11 Best Document Management Systems for Law Firms

Document management systems (DMS) help law firms streamline everyday workflows and boost productivity. It’s a type of legal software that every firm needs to have in their tech stack.

In this post, we’ll take a look at the top eleven legal DMS solutions in the market right now.

Let’s start with an overview of each legal document management solution.

	Clio Manage	iManage Work	LexWorplace	NetDocuments	CosmoLex	CaseFox	PracticePanther	MyCase	Rocket Matter	TimeSolv	Smokeball
Security
Encryption	✅	✖️	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
2FA	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Threat Detection	✖️	✖️	✖️	✅	✖️	✖️	✖️	✅	✅	✖️	✖️
Backups	✅	✅	✅	✖️	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Features
Document templates	✅	✖️	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Automation	✅	✅	✅	✅	✖️	✖️	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Integrations	200+	200+	3+	150+	7+	13+	28+	31+	7+	9+	41+
On-premise deployment	✖️	✅	✅	✖️	✅	✖️	✖️	✖️	✖️	✖️	✅
Subscription
Price	$39 per month	Quote-based	$395 per month	Quote-based	$99 per month	$39 per month	$59 per month	$39 per month	$59 per month	$49.99 per month	Quote-based

1. Clio Manage

Clio Manage is one of the best legal document management software in terms of features.

Key Features:

• Assign, track, and collaborate on tasks with your team via a virtual dashboard.
• Create reusable document templates and save time on data entry.
• Organize your firm reports in one accessible location.
• Streamline multi-faceted workflows through direct integrations with third-party apps (e.g., Gmail, LEX Reception, QuickBooks, and Zoom).

Price: Starts at $39 per month

2. iManage Work

iManage Work is a legal document management software that offers both cloud-based and on-premise deployment.

Key Features:

• Install the Work Panel add-on to instantly access important documents, matters, and client files through Outlook.
• Collaborate seamlessly through in-document comments, revisions, and version control.
• Integrate with Microsoft 365 products.
• Ensure the security of sensitive documents even with remote access.

Price: Quote-based

3. LexWorkplace

LexWorkplace is an all-in-one email and legal document management software specifically designed for law firms.

Key Features:

• Easily create and edit documents on Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook directly through LexWorkplace.
• Organize and compartmentalize your documents into their own matters or client folders.
• Built-in optical character recognition (OCR) for copying and editing documents that use an image format (i.e., scanned documents).
• External sharing options for clients and other outside parties.

Price: $395 per month (or free with Uptime Legal subscription)

4. NetDocuments

NetDocuments is a popular, cloud-based legal document management software that prioritizes collaboration and automation.

Key Features:

• Build client portals to enable real-time case status updates.
• Flexible collaboration features with complete document version history and control.
• Direct integrations with third-party business software, including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace products.
• Build automated workflows without writing a single line of code using PatternBuilder.

Price: Quote-based

5. CosmoLex

CosmoLex is a cost-effective legal practice management platform that will help you work with documents, client billing, CRM, and more.

Key Features:

• Sort documents and other files into matters or client folders.
• Collaborate on secure and electronically signed documents through LexShare.
• Create a shareable client portal for easy case updates.
• Kanban project management boards (available with the “Elite” pricing plan).
• Easily mark notes, events, and tasks as billable using Money Finder.

Price: Starts at $99 per month

6. CaseFox

CaseFox is a modern, clutter-free legal practice software with robust document management features.

Key Features:

• Securely upload, edit, and review legal documents remotely.
• Create reusable document templates or choose from pre-built options to save time.
• Synchronize documents between CaseFox and third-party business applications.
• Export documents into different formats (e.g., PDF, Excel, and Word).

Price: Starts at $39 per month

7. PracticePanther

PracticePanther accelerates your day-to-day law firm tasks with a user-friendly interface and automation.

Key Features:

• Auto-fill information into document templates.
• Create a client portal for self-service status updates and payments.
• Quickly import and export law firm documents through third-party cloud services.
• Collaborate with key team members in real time.

Price: Starts at $59 per month

8. MyCase

MyCase is a flexible case management platform that incorporates visual tools and AI features to supercharge your document management.

Key Features:

• Scan, summarize, generate, or enhance legal documents with AI.
• Unlimited document data storage across all plans.
• Simplify and automate eSignatures without a third-party integration.
• Prepare document templates to speed up your workflow.

Price: Starts at $39 per month

9. Rocket Matter

Rocket Matter is a law practice management software that enables the fast, effective, and error-free processing of your documents.

Key Features:

• Get instant notifications on errors or incomplete information.
• Two-way file sharing allows clients to directly send essential files to your dashboard.
• Easily create custom document templates tailored to your practice’s needs.
• Organize and access your files on a desktop, mobile, or tablet.

Price: Starts at $59 per month

10. TimeSolv

TimeSolv consolidates all your legal practice management needs, including a document management tool, into a single user-friendly dashboard.

Key Features:

• Auto-fill client information into new documents or templates.
• Organize all your files into their corresponding matter, case, or client folder.
• Save multiple versions of documents for easy tracking and restoration.
• Self-hosted deployment for complete control over features and security.

Price: Starts at $49.99 per user per month

11. Smokeball

Lastly, Smokeball is another comprehensive legal practice management software with a versatile lineup of document automation tools.

Key Features:

• Auto-fill case and client information into your documents or templates.
• Tailor-made integration with Microsoft Word for synchronization, version history, and user tracking.
• Organize legal forms according to specific practice areas, attorneys, or any other category.
• Automatically clean up and standardize your legal document library.

Price: Quote-based

Final Thoughts: How to Evaluate and Find the Right Document Management Software For Your Firm?

The final decision is dependent on your budget, the custom needs of your firm, and your existing software stack.

Here are a few recommendations:

• If you’re on a limited budget, consider legal document management software like MyCase, CaseFox, or Clio Manage.
• If your law firm relies on Microsoft 365 products, consider iManage Work, LexWorkplace, or NetDocuments.
• If you’re looking for a complete, legal practice management platform, consider Clio, TimeSolv, Smokeball, PracticePanther, and Rocket Matter.
• If you want to prioritize third-party support, Clio, iManageWork, and NetDocuments have the most integrations.
• If you need to create a client portal, consider PracticePanther, NetDocuments, and CosmoLex.

All the best in your journey of choosing a document management system.