Why Excel stops working
While there are few matters, a spreadsheet holds everything. As you grow, things start slipping: unlogged hours, forgotten invoices, no clarity on which matter makes money and which just eats time.
What a matter-tracking system should do
- Matters. A matter record with stages, parties, and documents.
- Time tracking. A timer or manual hour logging tied to a matter; the hourly rate is pulled from the rate schedule.
- Invoices from time. An invoice is assembled from worked, approved, and not-yet-billed hours — in one click.
- Profitability. See revenue, the cost of time, and margin for every matter.
- Client portal. The client sees their matters, invoices, and documents online.
Rates are rules, not manual numbers. The rate schedule resolves the rate by priority (matter → client → lawyer → service), so you don't have to remember who gets which price.
Rollout order
- Set up a rate schedule (base rates and exceptions for VIP clients);
- Get the team into the habit of logging time right away — this is the key habit;
- Once per period, generate invoices from approved hours.
MCC Legal gives you this ready-made: matters, time tracking with a timer, rates, invoices from hours, profitability, a client portal, and a website.
MCC Legal — legal practice
Matters, time, rates, and invoices in one system. Demo is free.