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Actionstep vs Law Ruler

Last Updated: November 18th, 2024

Our analysts compared Actionstep vs Law Ruler 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

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.

Law Ruler provides legal practitioners with integrated CRM, case management and billing solutions. Leverage dashboard analytics and immersive visualizations to get data-driven insights on productivity. Add a personal touch to automated workflows for daily procedures such as emails, appointments, invoices and e-Signature requests. Maintain complete visibility over the firm’s communication channels, including social media, digital marketing campaigns, calls and websites. Access a built-in settlement wizard to streamline contingency settlements. Sort contacts and leads with custom tags and reach them instantly via dedicated communication channels.

Create online intake forms with the customizable form builder. Retrieve medical records in case of mass tort and personal injury cases. Use best practice templates to create legal documents and contracts. Automate calls and follow-ups with an AI-powered Click and Call Dialer. Integrate with Microsoft Office 365 for easy access to the entire enterprise technology suite.

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$40/User, Monthly

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Large

Small

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Android

Chromebook

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Android

Chromebook

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Documentation

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Live Online

Videos

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Phone

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FAQ

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Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

Phone

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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.

Enhanced Efficiency: Streamline legal processes, automate tasks, and reduce time spent on administrative duties, freeing up attorneys to focus on high-value work.
Improved Case Management: Centralize case information, track progress, set deadlines, and manage documents efficiently, ensuring seamless case handling and reducing the risk of errors.
Increased Collaboration: Facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among attorneys, paralegals, and clients, fostering a cohesive team environment and enhancing productivity.
Enhanced Client Service: Provide clients with real-time case updates, secure document sharing, and personalized communication, building stronger relationships and increasing client satisfaction.
Reduced Costs: Optimize resource allocation, minimize administrative expenses, and improve billing accuracy, resulting in significant cost savings for law firms.
Improved Compliance: Ensure adherence to ethical and regulatory guidelines, manage conflicts of interest, and maintain accurate records, mitigating risks and protecting the firm's reputation.
Data-Driven Insights: Analyze case data, track key performance indicators, and identify areas for improvement, enabling data-informed decision-making and strategic planning.
Enhanced Security: Safeguard sensitive client information with robust security measures, including data encryption, access controls, and disaster recovery plans, ensuring data integrity and compliance.
Scalability and Flexibility: Adapt to changing caseloads and firm growth with a scalable platform that can accommodate the evolving needs of law firms of all sizes.
Exceptional Support: Benefit from dedicated technical support, training, and ongoing updates, ensuring a smooth implementation and maximizing the value of the software investment.

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.

Dashboard Analytics: Leverage sonar dashboards and custom analytics to measure key performance indicators for marketing intake, referrals, staff productivity, litigation and case management. Identify historical trends and patterns, track dockets and evaluate return on investment.
CRM: Tag contacts with custom labels. Assign multiple labels to a single contact and mass populate entries based on tags. Create notes, tasks and reminders to always stay on top of deadlines, tasks, meetings and important events. Automatically create new leads from referrals and inquiries. Leverage lead source tracking to gain actionable insights into top-performing marketing sources.
Mobile Application: Enjoy unrestricted mobile access through an app optimized for on-the-go use.
Legal Calendar: Connect to Outlook for two-way synchronization of calendar entries. Link client correspondence in Outlook to associated legal cases to maintain a centralized source of truth.
Case Management: Manage the entire case lifecycle from referral to billing with one dedicated module. Eliminate data duplication and errors and omissions (E&O) with automated entries. Access turnkey integration of the firm’s calls, contacts, cases, websites and legal matters.
Workflow Automation: Create custom templates and apply them to different workflows. Implement automation in regular processes like online intake forms, social media marketing, calls, text messaging and email marketing. Add a personal touch to follow-up emails and text messages regarding matters, invoices, electronic signatures, appointment reminders and more.
- Workflow Tracking: Get complete visibility into upcoming tasks, appointments, signature requests, emails and intake forms.
Security: Provides around-the-clock intrusion detection and prevention facilities. HIPAA-compliant cloud hosting available. Secure firm data with 256-bit AES encryption.
Billing: Supports contingency billing, flat-fee billing, timer-based hourly billing, fee splits, pro-bono billing, client medical bills, expenses and settlement tracking. Track time, expenses and invoices in real time and generate UTBMS and LEDES billing codes.
Integrations: Connect to Office 365 for access to robust security and dictation and transcription tools. Other supported integrations include LawPay, Outlook Calendar, Zapier, QuickBooks, ApexChat, Google, Thomson Reuters and more.
Click to Call Dialer: Automate follow-up calls and schedule callbacks with the built-in AI-powered dialer. Automatically follow-up on web and live chat leads and record all communication with date and time stamps.
Online Intake Forms: Leverage a user-friendly form builder to create online intake forms with data fields tailored for every practice area and purpose. Automatically populate forms with existing data and add custom logos and images. Embed forms in the website and application. Send reminders to potential clients with incomplete progress.
Legal Documentation: Automate document creation and delivery with custom templates and workflows. Process documents faster with electronic signatures. Send automated reminders to clients about incomplete contracts, waivers and NDAs. Eliminate redundant data and E&Os.
Settlement Wizard: Evaluate settlement options in real time and approve transactions and payments with a single click. Calculate attorney fees for multiple firms and digitally review and approve settlements. Send invoices and opening and closing statements via text messages, emails or postal service.
Record Retrieval: Directly order medical records for mass tort and injury cases. Get notifications on successful retrievals.
Firm Reports: Use the built-in report builder to prepare custom reports via a no-code interface. Run reports on marketing campaigns, case milestones, productivity, case metrics and conversion rates.

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#78

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Analyst Rating Summary

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User Sentiment Summary

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.

96%

of users recommend this product

Law Ruler has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 96% when considering 41 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

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Awards

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.

Intuitive Interface: Law Ruler's user-friendly design makes it easy to navigate and find the features you need, even for users with limited technical expertise.

Comprehensive Features: The software offers a wide range of features tailored to the specific needs of legal professionals, including case management, document automation, and billing.

Time-Saving Automation: Law Ruler automates repetitive tasks such as document creation and scheduling, freeing up lawyers to focus on more strategic work.

Enhanced Collaboration: The platform facilitates seamless collaboration between team members, allowing them to share documents, track progress, and communicate efficiently.

Excellent Customer Support: Law Ruler provides responsive and knowledgeable customer support, ensuring that users have the assistance they need to maximize the software's benefits.

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.

Limited Customization: Law Ruler offers limited customization options, making it difficult to tailor the software to specific firm needs.

Steep Learning Curve: Users have reported a steep learning curve when using Law Ruler, requiring significant time and effort to become proficient.

Lack of Integration: Law Ruler lacks seamless integration with other legal software and applications, limiting its functionality and efficiency.

Limited Reporting Capabilities: Users have expressed concerns about Law Ruler's limited reporting capabilities, making it challenging to generate comprehensive and customized reports.

Inconsistent Support: Some users have experienced inconsistent support from Law Ruler's customer service team, leading to delays and unresolved issues.

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.

Law Ruler has received mixed reviews in the past year. Users praise its intuitive interface, comprehensive features, and affordable pricing. They find it particularly useful for managing cases, tracking time, and generating documents. However, some users have reported occasional bugs and glitches, and they wish the software offered more customization options. Compared to similar products, Law Ruler stands out for its ease of use and affordability. Its intuitive interface makes it accessible to users of all experience levels, and its low price point makes it a great option for small law firms and solo practitioners. However, Law Ruler may lack some of the advanced features found in more expensive software, such as document automation and e-signature capabilities. Overall, Law Ruler is a solid choice for small law firms and solo practitioners who are looking for an affordable and easy-to-use legal software solution. Its strengths lie in its intuitive interface, comprehensive features, and affordable pricing. However, users who require more advanced features or customization options may want to consider other products.

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FAQ

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