling Software for Your Firm
- Ease of use. The app should be simple to use so bookings are managed as fast as possible.
- Integrations with essential apps. Scheduling apps should work well with your legal calendar software and timekeeping systems for a streamlined workflow.
- Has a mobile app. Checking meetings on the go is a must for most lawyers.
- Reasonable cost. The software’s price should make sense for the features you’re getting and should fit your firm’s budget.
Booking clients for your firm is essential to its growth, but getting potential clients to contact you about your legal services is just as important. For this, you need a custom digital marketing plan to establish an online presence, get more leads, and grow your business. On The Map Marketing has years of experience helping law firms achieve their goals with its marketing expertise. Contact us today and we’ll help you get started.
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