Needles vs Time Matters

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Our analysts compared Needles 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.

Needles Software Tool
Time Matters Software Tool

Product Basics

Needles is a flexible solution aimed at enabling law practices to streamline their firm operations. It provides numerous templates to build configurable workflows, daily checklists and schedules. Firms can maximize billable hours using its time and expense tracking modules. It allows firms to manage and collaborate on documents and cases with ease. Its personalized dashboards provide greater practice visibility.

Users can leverage pre-built or custom real-time reporting modules to gain granular insights into different practice facets. Firms can opt for its cloud-based Neos offering to enable remote access to all its functionality. Hosted on Microsoft Azure, it provides robust security, data backups and an API for seamless integrations.
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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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$85 Quote-based
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$179 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
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Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
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Mobile

Product Assistance

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

Product Insights

  • Ensure Accurate Documentation: Eliminate human errors or omissions by creating document checklists. 
  • Abundant Reporting Options: Offers multiple reporting modules categorized by legal matter and practice areas. 
  • Enhanced Security: Clients can choose to maintain an in-house database for maximum security. 
  • Personalized App Experience: Customize apps based on the firm’s requirements. 
  • Implementation Support: Trained professionals guide the implementation process and provide hands-on help whenever required. 
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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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  • Task Management: Stay on top of pending tasks, deadlines and important events with fully configurable workflows, synchronized Outlook calendars and automated daily checklists. Receive and broadcast important updates with firm-wide scheduling and communication portals. 
  • Document Management: Encourage employees to collaborate on and share documents, globally in real time. Identify documents using keywords, prepare files for e-Signatures and choose customizable rich templates from industry-specific case libraries. 
  • Firm Insights: Leverage real-time reporting and analytics on business health. Use the configurable dashboard to create custom reports, data and metrics, monitor business processes and identify valuable assets. 
  • Data Management and Security: Secure your data with centralized data storage that eliminates redundancies and automatically backs up all documentation. Organize and store files with the PDF Template Wizard and import data in bulk via CSV files. 
  • Time and Expense Tracking: Track time effortlessly with the help of the Outlook add-in for any device, including mobile devices. Log expenses in real time, eliminate errors and omissions and automate internal audit logs. 
  • Client Management: Improve customer satisfaction via the self-service portal with over 99% uptime. Address client inquiries, process reimbursements and payments and update case details seamlessly. 
  • API: Implement low-code integration of third-party extensions or create new integrations entirely using the API-based architecture. Directly integrate with Microsoft Office 365, OneDrive, QuickBooks, DocuSign and Lexitas. 
  • Security: Secure data, documentation and digital access with Microsoft Azure. Get 24/7 security from cyber attacks and ensure business continuity with biometrically-secured physical data centers, remote-hosted servers and advanced data encryption. 
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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

#4

among all
Legal Software

#44

among all
Legal Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 164 reviews
Fair User Sentiment 94 reviews
85%
of users recommend this product

Needles has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 164 user reviews from 4 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.

4.7 (12)
n/a
4.2 (22)
3.3 (39)
4.2 (98)
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3.4 (46)
4.3 (32)
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n/a
4.4 (9)

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Functionality: Its time-tracking, billing and accounting functionalities meet the modern-day requirements of the legal industry, according to 65% of users mentioning this element.
Ease of Use: According to 69% of users who reviewed this aspect, the platform is intuitive and easy to use.
Reporting: 67% of users who reviewed this feature said that it provides plenty of customizable options.
Task Management: Regarding this feature, 75% of users found it helpful to track tasks and meet deadlines.
Training: 75% of users who reviewed this element said they’re satisfied with the knowledge base and training resources.
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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: It provides limited integration options, according to 60% of users mentioning this aspect.
Speed and Performance: According to 100% of reviews about this feature, the platform’s performance sometimes suffers under heavy workloads.
Cost: All the users who mentioned this element said it’s more expensive than its competitors.
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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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Needles provides all the functions expected of a modern legal practice management solution, including matter and document management, mobile time tracking, reporting and task supervision. It offers an efficient task management module, but it’s important to note that some users experienced difficulty editing entries in the legal calendar. According to reviews, the platform is difficult to learn, but the product training and support team are helpful in getting past the initial hurdle. Finally, the intuitive UI and exhaustive features make it a capable contender, but only for companies with a budget to justify the extra cost.

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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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