Home > Legal Software > Actionstep > Actionstep vs Time Matters

Actionstep vs Time Matters

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Our analysts compared Actionstep vs Time Matters 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
Actionstep Software Tool
Time Matters Software Tool
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Product Basics

Actionstep is an end-to-end cloud-based platform designed for legal practices to manage and execute daily operations. It is scalable and easy to use with drag-and-drop functionality. Users can automate administrative practice workflows with extensive control over each step of the process. They can also build templates to automatically populate legal documents with required data. It provides seamless client onboarding and management with client conflict verification and record management modules. It can also automate matter management with custom structures and data filters, and streamline billing, accounting and time tracking.

Businesses can utilize its assortment of integrations and native iOS and Android apps to manage day-to-day operations on-the-fly. It leverages AWS to provide end-to-end data encryption, permission-based access and automated data backups. Measure performance in different practice areas with its robust reporting.
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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.
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$60 Monthly
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$179 Monthly
Free Trial is available →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Mobile
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Product Assistance

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

Product Insights

  • Scale With a Customizable Platform: Personalize the system according to needs using built-in customization tools. 
  • Access Remotely From Any Device: The platform is 100% cloud-based and accessible via web browsers. 
  • Parse Documents With Ease: Features a range of purpose-built tools for document management, including search, merge fields and assembly. Add custom scripts to fields to run calculations for different values. 
  • Custom Workflows For Every Task: Streamline various operational tasks by creating new workflows and customizing existing ones. 
  • Reporting For Every Purpose: Access fully fleshed out, customizable reports for financial, accounting and operational processes, including general ledger. 
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  • 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. 
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  • Workflow Management: Automate client management, administrative processes and matter progression with configurable workflow patterns addressing individual firm requirements. Collate firm data from reporting modules and assign tasks based on recommended workflow patterns. 
  • Accounting: Manage billables, payments, bank reconciliations, accounts and financial reporting with the UTBMS (LEDES) supported accounting portal. Automatically log client transactions and compute sales tax, GST, VAT and interest for late payments. 
    • Client Accounting: Create and operate 100% cloud-based trust accounts with regular reporting, audit trails and complete trust position visibility. Run reports on account reconciliations, ledgers, journals, matter balances and more. 
  • Conflict Check: Protect the firm from conflicts of interest by checking the client database against custom data sources like emails, matters, contacts and more. 
    • Smart Search: Group search results on the basis of configurable datasets for faster and smarter search results. Study results in greater depth with different contexts. 
    • Permissions: Limit search results depending on an account’s clearance level to protect sensitive firm information. 
    • Import Results: Export search parameters and results to PDF documents and Excel spreadsheets including date and time stamps. Connect search results with associated matters and contacts. 
  • Client Portal: Provide clients with a single, secure platform for carrying out correspondence in real time. Encrypts all communications, documents and matters exchanged between clients and counsels. 
    • Permissions: Authorize which external parties can access the client portal. Maintain confidentiality and limit client activity with account-based permissions for reading, uploading and editing documentation. 
    • Notifications: Get email and in-platform notifications for all document-related changes in the portal. 
  • Data Security: Secure firm data and communication against leaks and vulnerabilities with HTTPS encryption provided by AWS. Solve data residency requirements by storing firm data in one of four AWS data centers in the United States, Australia, Singapore or Europe. 
    • Data Backup: Automatically backup the firm database to protect against catastrophic failures. Export firm data and files securely at any time. 
  • Webforms: Optimize the client intake process with customizable, client-facing intake webforms. Use the form builder extension to configure it in accordance with firm requirements and website aesthetics. 
    • Instant Alerts: Never miss a webform submission from prospective clients with instantaneous email alerts and in-platform notifications. 
    • Secure New Clients: Measure firm response rates to prospective client inquiries in order to improve future performance. The response timer keeps measuring time until the webform is processed or removed. 
    • Data Entry and Reporting: Circumvent manual data entry by automatically converting webforms to relevant matters. Periodically export webform data for reports on the total number of inquiries received and the average firm response rate. 
  • Time Tracking: Track billable time from any device with an internet connection. Attach relevant notes to time tracked and use multiple timers to track simultaneous activities. 
    • Intuitive Recording: Fill out time entries with intuitive defaults based on immediate prior activity. Edit additional details as necessary such as associated legal matter, hours worked, billing rates and more. 
    • Intelligent Time Sheets: Keep track of employee time records and disbursements. The “Smart Suggestions” tool recommends matters and activities to fill the daily progress bar. 
    • Activity Codes: Automatically log common activities like client meetings and document creation with preset activity codes. 
  • Matter Management: Configure individual matters with independent folders including related contacts, notes, documentation, email and calendar events, time records and billing information, trust accounting, audit trails and optimized workflow pattern. 
    • Workflow Automation: Streamline firm processes with matter-specific workflow automation. Automatically perform default tasks like email outreach, data entry and task assignments. 
    • Status Reports: Get detailed reports on the status of legal matters. Customize the reports to reveal specific datasets and export the results as Excel spreadsheets or weekly/daily email reports. 
  • Document Management: Create and edit legal documents within matter-specific folders or upload files directly from third-party integrations like Microsoft Office, Google Drive and Dropbox. The document management portal provides data encryption and permission-based access to protect against unauthorized access. 
    • Data Backup: Secure firm data and documentation with automated backups. Export all data at any time. 
    • Scan and Search: Scan documents directly into legal matters and perform full text search for specific subjects. 
  • Client Management: Get a comprehensive 360-degree view of clients with unique contact records, associated matters, correspondence history and billing information, all in one place. 
    • Client Outreach: Automatically send emails and SMS messages to clients about case updates, changes in matters and upcoming events. Set tasks to remind team members about critical client touchpoints. 
    • Client Portal: Clients can securely upload relevant documents and provide e-signatures through the self-service portal. Increase client engagement by communicating the latest case-related updates through notifications. 
    • Sales Pipeline: Manage prospective clients and sales leads with the purpose-built toolkit. Automatically send follow-up emails to prospects and create reminders for employees. 
  • Calendar Management: Stay on top of important dates, appointments, hearings and legal obligations with the integrated calendar extension. Create shared calendars, synchronize entries across multiple devices and open tasks and matters directly from the extension. 
    • Calendar Sync: Synchronize the calendar tool with third-party integrations for Office 365, Microsoft Exchange and Google Calendar to receive a real-time, holistic view of firm obligations. Link matters directly to the calendar to view all related events. 
    • Calendar Reports: Prepare custom calendar reports with logged events, appointments, transactions and matter. 
    • Cashflow: Link appointments with associated matters to track pending payments. Remind clients about outstanding bills and record payments through the calendar portal itself. 
  • Reporting: Identify the firm’s most profitable practice areas, referral sources, lawyers, clients and more with powerful reporting tools. Additional reporting areas include time and fee entries, client transactions, write-offs, bill journals, aging receivables and client profitability. 
  • Marketing: Optimize the firm’s marketing policy by integrating marketing campaigns, timeframes, expectations and budgets with the recommended workflow. Get accurate feedback on return on investment (ROI) to improve future marketing efforts. 
  • Email Management: Manage all client and contact correspondence with the dedicated email platform. Integrate with applications like Outlook and Gmail to record notes and tasks directly from the source. 
    • Email Automation: Inform clients, team members and co-counsels about case developments and events with automated emails. Create perfectly worded emails with custom templates that pull data from live matters. 
    • Matter Linking: Organize the firm’s inbox and outbox based on associated matters. Redirect all sent messages and replies automatically to the designated matter folder. 
  • Document Automation: Automatically situate live data from legal matters into customizable documents and email templates to eliminate manual data entry. The document assembly tool can insert a variety of data fields including names, logos, addresses and billing information. 
  • API: Use existing applications or integrate third party extensions like Office 365, Microsoft Outlook and more as per firm requirements. 
  • Mobile App: Manage legal calendar, tasks, appointments and deadlines from the mobile app. Stay on top of all client obligations with automated synchronization of legal calendars. 
    • Mobile Time Tracking: Track time, create new entries and view timesheets on the go. Add notes and descriptions to time tracked, assign it to existing legal matters and enter billing information in real time. 
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  • 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. 
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Product Ranking

#25

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#44

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 242 reviews
Fair User Sentiment 94 reviews
87%
of users recommend this product

Actionstep has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 87% when considering 242 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

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.

4.2 (3)
n/a
4.2 (11)
3.3 (39)
4.34 (119)
n/a
n/a
3.4 (46)
4.4 (108)
n/a
4.2 (1)
4.4 (9)

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Functionality: The platform offers robust features, according to 88% of users who reviewed this aspect.
Ease of Use: According to 70% of users who reviewed this element, the system’s customizability and UI make it easy to use.
Cost: 80% of reviewers mentioning cost said the software’s pricing is within reason and affordable.
Automation: Regarding this feature, 92% of users said automation saves a lot of time and resources.
Data Management: According to 71% of users who reviewed this feature, the platform has powerful data management tools, including document search and field merging.
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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.
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Integrations: Integrations, especially email, accounting and invoicing, have a lot of room for improvement, according to 69% of reviewers mentioning this aspect.
Implementation: 69% of users reviewing this element said the implementation process is lengthy.
Service and Support: 56% of users who mentioned this aspect said support requests have long wait times.
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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.
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Actionstep provides a cost-effective alternative to various legal practice management solutions out there. It’s completely cloud-based with robust features designed to serve multiple practice areas. Document management, eDiscovery and automation are among its strengths with dedicated workflows, templates and search tools. However, there are tradeoffs with the most cost-effective options. Technical support can have long wait times and not always result in closure. The implementation process is lengthy, and integration options are mediocre at best. If you are on a tight budget and need a decent and reliable solution, Actionstep is a good contender.

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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.

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