Practice management and case management are two essential parts of every law firm’s workflow. However, many law firms choose to go without a dedicated tool for the former and leave a glaring gap in their workflow.

Without the proper practice management tool in place, your firm doesn’t have the essential tools it needs to process take on new clients. The right tool is end-to-end and includes online intake for potential new clients, ability to respond to new client inquiries, getting necessary documents and agreements signed, scheduling appointments, and helping you stay on top of project management.

Shape has built one of the most powerful and end-to-end law firm practice management solutions on the market, and the legal marketing experts at Inbound Law Marketing agree:

“Shape Legal is a powerful all-in-one software that combines client and case management with sales and marketing automation to streamline, organize, and grow your law firm.”

Inbound’s roundup gathered the top 14 practice management tools, and they had this to say about Shape:

“Pros: [Shape has] end-to-end client and case management. Includes online documents, client portal, mobile app, invoicing, marketing and sales automation, SMS, dozens of 3rd party integrations, workflow automation, assign tasks to support staff, reporting, e-signature, custom configurations available.”

Read the full rundown and Shape review here >>>

The team over at Inbound Law Marketing have been working with a wide variety of law firms for years and know the ins and outs of how to build a growing practice through marketing. In addition to helping law firms with SEO, building websites, and optimizing web performance, they also consult on a number of tools that law firms needs to thrive. Read more about them here.

Practice management solutions handle the entirety of the firm’s business functions — including accounting, reporting and even marketing. Case management systems, on the other hand, focus on the firm’s internal needs regarding the processing and storing of case and client data. Customer relationship management (CRM) software helps you manage your business relationships effectively and assist with the logistics of handling your client relationships (including automated contact management and progress tracking), allowing you to manage leads and extract data to help you analyze relationships, your sales pipeline, and your success rate with leads and clients.

Shape Software a cloud-based business management system with CRM capabilities.

Shape is designed to manage online marketing and promotions, capture leads from online sources, organize sales pipelines, and connect with customers. Shape offers team collaboration tools that facilitate project information sharing within and across departments. It offers a centralized repository to store all documents, contacts and accounts in one place that is accessible by users according to their roles and permission levels.

Regardless of the type of system you are looking for, you’ll need to do your homework and follow best practices to ensure you get the right system: Define your needs and goals, take the time to research, and then demo a short list of products.

The news is in: technology has arrived and it’s here to stay.

From real estate to journalism, technology is taking the working world by storm. And the legal industry is at the top of the list for technological takeover.

But don’t worry, this isn’t the beginning of a courtroom-based horror movie. Regardless of the hype and headlines, the truth is law firm partners and leaders need to know what’s coming if they want to stay ahead by taking advantage of the many perks technology can offer.

And to help make sure you’re safely buckled in for the technological rollercoaster the law industry is set to ride, we’ve consulted with some of the legal industry’s leading experts to reveal biggest trends headed your way.

#1. Generation Y is making waves

“Managing partners will need to fundamentally change the way they hire and oversee their staff, in order to keep the best workers.”

— Jared Correia, CEO at Red Cave Law Firm Consulting

That’s right, the millennials are coming—and there are a lot of them.

According to industry veterans like Jared Correia we should be preparing for this new generation as staunchly as Jon Snow is for his impending winter.

Jared, CEO at Red Cave Law Firm Consulting, has been advising lawyers and law firms for over a decade. “The coming of the millennial generation… is the biggest upcoming challenge to face existing law firms,” he says.

Typically defined as those born between the early 1980s and late 1990s, this group of twenty- and thirty-somethings makes up a large segment of the current and future workforce.

So, should you be worried?

Well, unlike Jon Snow’s winter, they don’t come with an intent to kill—so that’s something to be thankful for. In fact, the main thing to be aware of is that millennials come with new expectations and priorities – they “value far different things (e.g. flexibility over money), than prior generations of American workers have,” says Jared.

According to Deloitte’s survey of over 10,000 millennials across 36 countries, attracting and retaining workers is actually fairly simple: the key to employee loyalty is diversity, flexibility and a healthy working culture.

#2. Mass personalization is on the rise

“Leverage technology, systems, processes and customer service to provide a beneficial, valuable and efficient experience.”

— Adam Camras, CEO at LAWgical

Speaking of open arms, it’s time to get personal.

Could you have imagined 20 years ago that more than 2 billion people would be logging onto Facebook every day to share some of their most intimate photos, stories and opinions?

If that’s not the personalization of technology, we don’t know what is.

And personalization is exactly what consumers are starting to expect—even when it comes to legal services.

In fact, according to a recent report, mass personalization is the way forward for business. Consumers are being empowered by social media and digital devices to ask for what they want, when they want it.

That’s why experts like Adam Camras, who runs Legal Talk Network, the leading producer of legal related podcasts, suggest you utilize all available tools to create the best experience for clients.

When asked ‘what’s the #1 biggest change that law firm partners need to prepare for?’, Adam told us, “Delivering legal services the way their client’s want it. This means finding ways to leverage technology, systems, processes and customer service to provide a beneficial, valuable and efficient experience.” If you don’t already have a smart, central CRM to help you do that, the time to get one is now.

#3. Legaltech is the new black

“Becoming forward-looking with purpose will go a long way to helping your law firm continue to survive in the age of #LegalTech.”

— Stacey Burke, Attorney and Owner at Stacey E. Burke, P.C.

Bet you’ve never heard this one before.

But where technology’s concerned, we all need the occasional reminder to shed our traditional skins and learn to bend to the trend to get ahead.

Stacey Burke, Attorney and Owner at Stacey E. Burke, P.C., certainly thinks so. “The biggest change every law firm partner needs to prepare for is technology continuing to advance beyond what we can even comprehend right now,” she says.

As an award-winning lawyer and marketer, Stacey knows exactly how technology impacts the way law practices are run. “Staying not just up-to-date, but also becoming forward-looking” is the best way firms can keep up with technological advances, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain.

According to a 2019 report by the Law Society, there is increased pressure for law firms to adopt lawtech, and a rising awareness that law firms that adopt technology will have a competitive advantage over those who don’t.

In other words, to stay ahead of the game, you need to embrace the change and keep your eyes looking firmly forward.

#4. Communication is key

“The #1 biggest change every law firm partner needs to prepare for is changing the way we communicate with clients.”

— Jamie Lieberman, Partner at Hashtag Legal LLC

Remember the days of pen, paper and fax machines?

Fortunately, times have moved on and we no longer have to deal with the screechy whine of the connection-dial every time we want to send a document.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to change our ways as quickly as clients want us to.

With over a decade in the law industry, specializing in working with influencers, agencies and brands, Jamie Lieberman has watched the world of communication change.

Her insider communication knowledge empowers her to tell it like it is: “Lawyers must be accessible and trustworthy… this means being responsive and listening to their needs, even if it is not the way you have done business in the past.”

In a 2017 poll by iLawyermarketing, 57% of participants indicated that they would use a smartphone to connect with new lawyer firms. So, what does this tell us? That you need to get tech-friendly.

Every firm needs a mobile-friendly website, every firm needs to pick up the phone, and every firm needs to get cosy with video-calling.

Because communication means speaking your customer’s language.

So if, like Jamie’s, your customers ask you to speak through less traditional communication methods, it’s definitely time to put on your Sunday best and brave the camera phone.

#5. Valuable legal services are the new priority

“The true value of lawyers will continue to shift toward “symbolic analysis.”

— Gyi Tsakalakis, President at AttorneySync

Times are a’changing, people. And the days of lawyers relying on ‘routine production services’ is coming to an apocalyptic-style ending.

Okay, maybe a little dramatic.

But as digital legal marketing expert, Gyi Tsakalakis, puts it, “While clients will continue to value the ‘in-person services’ aspects of legal counsel, the true value of lawyers will continue to shift toward ‘symbolic analysis,’ or the ability to manipulate symbols like data, words, and visual representations.”

In other words, thanks to the increasing abilities of technology, the majority of legal work will shift from routine services towards creative, outside-the-box-style thinking, ie., the kind of work a robot would be horrible at.

Research shows that, based on the limits of current technologies, 69% of time could be automatable for paralegals and 23% for lawyers. Imagine all that Google-style free-time that could be used for creative thinking.

If technology keeps this up, in 50 years’ time the legal industry is going to be a very different automation-ruled place.

Which leads us nicely onto #6…

#6. Digital transformation is the way forward

“Take your practice through a digital transformation.”

— Kenneth A. Grady, Adjunct Professor & Research Fellow at Michigan State University College of Law

Who was it that said change is the spice of life?

Well, they must have been right because expert Kenneth Grady clearly agrees with them. He tells us that “to compete [with automation] you must take your practice through a digital transformation.”

It’s no secret that the legal landscape has been shifting since the economic collapse in 2018 and while many law firms have utilized digital transformation in order to shift alongside these changes, there is still a long way to go.

As a law professor with an interest in artificial intelligence and the future of law, Kenneth knows an opportunity for growth when he sees one.

“Every law firm partner needs to prepare for a future (which is heading toward us quickly) where automation plays a big role in delivering legal services,” he says, “That means billing for value delivered instead of time.”

So what are you waiting for? Start embracing your own version of a digital transformation and ensure your firm makes automation a friend, not an enemy.

#7. Systemizing your services has never felt better

“It’s so easy to throw your firm into upheaval if you don’t have good systems in place.”

—  Erin Levine, Founder & CEO at Hello Divorce

Sometimes relationships have to end and unfortunately that includes working relationships, too.

“Employees leave for a variety of reasons. It’s so easy to throw your firm into upheaval if you don’t have good systems in place.” From a woman that helps people prepare for divorce, Erin Levine has some truly golden advice.

According to a report by The Right Profile and JD Match, staff turnover costs the top 400 US law firms a cool $9.1 billion per year. They put this down, in part, to hiring decisions and unstructured interview processes.

So what do you do when the inevitable happens?

As a Super Lawyer and influential family lawyer, Erin knows a thing or two about creating easy-to-follow systems that ensure your firm is prepared for those moments.

“You want to have a flexible firm that thrives on a team approach and ensures that all staff members are trained to “jump in” when…an employee exits the firm,” she says.

That means automating your systems, centralizing passwords and making sure you keep your firm ship-shape so that your workload stays on track if you lose a member of staff.

The moral of the story?

Make sure you take the time to get these processes in place. It will save you a heck of a lot of time and money, in the long run.

#8. There’s no more hiding from alternative legal service delivery models

“We should all be taking steps to increase [our] efficiency and accessibility in a consumer centric way.”

—  Billie Tarascio, Owner at Modern Law, Modern Law Practice and Access Legal

You’ve got a deadline creeping up, the nights are getting longer, and it feels like the only thing in the world is the case you’re working on.

Sound familiar?

Whether you’re racing towards a deadline, or welcoming new clients, it can seem like it’s never the right time to lift your head up out of the books and take a moment to look around.

But as Billie Tarascio, owner of Modern Law, Modern Law Practice and Access Legal, puts it, “The most important thing is for law firm owners or partners to be aware of the businesses around them and how they operate.”

As a ‘Client Distinction’ award-winning family lawyer, Billie is known for jumping ahead of the competition to provide niche services that her customers really need.

And she’s the first to remind us that “the future of law could go a lot of different ways.”

Already demand is increasing for non-traditional law firms. What other alternative legal service delivery models are hiding in the woodwork?

As Billie puts it, “We could end up allowing outside investment and Walgreens, or Costco, or Walmart may end up having legal clinics in their stores. We could end up with Amazon investing in legal and making online services available to the masses.”

Whatever happens, if you’re willing and able to keep your eyes on the competitive landscape, you’ll have the ability to jump ahead quickly when it matters most.

#9. Get ahead or fall behind

“If your competitors are already doing it, it’s time to consider updating your business process.”

— Madaline Zannes, Legal Technology Expert & Owner, Zanneslaw.com

On that note, experts like Madaline Zannes warn against following the competition too closely.

The legal technology expert is known for her contributions to leading publications like Inman, Thrive and HuffPost. According to Madaline, yes. Client expectations are undoubtedly shifting.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that any change you make will be the right one.

“Client expectations are shifting. Innovation and technological growth in virtually every market has driven a demand for more flexibility, transparency, and better connectivity within the client relationship. If your competitors are already doing it, it’s time to consider updating your business process,” she warns.

The partners who succeed in staying relevant long-term will be those who can break free of herd mentality and start using smart tech their way.

#10. Change happens

“Just as new AI tools allow computers to read X-rays a thousand times faster than a radiologist – and with greater accuracy – new tools are emerging that do the same for legal work.”

— Prof. Gabe Teninbaum, Director of the Institute on Legal Innovation & Technology at Suffolk University Law School

Can you imagine life before the X-ray machine?

Neither can we.

Fact of the matter is, no matter how daunting the tech shift may be, it’s pretty much par for the course. And according to Professor Gabe Teninbaum, Director of the Institute on Legal Innovation & Technology at Suffolk University Law School, these shifts are to be both expected and embraces.

“Just as new AI tools allow computers to read X-rays a thousand times faster than a radiologist – and with greater accuracy – new tools are emerging that do the same for legal work. Being aware of what these tools are, and how to use them, is vital to doing the best possible job representing clients, as well as to maintaining the health of the firm,” says Gabe.

Whether it’s using a simple e-signature tool to save your team time or centralizing your firm through a sophisticated CRM to deliver a faster, better service to your clients, technology is here to stay. Figure out how to use it to your best advantage, and your firm will have a lasting legacy, too.

Article Source:- https://setshape.com/blog/the-top-10-biggest-trends-every-law-firm-partner-should-know

Marketing Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank

When it comes to marketing, attorneys get a bad rap.

From ambulance chasers to piggybacking the firm next door, there’s a reputation of resorting to all kinds of lows to get leads.

That stuff just won’t fly anymore.

Today’s clients are smarter than ever. And thankfully, there are more ways of reaching them than ever. Legal marketing pundits recommend everything from AI-powered chatbots to becoming a YouTube influencer.

But will those things really give you the ROI you want?

We consulted with some of the legal industry’s biggest experts to help you cut through the hype and find out what tactics really work for generating free or low-cost leads for your business.

(And if you need one central place to keep tabs on everything that’s happening with your leads, check this out.)

#1. Give stuff away

“One of the most creative ways to get free or low-cost leads is to provide complimentary or low-cost continuing education courses for your target demographic.”

— Stacey Burke, Attorney & Owner, Stacey E. Burke, P.C.

When it comes to getting free or low-cost leads, like recognizes like.

If you ask experts like personal injury trial lawyer turned legal marketing superstar Stacey Burke, she’ll tell you:

In today’s #LegalTech age, the ability to provide in-person value is everything.

If you’re ready to boost the ROI on your law firm marketing efforts, it’s time to get creative. And it’s time to get generous. “One of the most creative ways to get free or low-cost leads is to provide complimentary or low-cost continuing education courses for your target demographic,” says Stacey.

And if you’re going to put in the effort to create a stellar free course or seminar, why not go the extra mile and get it accredited? (Bonus points if you throw in some donuts, too.)

“Be sure to get your course accredited by the appropriate authority for each target industry. If a potential client or existing client with the potential to send you more business can get both the value of your content/advice and continuing education hours (and even throw in a free breakfast or lunch), they are more likely to attend and engage with you,” Stacey suggests.

#2. Claim your online niche

“To get leads you must be the best in your niche and you must get that message out through online media.”

— Kenneth A. Grady, Adjunct Professor & Research Fellow, Michigan State University College of Law

Let’s face it. These days, Google is everyone’s first stop for counsel.

In fact, according to a 2017 poll from iLawyerMarketing, 57% of respondents indicated they would use a smartphone if searching online for a lawyer.

You might be surprised to learn that people would make important decisions (like who they should hire to handle their legal affairs) while waiting in the doctor’s office or drive-thru line, but that’s the reality. And experts like Kenneth Grady have been on to this for years.

The retired lawyer is known for redefining legal department-law firm relationships and for his prolific insights in tech innovation in the changing legal services market.

According to Kenneth, “To get leads you must be the best in your niche and you must get that message out through online media. Clients want lawyers who can get them from problem to solution efficiently, quickly, and at a reasonable cost. Those lawyers who are most successful at delivering that message online will draw the most client contacts.”

#3. Create a buzz

“Earned media is the gift that keeps on giving.”

— Erin Levine, Founder & CEO, Hello Divorce

Okay, we get it—making waves on Google is important.

Thing is, it’s really noisy out there.

That’s why experts like Erin Levine, Founder & CEO of Bay Area law firm Hello Divorce suggest that once you’ve nailed your standout message—it’s time to hit the headlines.

“I think one of the best ways to get free leads is earned media,” says Erin. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

Today 92% of consumers trust word-of-mouth recommendations. Only 24% trust online ads.

Earned media is your digital word-of-mouth.

Erin’s been featured in Entrepreneur, Brit+Co, Forbes, mindbodygreen, Above the Law, Hey Mama and many other publications. And the more interviews she gives, the more leads she gets.

“The more you position yourself as a ‘thought leader,’ the more press opportunities you will have,” Erin explains.

Just make sure you’re ready for the influx in traffic. “Once the post, article or blog is on the internet, anyone can access it. If the site has good SEO, it’s a huge bonus,” she suggests.

After that, it’s all about testing and tracking to optimize your best lead sources. “If you are going to spend money on marketing and/or lead generation, it’s best to diversify — at least until you have enough data to determine where your most qualified leads are coming from,” she suggests.

#4. Go bold with social media

“Social media is probably the best way to find your audience and speak to them in creative and low-cost ways.”

— Billie Tarascio, Owner, Modern Law, Modern Law Practice and Access Legal

For attorneys, social media can feel like the ultimate can of worms.

Obviously, you want to keep it professional when you’re chatting away on Facebook (after all, in a court of law, there is no such thing as ‘delete’).

Still, that doesn’t mean your social media game has to be boring.

According to ace attorney, Billie Tarascio, the key is to keep it customer-centric. “Social media is probably the best way to find your audience and speak to them in creative and low-cost ways. Social media is micro media. You can say what you want to say and build your audience. The first step is to understand your consumer and talk about what they want to hear,” says Billie.

The owner of Modern Law, Modern Law Practice and Access Legal (who also happens to be a self-proclaimed undying optimist) is known for her ability to break down the tech trends and help attorneys lead happier, more successful practices.

But Billie warns against getting too comfy with any specific tactic. “By challenging assumptions and running tests you can customize your messaging and get free and low-cost leads. Then, it’s very important to have an intake system to process those leads and convert them into clients,” she explains.

It’s a point that bears repeating. Social media can be a tough nut to crack. The last thing you want to do after putting your blood, tears and sweat into generating free or low-cost social media leads is let them sit for weeks in your inbox or get lost in the shuffle between a million different tech platforms.

Aim for a single, central place where you can buckle down and focus on conversion.

#5. Be responsive

“When you’re responsive and known for doing a good job, it’s so much easier for other lawyers to refer you cases while alleviating their concerns that you might steal their client.”

— Adam Camras, CEO, LAWgical

Adam Camras is the CEO of LAWgical, the company that owns and operates leading legal brands, including Legal Talk Network, ServeNow and ServeManage.

And he’s not afraid to tell it like it is.

“There are lots of cost-effective ways to generate leads however, I’m a big believer in responsiveness, doing a good job and being known in a specific practice area expert. As opposed to being a Door Lawyer,” says Adam.

What’s a ‘Door Lawyer’, you ask?

In case you haven’t heard the term before, a ‘Door Lawyer’ is a lawyer who takes any case that comes through the door. And according to Adam, it’s a terrible way to run your firm.

“When you’re responsive and known for doing a good job, it’s so much easier for other lawyers to refer you cases while alleviating their concerns that you might steal their client. They want to look good by referring prospects to the best lawyer for their matter. This also makes it so much easier to effectively target your marketing which, depending on your practice area, should be a combination of digital, traditional and networking,” Adam explains.

If you don’t already use a system that lets you customize and automate your lead nurturing and management, get one now. The right tool will make it easy for you to connect with prospects faster.

#6. Focus on relationships

“Lawyers that have learned to leverage technology to achieve these objectives will continue to earn new business.”

— Gyi Tsakalakis, President, AttorneySyn

Not all leads are created equal.

Part of refusing to be a ‘Door Lawyer’ is committing to your role as a relationship-builder.

Gyi Tsakalakis is a lawyer, SEO genius and former football coach who’s helped law firms of all shapes and sizes get more leads by focusing on one thing above all else:

Meaningful connection.

According to Gyi, “The most efficient way to earn meaningful attention from potential clients remains much the same as it always has been: creating, nurturing, and solidifying professional relationships and demonstrating knowledge, skill, and experience (reputation).”

With all the hype about being replaced by robots, we think Gyi’s onto something. Today, 66% of consumers say they’ll switch brands if they feel treated like a number, not an individual.

Your ability to build a personal, human connection is your competitive advantage in the new legal era. “Lawyers that have learned to leverage technology to achieve these objectives will continue to earn new business,” predicts Gyi.

#7. Be original

“Do what works best and feels most natural for you and the clients will come.”

— Jamie Lieberman, Partner, Hashtag Legal LLC

It’s always great to lift your head above the water from time to time and take a look around at what’s really working in the industry.

But beware. Copying another firm’s marketing strategy will almost never get you the results you’re after.

When she’s not busy running multiple legal businesses (or dying her hair pink), you can usually find Jamie Lieberman advising digital content creators on how to keep their work and businesses protected. And yes, she’s seen it all.

“The worst way to get leads is to copy someone else’s marketing strategy. Do what works best and feels most natural for you and the clients will come,” she advises.

Article Source:- https://setshape.com/blog/7-free-lead-gen-ideas-for-law-firms

We are excited to announce that the newest addition to the Shape team is longtime digital marketer Adam Wood. As the company’s new Marketing Director, Adam will help craft the content and marketing strategy and oversee the nascent Marketing team to help Shape expand its footprint in a variety of new and existing verticals. Adam joins the team as a direct report to Shape CEO Anthony Gutierrez.

Mr. Wood brings over 13 years of content and digital marketing to Shape. Adam has managed digital creative teams in a variety of industries, like finance, legal, food & beverage, e-commerce, and many more. Over the last five years, Adam has helped scale multiple B2B and B2C SaaS apps in the CRM space, and he looks forward to bringing his industry expertise to the team at Shape.

Shape Software is an all-in-one software solution.

Adam will primarily be focused on Shape Software’s CRM platform, a cloud-based CRM software for organizations looking for a complete, all-in-one software solution. The fully configurable and customized CRM software created a tailor-made solution for their organization. The system comes pre-loaded with enterprise-level features and integrates with most any other software making it easier for the clients to stay in one primary system. The web and mobile-based CRM allows B2B and B2C professionals to engage in marketing, sales, and workflow automation with best-practice templates for a variety of industries. Shape Software clients can access cutting edge technology such as Artificial Intelligence, advanced dialing, and SMS communication and overall detailed reports measuring KPIs and ROI for their respective companies.

Article Source:- https://setshape.com/blog/adam-wood-joins-shape-software-as-marketing-director

Can you put a price on a stellar lead gen strategy?

According to the dozens of expensive lead comparison sites like Bankrate, LendingTree and Zillow—heck yes, you can.

Whether it’s live transfer leads, trigger leads or anything in between, if you’re looking to bring in a steady source of online leads for your lending business, you better be ready to put some serious cash on the table.

Here’s what every lender loves to hate about paid lead sources:

• Expensive upfront and pay-per-lead fees
• Inconsistent lead quality
• Volatile customer acquisition costs

Oh my. So what’s the alternative?

Focus your efforts on the best sources of low- to zero-cost leads.

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t sweat it. We’ve rounded up actionable tips from some of the best originators in the biz.

#1. Ramp up your referrals

“The lowest cost and the highest quality leads are always referrals from your past customers.”

— Shashank Shekhar, CEO, Arcus Lending

We know you know this, but be honest:

Are you really nurturing your referral network like you should?

According to the National Mortgage News Top Producer Survey, the top 3 best referral sources are:

1. Past clients
2. Real estate agents
3. Past client database

And if you ask #1 best-selling author and CEO of Inc 500 Company Arcus Lending, Shashank Shekhar, he’ll tell you it’s time to double down on your efforts to connect with past clients.

“The lowest cost and the highest quality leads are always referrals from your past customers,” says Shashank.

And that means having a rock-solid lead management system in place. “Database management by staying in touch and constantly providing value to them should always be a Loan Officer’s #1 goal,” he stresses.

Did you hear that? Consistently offering value should be your #1 goal.

Got it? Great. Let’s move on to the next hot tip.

(Psst! Not sure what’s next for 2019? Check out Shashank’s top predictions here.)

#2. Pick up the phone

“Nothing’s better than an army of people spreading your name around.”

— Rhonda DelSignore-Mulligan, Senior Mortgage Advisor at Province Mortgage Associates Inc.

Here’s one we know you’ve heard before.

But in today’s digital age, the temptation to avoid the phone is all too real. In fact, according to a report by LivePerson 73% of millennials and Gen Z’ers interact with each other more digitally than they do in real life.

And while email, text and chatbot messengers may be great tools for engaging a new generation of homebuyers, experienced originators like Rhonda DelSignore-Mulligan say the phone is still #1.

“I’ve never been a big ‘lead’ person. You have to weed through them and there’s no guarantee of quality. I’m more about warm referrals from past clients, friends, family and partners in my referral network,” she says. As the Senior Mortgage Advisor at Province Mortgage Associates Inc., Rhonda’s on the phone with her referral partners every single day.

“Nothing’s better than an army of people spreading your name around. To me, that’s the best lead source,” she says.

#3. Learn to love pop-bys

“I love seeing the ideas that people can come up with to remind people that they are open for business.”

— Alex Jimenez, Branch Manager, Benchmark Home Loans

Yes, really.

According to Alex Jimenez, Branch Manager at Benchmark Home Loans and one of The Most Connected Mortgage Professionals of 2018, pop-bys still matter.

“Pop-bys always brings out the creative side in people. I love seeing the ideas that people can come up with to remind people that they are open for business,” says Alex.

In this day and age, pop-bys might seem a little old school. But Alex is known for his no-bull advice for cutting through the noise and figuring out what really works in the mortgage business. If he says pop-bys are worth your time, believe him.

Ready to step up your pop-by game? According to Alex, “Pinterest is a great source for some awesome pop-by ideas.”

#4. Invest in quality Facebook ads

“Facebook targeted ads are the best way to get free or low-cost leads moving forward.”

— Marc Demetriou, Branch Manager, Residential Home Funding Corp.

Facebook ads are widely hailed as the holy grail of low-cost mortgage leads.

But (and that’s a big BUT), experts like Marc Demetriou warn there’s an art and science to doing them right.

Marc’s an influential author, Certified Divorce Lending Professional and the Branch Manager at Residential Home Funding Corp. He’s also a big fan of Facebook ads as a low-cost lead source.

“Facebook targeted ads are the best way to get free or low-cost leads moving forward,” he says. And when we asked him how to win with Facebook ads?

It’s all about “good content vs. bad.”

We’ve all seen the flashy, overly-salesy Facebook ads and needless to say, they don’t inspire trust.

Quality content is key to getting quality leads from Facebook. And experts like Shashank agree. “For paid low-cost leads, Facebook advertising is still the best source. But don’t try to sell them rates, offer them something of value like a free eBook, a Webinar/Seminar and use effective value-added drip campaign so that they select you when they are ready,” he advises.

#5. Be social

“The key word to social media is ‘Social’. Use it.”

— John Stevens, Past President for The National Association of Mortgage Brokers

According to industry veterans like John Stevens, the primary pressure today is to “be less personable and more digital.”

John is the immediate Past President for The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) and has over a decade-long track record of success in the lending business. “One of the best ways to leverage your sphere of influence, and by default gain more leads, is to utilize social media,” says John.

Social media is everywhere and the pressure to be in all places at once is very real. Not only that, the 2016 State of Social Media in the Mortgage Industry report found a clear correlation between revenue performance and social presence, leaving originators with a serious case of FOMO if they’re not active on every platform.

But John warns that social media should never be a “set it and forget it” endeavor. Pick the one or two platforms where you know you can stay active and focus on engaging your audience.

“Share about what you do 1-2 times a week and be active in online boards discussing real estate and lending. Don’t be afraid to comment on a post where someone is looking for a home and let them know what you do! The key word to social media is ‘Social’. Use it,” advises John.

#6. Maximize social proof

“Loan officers can prove their value through online reviews.”

— Rajin Ramdeholl, Vice President Private Client Division at Meadowbrook Financial Mortgage Bankers Corp.

Let’s face it. For the mortgage industry, winter is coming.

Interest rates are going up, affordability is going down. Add a recession to the mix and you’ve got all the makings of a down market. And when the market goes down, originators need to push their value up.

According to Rajin Ramdeholl, Vice President Private Client Division at Meadowbrook Financial Mortgage Bankers Corp., that means hitting the gas on your know-like-trust factor.

“Loan officers can prove their value through social media videos or testimonials from prior clients. Or through online reviews,” says Rajin.

90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business. And with the number of non-exclusive leads hitting the market each and every day, you better believe the difference between you and the originator next door will come down to the number of stars next to your profile pic.

#7. Get physical

“Get back to physically ‘asking for the business’ from literally everyone you come in contact with.”

— Frank Garay, mortgage industry ace and co-founder of the National Real Estate Post

Sometimes the best way to get low-cost leads is to simply go left when everyone else goes right.

“No street level originator will ever be able to compete with the mega tech companies like Zillow, Rocket, Guaranteed Rate, etc. But they can’t compete with you doing things for your referral partners and asking for the business. We need to take the fight to our battleground, not try to fight on their battleground. As street level originators, we need to fight on a street level.”

Those words of wisdom are from Frank Garay, mortgage industry ace and co-founder of the National Real Estate Post.

“Use technology that helps you physically engage with referral partners by giving you a real reason to speak with them on a consistent basis asking them for the business. Not technology designed to ensure you don’t need to engage with them physically,” Frank suggests.

That means for most MLOs, it’s time to “Get back to physically ‘asking for the business’ from literally everyone you come in contact with.”

Because AI can do a lot of things, but delivering a firm handshake isn’t one of them.

#8. Keep it personal with video

“Responding to customers questions via video creates a memorable experience.”

—  Anthony VanDyke, President, ALV Mortgage

Speaking of standing out, the lending landscape is changing fast.

Big companies, big data and big tech are improving the customer mortgage experience in ways we never dreamed of. So what can you do to set yourself apart?

Communicate in the way no tech mammoth ever could: personalized video.

“Responding to customers questions via video and screen capture video most creative ways to create a memorable customer experience,” says Anthony VanDyke, President of ALV Mortgage and one of National Mortgage Professional Magazine’s Most Connected Mortgage Professionals of 2018.

“Mortgages involve a lot of numbers. It’s hard to type an email reply showing just numbers or speak to a customer on the phone speaking in numbers. Using video and visualization really help customers understand and see the numbers to help them make the best decision for their loan options,” he says.

#9. Get your face on the fridge

“People miss the boat on the human connection.”

— Rhonda DelSignore-Mulligan, Senior Mortgage Advisor at Province Mortgage Associates Inc.

Speaking of putting faces to names, did we mention that some of the old school tactics still work?

Rhonda DelSignore-Mulligan gets tons of business from a simple 3-part mailing campaign:

• A greeting at the beginning of the year
• A sports calendars
• A magnet for the fridge

“People miss the boat on the human connection. They’re busy analyzing their lead sources and forget to reach out by mail or pick up the phone. But things change all the time in this business. Someone may have lost their job and need to get back to a 30-year fixed. You’ll never know if you don’t reach out directly,” says Rhonda.

By putting her face where her customers can always see it, Rhonda is the first person they think of when they need help with a mortgage or refi.

#10. Teach like you mean it

“Building relationships and continuing to invest in those relationships yields the best quality leads with the least amount of money.”

— John Thomas, Branch Manager, Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.

Here’s the truth:

“In terms of leads, they either cost money or time so no free leads. If you are looking to spend more time generating leads and less money then building relationships and continuing to invest in those relationships yields the best quality leads with the least amount of money.”

John Thomas tells it like it is.

The Branch Manager of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. is one of the The Most Connected Mortgage Professionals of 2018 according to National Mortgage Professional Magazine. And he has the numbers to back it up. John has over 3,800 Facebook friends and 500 YouTube videos with 338 subscribers.

According to him, “Staying in front of your past clients with a good CRM, a phone call at least twice a year, and birthday program of sending a birthday card is a simple strategy to remain top of mind. Adding a client event such as a wealth builder workshop every quarter adds value and keeps you in front of them. Building relationships with business partners such as Realtors, financial planners, and CPAs is another great way to spend little money to generate very good quality leads. Teaching classes to these business professionals is a great way to provide value and stay top of mind.”

No matter which way you cut, all of John’s best lead gen strategies come down to one key tactic: Teaching.

“Another great strategy that will cost a little bit more money but can yield very good leads is a quarterly or monthly home buyer seminar,” says John. As a professional, you have knowledge and experience that is literally worth its weight in gold.

Share it with your audience and the leads will respond in kind.

#11. Create raving fans

“Stop being transactional, start being relational and the leads will come.”

— Alex Jimenez, Branch Manager, Benchmark Home Loans

In addition to using pop-bys as a creative way to keep in touch with your past clients and community network, Alex Jimenez believes LOs must keep it genuine.

“Stay in front of your sphere of influence. Be in constant communication with people who have worked with you. Create ‘raving fans.’ In order to do that you have to have a genuine interest in people. You should know things like their kid’s names, spouse and even dogs. You should acknowledge large events taking place in their life, i.e., Bdays, anniversary dates, graduations, holidays, etc,” he suggests.

Winners like Alex know details matter. If you don’t already have a system for storing and tracking these important details, you should get one…like now.

Article Source:- https://setshape.com/blog/want-free-leads-for-your-mortgage-company-try-these-11-priceless-lead-gen-ideas-that-work

Not every legal CRM is created equally. Read the reviews and get the most up to date information on law firm software before you try or buy.

If you’re reading this article, you’ve likely already considered how important it is to stay organized and efficient when it comes to managing client data, matters, billing, and tasks. When you bill by the hour, every minute you spend on manual data entry or other administrative duties is a drain on your productivity and profits.

Despite its reputation as an analog and legacy industry (paper intake forms, anyone?), the legal profession has been slowly but surely moving into a 21st-century mindset thanks in part to some cutting edge software tools aimed at improving the client conversion and retention process. Now more than ever, practices large and small, from immigration to PI, have a wealth of options to help them nurture and convert more leads, get documents signed online, and increase client satisfaction.

Why Your Law Firm Needs a CRM

You may be thinking “wait — I already have a case management tool, why do I need a CRM, too?” While a common thought shared across the industry, the fact remains that case management is not lead management. Lead management via a CRM helps you attract, nurture,  and convert new clients, but it also helps you maintain relationships and promote referrals with current clients.

Case management, on the other hand, helps you service clients after you retain them.

The core strengths of a great legal CRM are in its abilities to help automate your marketing, manage incoming leads, nurture and convert those leads, and export their case data seamlessly to your case management tool. If your CRM cannot do those things, it was not designed with law firms in mind!

Key Reasons Your Law Firm Needs a CRM

• Create consistent and better processes for your staff – Building automated onboarding or intake workflows ensures your clients will always get a uniform experience and staff can efficiently service new inquiries.
• Respond to and convert leads quickly – Law firms who respond to lead inquiries within the first hour are 7x more likely to land them as clients. After all, the ABA cites “lack of communication” as the top complaint amongst clients against law firms.
• Manage your data and get reporting for clearer insights – A CRM that helps you visualize and manage top lead/referral sources and other valuable data points allows your firm to make better business and strategic decisions. If you only have a few lead sources, you better know which ones are converting the best!
• Automate frequent tasks and eliminate data entry – CRMs help you store client data securely in one place. Keep track of documents, communication, matters, and more and reduce hours of wasted billable time doing manual data entry for every client.
• Nurture and keep clients happy – Law firms who use CRMs have proven to boost client satisfaction by as much as 40% than those who don’t use one. Even if you are not a lead-heavy practice, a CRM will be essential to your nurturing efforts. Better communication and project management with a CRM means happier clients, and happier clients means more referrals and more revenue.

Why Do You Need a CRM Designed Specifically for Law Firms?

There are hundreds of CRMs on the market that cater to every industry and some to all. But in today’s competitive landscape, it is essential for the long term success of your firm that you choose a system that was designed for your specific needs.

• You want a CRM that understands the delicate and timely nature of client intake – Onboarding new clients isn’t always a straight line, and it isn’t always easy. You need a CRM that prioritizes the client and staff experience in mind. Eliminating paper intake forms, long turnaround times, and manual data entry are key. Ease of use (mobile) for clients and quick implementation for busy staff is a non-negotiable.
• Getting documents signed can take time – Waiting on paper contracts or payments can take time and slow your practice down. It doesn’t matter if you’re a solo attorney or a 300-person criminal defense firm, these delays can affect your profitability and client satisfaction. You want a tool that makes it effortless to get to the case.
• One that integrates seamlessly with your case management tool – We’ll get into this more in our reviews, but you need a CRM that understands and integrates with your case management tool. You don’t have hours upon hours to dedicate to importing/exporting and syncing data. That’s a colossal waste of you and your staff’s time.
• Can provide lots of value with its marketing automation features – Some of the tools we’ll cover have a suite of marketing tools your firm needs to attract new leads. Finding a CRM that includes robust marketing features is equally important as any other feature set.

Comparing the Top CRMs in Legal

After looking across the entire legal CRM landscape, reading reviews, taking demos, and getting consultations, we have narrowed down the top tools for your practice. In each review, we’ll cover included features, price, integrations, and our bottom line opinion.

1. Shape

Shape has been on the law firm CRM scene for a few years and is quietly launching somewhat of a revolution with their user-friendly and powerful software. What they lack in overt marketing hype, Shape more than makes up for in a quality feature set designed for law firms looking to take their business to the next level.

With a great, easy-to-use interface, and a feature set that makes most other CRMs in the legal space blush, Shape is making waves in the industry. Powerful automation and integrations, a suite of client management tools, and deep customization make Shape an attractive option for law firms small and large.

Features

Most law firm CRMs do about 75% of what you really need, but Shape can get you over the finish line. Not only does the software have seamless integrations with most case management tools, the features and templates included out-of-the-box make it a must for your practice.

• Lead/Client management tools (automated lead capture, client management, etc)
• Custom Automated Workflows
• Manage cases, matters, and clients in one place
• Seamless syncing with case management (MyCase, Practice Panther, Clio, FileVine, more)
• Robust marketing automation (email marketing, texting, drip campaigns)
• Online intake forms, contracts, and documents with free e-sign tool
• Calendar and email syncing
• Track billable hours
• Accept online payments
• Tons of customized reporting features
• Track referrals
• Email and texting templates
• Custom fields

Not only is Shape packed with features, but they’re also one of the few CRMs that offer deeply customizable options depending on what your firm needs. Unlike a few other systems we tried, Shape offers robust (and free) customer support via phone, live chat, and email, but we found the system simple enough to use without needing much help. Shape seem to really understand what makes a law firm tick, and that was refreshing to hear from our sales rep.

Price

Shape is priced extremely well for the feature set and integration partners they offer at $79/month per user. Considering its marketing automation tools would run you about $1,000 a month on their own, we think any law firm will find Shape to be a great investment.

An added plus? There is no mandatory setup fee, and can get your account filled with preloaded templates. For each practice area you specialize in, Shape can also help you build out your account. Custom setups and integrations are all available, but you should contact them for an accurate quote.

Integrations

One of the key reasons Shape stands out amongst its peers is its powerful integrations. Some of the top ones include G Suite, Mailchimp, Outlook, multiple payment processors, case management tools, Twilio, and many more. Thanks to Shape’s integration with Zapier and Webhooks, they support thousands of additional potential integrations.

Bottom Line

Shape comes with a 14-day free trial (one of the only legal CRMs that has a trial at all) but you won’t need that long. We took a test drive and loved it within a couple days of playing around. Having our account built out and customized by the Support team was great, and we were able to hit the ground running. Thanks to a solid bedrock of technology, Shape can support a solo firm or a hundred-person team just as easily.

2. Lexicata

Lexicata has been around for several years now and has most recently gained attention for being purchased by Clio. If you’re already a Clio user, you’ve probably been told for years to adopt Lexicata thanks to their integration, but smaller firms may still have a reason to take a closer look.

Seemingly built with the volume-practice areas in mind (think criminal or DUI), Lexicata has plenty of lead management tools to help you manage inquiries. Medium and larger firms may have a more difficult time adopting the system due to its noticeable lack of other case management integrations, limited client nurturing feature set, and lack of customization.

The main issue we had during our attempts to get going on Lexicata was the mandatory setup fee that starts at $399. The system also seemed a little difficult to get started with, as we were just pointed to a recommend webinar series, tons of training videos, and a lengthy knowledge base which all suggested that implementation and setup were a huge time commitment. If we were really desperate to get our account built out for us, we could pay to have someone build it, but those costs were not fully disclosed.

It remains to be seen how Clio’s purchase of Lexicata will affect its future, so keep that in mind if you decide to move forward with them!

Features

Like we mentioned, Lexicata shines in its ability to help you manage your leads. If you struggle to keep up with incoming potential clients and just need a database to store contacts, send online documents, and keep tabs on appointments, this is the software for you.

• Online documents (intake forms, contracts)
• Some email marketing features
• Custom Workflows
• Clio integration
• Reports for matters, leads, referrals
• Contact tagging
• Track lead sources
• Automated email and appointment reminders
• Daily agenda
• Matter pipeline

Notably lacking in Lexicata are lack of payment acceptance and no integrations with other case management tools apart from Clio. Reviews across the internet lament Lexicata for this very reason, so if you use Rocket Matter, Practice Panther, Smokeball, etc you will find that getting your client data out of their system may be a hassle. If you’re a Clio user, you’ve likely already heard plenty about Lexicata. If you need robust marketing automation, you won’t find it in Lexicata either.

Price

In our research, we uncovered that Lexicata has a mandatory setup fee, but it ranged based on firm size. Our best guess from research is its starts at $399, but that may vary. At $59/month per user Lexicata is an extremely appealing option for solo and new firms looking to get their feet wet in their first CRM.

Mind the setup fee and cost for adding a better marketing automation tool, and you still might be able to wing Lexicata on a tight budget.

Integrations

Lexicata has integrations with lead capture tools, like virtual receptionists, live chat, and lead forms on your website (nearly every CRM in this article does, too). You can also expect to sync up your email and calendar, use Hellosign (sorry DocuSign users), Mailchimp, and a few other tools.

From our demo call, we were told that custom integrations were not really possible, and that there would be some time and financial investment needed to get our account set up to our liking.

Bottom Line

Lexicata has been riding a good wave for the past few years thanks to being a great entry-level CRM that has been hyped by some industry insiders. We are still waiting for the other shoe to drop when it comes to the recent acquisition by Clio, but odds are good you can’t possibly expect any other case management integrations.

If you’re just starting a firm and need a basic feature set, or you’re a tried-and-true Clio user, Lexicata can be a great fit.

3. Law Ruler

It seems like Law Ruler has been around forever, and its somewhat outdated UI doesn’t help that reputation. But despite a stuffy and complicated interface that won’t win any awards, Law Ruler is another option for small- to medium-sized firms looking to get their first taste of CRM action.

Law Ruler was initially designed to help high volume firms, which is why it comes as no surprise that its lead management features really shine. The software touts its “AI-powered” and “human driven” feature set all over its marketing site (we’re still not 100% sure what that means), and it’s clear they want to compete on the same playground as Lexicata.

If you’re a high-volume firm, like Criminal or DUI, Law Ruler can probably help you.

Features

First thing you notice when you log in to Law Ruler is that there are bells and whistles everywhere. The UI is loaded with icons, notification menus, links, and buttons. A clean and focused experience this is not, and for the non-tech savvy partner and intake staff, Law Ruler can come across as a trying experience.

Depending on which plan you go with (yes, unfortunately, they gate their feature set), you can expect:

• Some marketing automation (email templates, SMS)
• Calendar and email sync
• Workflow automation
• Online documents and e-sign
• Online intake forms
• Lead and client management tools
• Referral tracking
• Reporting
• Call tracking

Price

In addition to gated features, Law Ruler (like Lexicata) also gates its pricing online. We were able to find from some digging that plans range from $49 to $99 a month per user. Not all features are included in every plan.

Integrations

Law Ruler does integrate with tools like FileVine, Clio, Needles, and TrialWorks, but we’re not sure how many firms are even still using those (apart from Clio, of course). Law Ruler also offers support for twilio, DocuSign, and live chat, but custom integrations are only available for an unspecified price.

Bottom Line

Law Ruler may be extremely overwhelming to new users. Be prepared – you will need to set aside quite a bit of time to get your account set up properly (we couldn’t tell if they offer custom setup and integrations), but their team insisted that once it’s finally ready, you can put Law Ruler on autopilot. Depending on the level of control you, your partners, or your office staff like to exert over the client onboarding process, this may sound great or terrible.

With a lackluster marketing automation feature set not included in all plans, we can’t wholly recommend Law Ruler for more prominent firms. However, if you need some of the basics covered and aren’t picky about aesthetics, Law Ruler is a solid pick.

4. Lawmatics

Are you a MyCase user? Then you are probably familiar with Roey Chasman and Matt Spiegel, the brains behind the newest legal CRM on the block, Lawmatics. Hoping to fill in some of the gaps left open by Lexicata for smaller firms, Lawmatics has said publicly that it strives to be “Hubspot for lawyers” which is both ambitious and daunting.

With a small feature set of email automation, audience lists, and triggered emails, Lawmatics doesn’t really live up to all the marketing automation hype. However, similar to Lexicata and Law Ruler, you can create some pretty neat customized intake flows that allow to send and receive documents easily. This isn’t a mind-blowing feature, and it’s now standard in class for these CRMs, and but it’s good to see Lawmatics embracing these kinds of basics.

Features

Lawmatics has a seemingly smaller feature set than you would imagine for a company aspiring to be a behemoth like Hubspot. Some of the bells and whistles like their “Goal Tracking” had us saying “cool” indeed, but we didn’t find them to be the kind of integral feature a medium to large law firm would spend the time to set up and actually use.

• Email drip campaigns and templates
• Workflow automation
• Send and receive online documents
• Build online forms
• Lead pipeline with predictive revenue
• E-signature
• File requests
• Custom reporting
• Contact management

Price

Despite some other online reviewers claiming Lawmatics pricing was a shifting scale (we can’t verify that or dispute it), their website says plans start at $80 a user per month, with a cap on contacts. If your firm fields dozens of leads a week, you may end up paying hundreds of dollars extra every month, which is a big consideration. There is also a mandatory $499 onboarding fee all firms must pay — a serious commitment for the smaller firms Lawmatics is seemingly targeting.

Integrations

As of now, Lawmatics is still new but only integrates with Clio, Practice Panther, and LawPay. Other reviewers online have been quick to note that due to a lack of ability to export data out of Lawmatics, your client data is somewhat useless unless you are using one of the aforementioned case management tools. We’re not sure if they plan on addressing this serious flaw soon, but here’s to hoping.

Bottom Line

If you’re leaning toward a lead management-heavy system like Lawmatics, consider their mandatory onboarding fee of $499 and optional customization package that is rumored to start around $1,500. With those fees, limits on contacts, and monthly per user charges, we’re starting to agree with other legal professionals that Lawmatics is far from a “Hubspot for Lawyers,” and more of an “expensive Lexicata.”

5. Hubspot

In any search for a CRM online, all roads seem to lead to one of the big three: Hubspot, InfusionSoft, or Salesforce. Sure, if some of these other legal CRMs on our list had the multi-million dollar marketing budgets that these three had you’d probably hear about them more often, too!

For today’s article, let’s focus a bit more on Hubspot (Salesforce has tens of thousands upon thousands of dollars in implementation fees and months of setup time, and InfusionSoft is really great for marketing but won’t help with your day-to-day law firm needs) since it has a few valuable tools for today’s law firm.

Features

Let’s get one thing straight out of the gate: Hubspot is not a law firm CRM. It was not designed with the help of lawyers, like Shape or Lexicata. Hubspot is a sales and marketing automation tool built for salespeople. Can your law firm use it? Sure. Was it designed with your law firm’s needs in mind? No.

Hubspot’s free CRM includes:

• Sales tools and dashboards
• Task management
• Appointment scheduling
• Email templates and marketing (1 account)
• Document and forms templates (up to 5)
• Some client management tools
• Lead management tools

Noticeably missing from Hubspot’s feature set are some key tools every law firm should be using. Hubspot does not have:

• Online intake
• Referral tracking
• Customized reporting for law firms
• Status tracking
• Matter tracking
• Customizable online forms
• E-signature
• Automated reminders
• And the list goes on

Remember: Hubspot was built for sales and marketing teams, not law firms.

Price

Hubspot is notable for their completely free Lite CRM plan, which is great as an add-on for law firms who are already using another client management tool. As a standalone product though, Hubspot’s free version will leave a ton of gaps for law firms looking for an all-in-one solution…or even something that can easily manage intake!

With Hubspot’s free CRM plan, you get a few interesting features, but many of the things law firms rely on for a day-to-day basis, like online forms, documents, and email automation are limited to under 5 or need to be hacked together to resemble something usable.

Feeling more ambitious? You can opt for the Hubspot Marketing CRM plan, which will include a suite of tools to up your marketing automation game, but a full feature set account starts at $800 per user per month.

Even more complicated still is Hubspot’s Growth Suite, which gets you close to many features you’d need to run your law firm. The catch? For a typical 5-user account, you’re looking at $1,200 a month, not to mention setup, implementation, training, and any 3rd party fees you’d need to pay to really make Hubspot’s round peg fit in the square hole you need.

Integrations

Hubspot’s power is undoubtedly in its 300+ integrations. Most notable though is its lack of integration with any case management software. That’s right – Hubspot does not integrate at all with Clio, MyCase, Practice Panther, etc. You’re on your own with getting data in and out.

Bottom Line

It’s powerful, it’s a behemoth, and it’s always been a curiosity to you, but Hubspot is not a realistic solution for a law firm CRM. If you need a free, light tool to get your practice off the ground, you could hardly do any better than Hubspot’s free version. But for law firms serious about growth, automating client data, and tracking leads and matters…go with the Davids on this list, not Goliath.

Article Source:- https://setshape.com/blog/top-legal-crm