Practicepanther

What is practicepanther

PracticePanther is a cloud-based legal practice management platform designed to help law firms manage matters, track time, automate billing, and coordinate calendars and communications in one place. The product targets solo practitioners and small to mid-size law firms that need a single system to handle client intake, document storage, invoicing, trust accounting, and integrations with common legal and office tools.

The platform packages case management, time and expense tracking, invoicing, payments, and client communication tools with workflows and automation designed specifically around legal practice requirements. PracticePanther emphasizes ease of use and fast adoption for firms that want to replace spreadsheets, manual billing, and fragmented systems.

PracticePanther is available as a web application with native mobile apps for iOS and Android, and it integrates with common services such as email, calendars, accounting systems, and payment processors to reduce duplicate entry and improve visibility across daily law firm operations.

PracticePanther features

What does PracticePanther do?

PracticePanther centralizes law firm operations into a single platform with modules for matters, contacts, billing, time tracking, calendaring, document storage, and client intake. Firms use it to create matter records that include tasks, deadlines, billable entries, documents, and client communications so all matter activity is visible in one place.

The platform automates common law firm workflows: recurring invoices, payment reminders, document templates, automated task creation tied to matter types, and rules that move matters through intake-to-engagement steps. Built-in timers and expense tracking capture billable time on desktop and mobile, while native billing tools support hourly, flat-fee, contingency, and retainer-based billing.

PracticePanther also handles trust accounting (IOLTA) with separate trust ledgers, automated trust draws and reconciliations, and reporting that helps firms stay compliant with jurisdictional requirements. Integration with payment processors enables online credit card and bank transfer payments directly from invoices.

Key features and modules:

• Matter management: matter-level notes, tasks, deadlines, contacts, and related documents in a single timeline
• Time tracking & expenses: timers, manual time entries, expense capture, and bulk time edits
• Billing & invoicing: customizable invoice templates, recurring invoices, batch billing, and trust accounting support
• Payments & trust accounting: credit card and ACH payments, IOLTA trust ledgers, and automated trust transactions
• Client intake & CRM: custom intake forms, conflict checks, lead capture, and client portals for secure file sharing
• Document management: file storage, templates, document merging, and integration with cloud providers
• Calendaring & tasks: synchronized calendars, court date management, reminders, and shared task lists
• Automation & workflows: rules for automating tasks, notifications, invoice generation, and status changes
• Reporting & analytics: firm-level financial reports, productivity metrics, and custom/exportable reports
• Mobile apps: iOS and Android apps for time tracking, matter access, and mobile invoicing

For a full list of current feature offerings and module details, see PracticePanther's core feature descriptions.

PracticePanther pricing

PracticePanther offers these pricing plans:

• Essentials: $49/month per user (billed monthly) or discounted annual billing available
• Business: $69/month per user (billed monthly) with expanded automation and reporting
• Enterprise: $99/month per user (billed monthly) or custom enterprise agreements with advanced security, onboarding, and dedicated support

These price points represent typical tiers for cloud legal practice management and may include bundled features like client portals, trust accounting, and basic integrations in lower tiers while advanced automation, premium integrations, and dedicated support are included in higher tiers. Check PracticePanther's pricing tiers and available packages for the latest rates and enterprise options.

How much is PracticePanther per month

PracticePanther starts at $49/month per user for the entry-level plan when billed monthly. Monthly billing is available for most small teams that prefer flexibility, with per-user charges that scale as you add seats.

Monthly plans typically allow firms to pay for only the seats they use and to scale up or down month-to-month, which is useful for seasonal or variable headcount.

How much is PracticePanther per year

PracticePanther costs approximately $588/year per user at the entry-level tier when billed annually (equivalent to $49/month per user billed annually in common pricing structures). Annual billing usually includes a discount compared with monthly pricing and can lower the effective month-to-month cost.

Enterprise and higher tiers also offer annual or multi-year contracts with volume discounts and bespoke pricing for firms requiring white-glove onboarding, data migration, and custom security arrangements.

How much is PracticePanther in general

PracticePanther pricing ranges from roughly $49/month to $99/month per user depending on plan and billing cycle. Lower tiers cover core matter and billing functions, while mid and upper tiers add automation, integrations, reporting, and advanced trust/accounting features.

Total cost of ownership for a firm will include per-user subscription fees, onboarding or migration fees (one-time), optional training or premium support charges, and payment-processing fees when accepting client payments online. When budgeting, consider setup costs, estimated monthly user seats, and anticipated payment transaction charges.

What is PracticePanther used for

PracticePanther is used to run day-to-day law firm operations: opening and managing matters, tracking billable and non-billable time, generating invoices, processing client payments, and maintaining trust accounts. It replaces a patchwork of spreadsheets, desktop folders, and standalone billing systems by keeping matter-specific data and financials in one place.

Attorneys use PracticePanther to create standard intake workflows that capture client data, perform conflict checks, and automatically create initial tasks and document templates. This reduces administrative overhead during client onboarding and ensures consistent intake practices.

Administrative staff use the platform for scheduling, court date management, reconciliation of trust accounts, and month-end billing. The client portal and online payment integration help firms reduce collection cycles by giving clients secure, self-serve access to invoices and documents.

PracticePanther is also used for internal reporting—tracking realization rates, time utilization, outstanding receivables, and trust balances—to guide pricing decisions, staffing, and cash flow planning.

Pros and cons of PracticePanther

Pros:

• Comprehensive, law-firm focused feature set that combines matter management, billing, trust accounting, and client intake in one product
• Built-in automation tools that reduce repetitive administrative tasks and accelerate billing cycles
• Integrations with payment processors, calendars, and document storage reduce duplicate data entry and improve workflow continuity

Cons:

• Per-user subscription pricing can be a material operating cost for rapidly growing firms; total costs increase as seats are added
• Firms with highly specialized billing or accounting workflows may require customizations or third-party integrations
• Advanced enterprise needs—such as deep integrations with firm accounting systems or custom security controls—may require higher-tier plans or implementation services

PracticePanther is well suited to firms seeking a single vendor to handle matter lifecycle and billing; firms with bespoke legacy systems or specialized accounting needs should evaluate integration and migration effort during selection.

PracticePanther free trial

PracticePanther typically offers a trial or demo period so firms can evaluate the product with real data before committing to a subscription. The trial usually includes access to core features like matter creation, time tracking, invoicing, and basic integrations to test workflows and reporting.

During the trial, firms should test these areas: importing client and matter data from existing systems, running time entries and producing sample invoices, creating intake forms, and evaluating trust accounting transactions. These hands-on checks reveal how well PracticePanther fits the firm’s current processes and compliance requirements.

To start a trial or request a guided demo, firms should use PracticePanther's demo and trial signup to schedule onboarding and ask specific questions about migration, security, and setup timelines.

Is PracticePanther free

No, PracticePanther is not a permanently free product. It generally offers paid subscription tiers, sometimes accompanied by a short trial or demo period so firms can evaluate functionality before purchase. Free trials allow testing core features but do not replace a paid subscription for ongoing firm use.

Some vendors offer limited free tiers for very small practices, but legal-specific features like trust accounting and client portals are usually reserved for paid tiers because of compliance and security requirements.

PracticePanther API

PracticePanther provides an API and integration framework that allows firms and third-party developers to connect matter, contact, billing, and calendar data to other applications. The API supports creating and updating matters, pulling time entries, generating invoices, and syncing contact and calendar events.

Common use cases for the API are:

• Bi-directional sync with firm accounting packages or ERPs to reconcile revenue and receivables
• Custom integrations for client intake forms on firm websites that create matters automatically in PracticePanther
• Exporting data to business intelligence tools for custom dashboards and firm-level analytics

PracticePanther also exposes a set of built-in integrations for common third-party services such as payment processors, document storage providers, and calendar/email systems. For technical documentation and endpoint details, review PracticePanther's developer and integration resources.

10 PracticePanther alternatives

Paid alternatives to PracticePanther

• Clio — Comprehensive legal practice management with strong billing, trust accounting, a marketplace of legal integrations, and scalable plans for small to large firms.
• MyCase — Matter and client management with built-in client communication tools, billing, and a simple interface tailored to smaller firms.
• Rocket Matter — Time and billing focused practice management with workflow automation and ABA-compliant trust accounting features.
• Zola Suite — Includes built-in accounting, robust email integration, and advanced reporting for firms that want an all-in-one accounting and practice solution.
• LEAP — Practice management solution popular in certain jurisdictions with integrated document assembly and legal forms.
• CosmoLex — Built-in legal accounting and trust accounting combined with practice management and billing, targeted at firms needing integrated accounting.

Open source alternatives to PracticePanther

• Casebox — Open source case and document management platform that can be self-hosted and customized for law firm workflows.
• OpenLaw — Blockchain-influenced open-source tooling for legal agreements and some contract management workflows (best for contract-centric practices).
• Mattermost — While not a dedicated legal practice manager, Mattermost can be used for secure team collaboration and, combined with custom tooling, can fill parts of communication and workflow gaps in a self-hosted environment.

Open-source options typically require IT resources to host, customize, and secure. Firms that choose open-source solutions should plan for implementation, backups, and maintenance comparable to in-house enterprise systems.

Frequently asked questions about PracticePanther

What is PracticePanther used for?

PracticePanther is used for legal practice management and billing. Firms use it to manage matters, track billable time, generate invoices, handle trust accounting, and streamline client intake and communications across desktop and mobile interfaces.

Does PracticePanther integrate with QuickBooks?

Yes, PracticePanther supports accounting integrations. Common workflows include syncing invoices and payments to QuickBooks or other accounting systems to maintain accurate financial records and avoid double entry.

How much does PracticePanther cost per user per month?

PracticePanther starts at $49/month per user for entry-level plans when billed monthly. Higher tiers with additional automation, integrations, and enterprise features are typically priced at higher per-user rates.

Is there a free version of PracticePanther?

No, PracticePanther does not offer a permanent free tier for ongoing firm use. The vendor generally provides short trials or demos, after which an active subscription is required to continue using the platform.

Can PracticePanther handle trust accounting (IOLTA)?

Yes, PracticePanther supports trust accounting and IOLTA workflows. It maintains separate trust ledgers, supports trust draws and transfers, and provides reconciliation reports that help firms comply with jurisdictional trust rules.

Does PracticePanther have a mobile app?

Yes, PracticePanther offers mobile apps for iOS and Android. Mobile apps let attorneys record time, view matters and contacts, access documents, and perform basic billing actions while away from the office.

Can I import data from other systems into PracticePanther?

Yes, PracticePanther supports data import from common formats. Firms can import contacts, matters, and historical time and billing records via CSV or through migration services; larger migrations can be handled with vendor-assisted onboarding.

What support and training does PracticePanther offer?

PracticePanther provides support and onboarding resources. Typical options include knowledge base articles, video tutorials, live demos, email support, and paid onboarding packages for data migration and staff training.

Is PracticePanther secure and compliant?

PracticePanther follows enterprise-grade security practices. The platform uses encryption in transit, role-based access controls, and industry-standard data protections; firms with specific compliance needs should review provider security documentation and request details about certifications.

Can PracticePanther integrate with my firm's website for client intake?

Yes, PracticePanther can integrate client intake forms with websites. Firms can embed intake forms or use API/webhooks so that leads and new client data create matters automatically, triggering intake workflows and conflict checks.

PracticePanther careers

PracticePanther hires across product, engineering, customer success, sales, and legal/compliance roles to support product development and customer onboarding. Candidates interested in working on legal technology products typically look for roles in software engineering, product management, customer success, and legal operations.

For current openings and recruitment details, check PracticePanther's official careers or LinkedIn pages and the company’s public hiring announcements.

PracticePanther affiliate

PracticePanther maintains partner and referral programs for consultants, reseller partners, and legal technology advisors. Affiliates and partners often receive referral fees, co-marketing opportunities, and access to training resources for deploying PracticePanther to client firms.

Contact PracticePanther's partner program or sales team to inquire about affiliate requirements, commission structures, and certification programs.

Where to find PracticePanther reviews

You can find user reviews and ratings for PracticePanther on independent review platforms like G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius where practicing attorneys and firm administrators describe implementation experiences, pros and cons, and feature feedback. For authoritative feature details and the latest pricing information, view PracticePanther's official product and pricing pages.