Home > Legal Software > Centerbase > Centerbase vs Lawcus

Centerbase vs Lawcus

Last Updated: November 18th, 2024

Our analysts compared Centerbase vs Lawcus based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Legal Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

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Product Basics

Centerbase provides a cloud-based end-to-end legal toolkit aimed at enabling mid-sized firms to securely manage practice workflows and improve the client experience. Firms can leverage its billing and payment modules including e-billing, online portal and various payment arrangements to get paid faster. Users can maximize billable hours using remote timekeeping, accessible timesheets and reviewing workbench. It provides comprehensive matter management with configurable workflows, real-time dashboarding and relevant details. Practices can monitor goals, projects, tasks, deadlines, meetings and court dates effortlessly with color-coded calendaring, project management and activity reminders.

Administrators can utilize prebuilt and custom reporting and comprehensive controls to efficiently manage firm operations and make informed decisions. Users can streamline client intake and communication with its secure client portal. It also offers integrated legal and trust accounting modules and robust security.

Lawcus is an end-to-end practice management software with built-in legal case management, client intake and CRM. Streamline time and expense tracking and set up automated workflows. The legal calendar gives a holistic view of upcoming events, deadlines, hearings and tasks. Closely monitor key performance indicators, pipeline value and financial health with built-in reports and a dashboard.

Provides clients with self-service options through the secure client portal. Access best practice templates for client intake and legal documentation. Pre-fill documents with existing database information and process electronic signatures. Manage operating and trust accounts and accept online payments without added risk.

$59 Monthly

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$34/User, Monthly

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Product Assistance

Documentation

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24/7 Live Support

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Product Insights

Stay Connected: Access important case-related information and management tools from any device with an internet connection.
Accessible KPIs: Improve business decisions with the most current information from firm-wide calendar entries and custom reports.
Faster Billing: Increase cash flow with a billing module designed to reduce clicks, deduplicate entries and accelerate invoicing.
Customizability: Use in-house customization tools to appropriately scale the platform according to the firm’s size and maintain relevance in a changing legal landscape.
Flexible Subscription Charges: The role-based pricing structure provides multiple options for interested parties. Add or subtract any applicable licenses and pay only for the integrations and tools required.

Hassle-free Trial: Try out the platform for 14 days with anytime cancellation and no credit card details.
Save Time: Avoid repeatable processes with automated workflows.
Increase Cash Flow: Grow the firm’s client base extensively with dedicated lead conversion and client management tools.
Remote Connection: Access important case information and client records from any device with an internet connection.

Billing Management: Digitize the firm’s entire billing cycle. Prepare and approve a single bill with a log of all inline markups.
- Client Service: Allow clients to pay bills, view invoices and track payment history via the billing portal. Create an audit trail with .txt eBilling files email multiple invoices at once.
- Simple Payments: Provide clients with a single, integrated payment method to settle current charges and/or fill the retainer at the same time. Control payment options and payment methods on a matter-to-matter basis.
- Billing Support: Access support for hourly billing, flat fee billing, expense-only billing, project billing, consolidated billing and more. Prepare electronic invoices with the help of UTBMS codes.
Legal Accounting: Set up all firm accounts under a single infrastructure and organize them based on location, matter or practice area. Link checks directly to expense accounts and provide free platform access to the firm CPA.
- Vendor Management: Set up automated vendor bills for recurring payments. Enter vendor checks and invoices into the system database and automatically track due dates.
- Online Payment: Accept credit card payments securely with the accounting module. Link payments directly to transactions and track client expenses. Eliminate manual data entry and human error.
- Trust Accounting: Create and operate multiple trust and IOLTA accounts. Automatically approve payments from invoices and log all trust fund expenses.
- Trust Reporting: Run reports to trace the flow of money going in and out of trust and IOLTA accounts. Keep a detailed record of all transactions, receivables and matter expenses.
Time and Expense Tracking: Never miss out on a single minute of billable time with round-the-clock time tracking. Automatically log time spent on client calls and messages as billable hours.
- Simple Time Tracking: Track time directly from in-platform applications or external integrations like Microsoft Word or Microsoft Outlook. Enter time while on the move from mobile devices.
- Time Entries: Update, edit and sanction time entries at the end of the month. Hold or approve billing based on the case status and merge multiple associated time entries into a single entry.
- Rate Tables: Prepare tailored rate tables with built-in date ranges effective all year round. Exempt specific matters and clients from the rate table under special circumstances.
- Budgets: Create and track timekeeper budgets for client work. Benchmark staff productivity against firm averages.
Firm Reporting: Generate reports in real time with accounting, billing, productivity, budgeting and compensation data. Group associated reports together and safeguard sensitive information with permission-based access.
- Insights: Get detailed insights into aging receivables, profitable clients, staff compensation and productivity, annual budgets, valuable practice areas and more.
- Custom Reporting: Run custom reports to highlight specific firm strengths and requirements. Increase stakeholder engagement with detailed spreadsheets and data visualization.
Matter Management: Organize and manage all legal matters from a single dashboard. Track contacts, client information, documents, meetings, deadlines, notes and tasks associated with relevant matters.
- Matter Dashboard: Access the matter dashboard for a quick overview of trust balances, WIP, client payment history, ledger, credits, outstanding receivables and more. Prepare matter budgets for individual clients and run reports on fees, expenses and staff productivity.
- Matter Layouts: Create matter layouts with customized data fields. Organize matters on the basis of relevant case information.
- Matter Automation: Design and integrate matter-specific workflows directly into the platform. Automatically assign tasks and execute the next step in the workflow. Update the firm database, team members and clients with new information.
Calendar Management: Create and track calendar entries in real time with a legal calendar. Toggle between firm-wide and personal views, color code entries and print calendar reports as physical reminders.
- Calendar Sync: Design automated calendar entries for recurring meetings and notifications for upcoming events. Connect to the Outlook 365 application for real-time synchronization of calendar entries.
- Deadline Management: Steer clear of malpractice claims with the LawToolBox portal. Automatically add jurisdiction-based deadlines and time-based triggers to legal matters.
Client Services: Improve the overall client experience with an efficient intake process, communications module and client portal.
- Client Portal: Share messages, calendar entries, documentation and invoices with clients securely via the client portal.
- Direct Communication: Communicate with clients via dedicated private lines. Control client access to sensitive information and keep track of their communications with the firm.
- Client Intake: Streamline the firm’s client intake process with self-populating contact forms, automated emails and documentation. Schedule tasks and perform conflict checks against client databases.
- Reporting: Run reports to track marketing ROI, profitable practice areas and referrals.
Document Management: Manage documents directly from associated matters or from integrated web browsers or applications like Microsoft Word. Access and share legal documentation securely from any device with an internet connection.
- Email Management: Store emails to associated matter files in its native .MSG format. Search for specific emails based on subject, content and date sent/received. Integrate with Microsoft Outlook and automatically log any time spent reviewing, sending or editing emails.
- Document Tracking: Search for individual documents using multiple data fields. Track changes made across different versions of the same file.
- Integrations: Open, edit and save documents with the built-in Centerbase Drive inclusion. Integrate with NetDocuments to seamlessly consolidate documents into workspaces.

Case Management: Maintain complete visibility over legal matters with a traditional list view or kanban style bird's-eye view. Identify conflicts of interest via full-text search. Organize matters and contacts via custom fields and groups.
- Legal Matters: Participate in matter-specific conversations and pin significant interactions for future reference. The matter timelines tool recollects all case-specific activities chronologically. Always stay in the loop with continuous updates on task assignments, client intake, messages and payments. Generate on-demand matter summaries detailing any outstanding balances, trust balances, and un-invoiced work in progress.
- Organization: Create custom numbering schemes to assign numbers to legal matters. Arrange cases via customizable labels and tags.
Task Distribution: Break down complex tasks into sub-tasks, delegate them to other staff members and establish realistic deadlines. Set up trigger-based due dates, start dates and automated email notifications for upcoming tasks.
- Task Creation: Design recurring tasks programmed to repeat daily, monthly, annually or periodically. Create private tasks and tasks independent of legal matters. Add multiple team members to a single task and attach notes for future reference.
Time and Expense Tracking: Account for all of the firm’s time and expenses. Directly create invoices from activities and generate UTBMS and LEDES billing codes.
Billing: Supports both flat fee billing, split billing and contingency billing. Get notifications when a client’s retainer balance falls below the minimum amount. Email all clients with open invoices in bulk. Round off time entries and apply default billing rates to all activity items or apply custom rates on time.
- Invoicing: Prepare invoices en masse. Use different templates to create invoices for varied situations. Print, download, delete and process multiple invoices at once. Firms can opt to apply available retainer and trust account funds to invoices automatically.
Legal Documentation: Leverage the workflow automation tool to quickly create documents from built-in templates. Store an unlimited number of documents in default folders sorted by practice areas. Create documents for specific contacts within merged fields. Petition clients for particular files with purpose-built request forms.
Integration: Integrate with Dropbox, Box, Google Drive and OneDrive to simply drag and drop documents from cloud storage. The Quickbooks integration automatically synchronizes accounting data from clients, invoices and payments. Email and calendar integrations include Google, Office 365 and Outlook. Additional integrations include Zapier, Zoom, LawPay and Exchange.
Client Intake: Streamline the client intake process with preconfigured online intake forms. Use the form builder to create multi-step complex forms based on conditional logic and triggers. Embed online intake forms into the firm’s website to capture leads effectively. Potential clients can save their progress on the form and complete it later.
Electronic Signatures: Accept electronic signatures on agreements generated digitally.
Client Relationship Management: Track lead sources, referrals and the pipeline value of potential clients. Automate follow-ups without utilizing code. Access a live feed of performance metrics on the configurable dashboard.
Accounting: Manage multiple trust and operating accounts. Facilitate easy transfer of funds between accounts. Replenish trust accounts with expedited trust requests for additional funds.
Payments: Generate and share secure online payment links for quicker payments. Accept credit cards for both trust and operating account payments.
Workflow Automation: Design automated workflows with triggers based on rules, conditions and actions. Seamlessly automate anything from administrative activities and repetitive tasks to reminders and client engagement strategies.
Legal Calendar: Always stay on top of deadlines, upcoming events, essential client touchpoints and hearing with the built-in legal calendar.
Reporting and Analytics: Leverage a customizable dashboard and flexible visual formats to track real-time performance metrics. Anticipate the value of works in progress. Break down total outstanding revenue to identify invoices awaiting payment and overdue bills.
- Lead Reporting: Run built-in reports on lead trends, source, pipeline value, conversion rate and referrals. Identify the prominent reasons behind failed conversions and track the number of leads lost due to each cause. Drill deeper into conversion rate data to know the dollar value of conversions in every practice area.
- Custom Reports: Create tabular reports with custom parameters and fields, such as invoice history, matter balance summary, general client ledger, accounts receivable and more.
Client Portal: Provide clients with a secure communication module. Lawyers and counsels can answer questions, share documents, request files, assign tasks to and schedule appointments with clients.
Security: Safeguard client data with two-factor authentication.

Product Ranking

#60

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#77

among all
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Analyst Rating Summary

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User Sentiment Summary

92%

of users recommend this product

Centerbase has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 60 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

96%

of users recommend this product

Lawcus has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 96% when considering 103 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

3.8 (2)

4.7 (9)

4.61 (31)

4.8 (47)

4.7 (27)

4.8 (47)

Awards

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Robust Billing: Centerbase offers advanced billing and accounting features that streamline the process of generating invoices, tracking payments, and managing client accounts.

Streamlined Matter Management: Centerbase provides robust matter management capabilities, allowing law firms to effectively organize case files, track deadlines, and manage client information.

Customizable Workflows: Centerbase allows firms to create customized workflows to automate repetitive tasks, ensuring consistency and efficiency in handling routine processes.

Document Management: Centerbase offers integrated document management features, enabling firms to securely store, organize, and retrieve case-related documents within a centralized system.

Client Intake & CRM: Lawcus streamlines client intake with custom forms and automated workflows, ensuring a smooth onboarding experience and efficient data management.

Matter Management: The platform allows users to organize case files, deadlines, and tasks effectively, providing a centralized hub for all case-related information.

Time Tracking & Billing: Lawcus simplifies timekeeping with its intuitive interface and automated timers, making it easy to track billable hours accurately and generate invoices efficiently.

Communication Tools: Integrated email and secure messaging features facilitate seamless communication with clients and colleagues, keeping everyone informed and connected.

Reporting & Analytics: Lawcus provides insightful reports on key metrics such as billable hours, revenue, and client activity, enabling data-driven decision-making.

Complex Setup: Centerbase requires significant setup and configuration, demanding more time and resources compared to other cloud-based legal software options.

Limited Client Intake: Users have reported that Centerbase's client intake features are not as robust as desired, potentially slowing down the onboarding process for new clients.

Expensive Support: While Centerbase offers support, it comes at a significant cost of $200 per hour, which can be a deterrent for firms operating on tighter budgets.

Reporting Limitations: Some users have expressed frustration with limitations in Centerbase's reporting capabilities, particularly the inability to customize column headings within specific data sets.

Customer Service Concerns: Several reviews have highlighted concerns about Centerbase's customer service, citing issues such as slow response times, difficulty reaching support staff, and unresolved technical problems.

Limited Customization: Lawcus offers limited options for customizing workflows, which can be frustrating for firms with unique processes or those requiring a high degree of tailoring. For example, automating specific document generation or client intake procedures may not be possible without extensive workarounds.

Learning Curve: The software's interface, while generally considered user-friendly, can present a learning curve for new users due to its extensive features and functionalities. Navigating through the various modules and understanding the intricacies of task management or billing procedures may require additional time and training.

Integrations: While Lawcus integrates with several popular applications, the range of available integrations may not be as extensive as some competitors. This can limit connectivity with existing tools used by law firms, potentially requiring manual data transfer or additional subscription costs for third-party integration platforms.

Is Centerbase the center of attention when it comes to legal software, or does it strike out? User reviews from the past year reveal a mixed bag. While many users praise Centerbase for its robust customization options, powerful features like automated time capture, and seamless accounting integration, some express concerns about customer service and initial setup complexity. For instance, one user raved about how Centerbase's customizability allowed them to tailor workflows and improve efficiency in identifying and managing projects. Conversely, another user found the customer service, which relies on third-party partners charging $200/hour, to be a significant drawback. What truly sets Centerbase apart is its comprehensive approach to law firm management, encompassing everything from matter management and billing to document automation and workflow customization. This makes it a one-stop shop for firms looking to streamline operations and boost productivity. However, this strength can also be a weakness, as the sheer breadth of features can be overwhelming for smaller firms or solo practitioners who may not need such an extensive suite of tools. In a nutshell, Centerbase is like a Swiss Army knife for law firms – incredibly versatile and powerful, but potentially daunting to use effectively without proper guidance. It's best suited for mid-to-large-sized firms with 5 or more lawyers who can fully utilize its extensive feature set and afford the potentially high support costs. Smaller firms or those seeking a simpler solution might find Centerbase to be overkill.

Lawcus has carved out a niche for itself in the legal tech space, attracting a loyal following of users who appreciate its unique blend of features and affordability. Reviewers frequently highlight the platform's intuitive interface and user-friendly design, making it easy for legal professionals to adopt and integrate into their workflows. The customizability of intake forms, automated workflows, and client portals is a significant advantage, allowing firms to tailor the software to their specific needs and processes. Lawcus's competitive pricing structure, especially compared to industry giants like Clio and MyCase, makes it an attractive option for solo practitioners and small to medium-sized law firms seeking a cost-effective solution without compromising functionality. While Lawcus receives praise for its core features and ease of use, some users note areas for improvement. The mobile app's functionality is sometimes seen as lagging behind the desktop version, and integrations with third-party applications could be more extensive. Additionally, while the customer support is generally responsive, some users desire more comprehensive documentation and resources for troubleshooting and self-help. Despite these limitations, Lawcus remains a compelling choice for legal professionals who prioritize a user-friendly interface, customizable workflows, and competitive pricing. Its focus on automation and client communication tools makes it particularly well-suited for firms looking to streamline their operations and enhance client satisfaction.

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