Project Management Software for Law Firms
While case management software handles legal matters, project management tools excel at firm operations, marketing initiatives, and internal projects. This guide compares the leading platforms for legal teams.
Project Management vs. Case Management
Case Management Software
Purpose-built for legal work: matters, deadlines, documents, billing, client communication, and compliance.
- Legal-specific workflows
- Court deadline tracking
- Trust accounting integration
- Client portals
Project Management Software
General-purpose tools for any type of project: marketing, operations, IT initiatives, and team collaboration.
- Flexible for any project type
- Strong visualization options
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Often more affordable
Our recommendation: Use dedicated case management for legal matters and project management for everything else. Some firms successfully use PM tools for simpler legal workflows, but most benefit from purpose-built legal software for client work.
How Law Firms Use Project Management Tools
Beyond client matters, PM tools help firms manage the business of running a law practice.
Matter Tracking
Track matters through stages, assign tasks to team members, and monitor deadlines across all active cases.
Marketing Campaigns
Manage marketing initiatives, content calendars, and business development activities in one place.
Firm Operations
Handle internal projects like technology rollouts, policy updates, and administrative initiatives.
Client Onboarding
Create repeatable onboarding workflows to ensure consistent client experience every time.
Knowledge Management
Build internal wikis, process documentation, and training materials for the team.
Vendor Management
Track vendor relationships, contracts, renewals, and procurement processes.
Platform Comparison
The leading project management platforms, evaluated for law firm use.
ClickUp
Free to $19/user/monthBest for: Tech-savvy firms wanting maximum customization
Highly customizable project management platform with docs, goals, time tracking, and automation. Increasingly popular with law firms for its flexibility and competitive pricing.
Pros
- • Extremely customizable
- • Strong automation
- • Affordable
- • All-in-one workspace
- • Great mobile apps
Cons
- • Steep learning curve
- • Can be overwhelming
- • Not legal-specific
- • Requires setup time
Monday.com
$8 to $16/user/monthBest for: Teams preferring visual, intuitive interfaces
Visual work operating system with colorful boards and strong automation. Easy to learn and popular with teams that prefer visual project tracking.
Pros
- • Intuitive visual interface
- • Easy to learn
- • Good automations
- • Strong integrations
- • Beautiful design
Cons
- • Gets expensive at scale
- • Limited free tier
- • Not legal-specific
- • Can be too simple for complex needs
Asana
Free to $24.99/user/monthBest for: Teams needing robust task and timeline management
Established project management platform with strong task management, timelines, and portfolio views. Popular with professional services firms.
Pros
- • Clean interface
- • Strong task management
- • Good timeline views
- • Reliable and stable
- • Good free tier
Cons
- • Premium features pricey
- • Limited time tracking
- • No native docs
- • Basic automation on lower tiers
Airtable
Free to $20/user/monthBest for: DIY-minded firms wanting custom solutions
Flexible database and spreadsheet hybrid that can be configured for project management. Perfect for firms wanting to build custom tracking systems and workflows.
Pros
- • Highly flexible
- • Easy for spreadsheet users
- • Strong automation
- • Good templates
- • Affordable
Cons
- • Requires building your own system
- • Not traditional PM tool
- • Can become complex
- • Learning curve for advanced features
Notion
Free to $15/user/monthBest for: Firms wanting knowledge management + project tracking
All-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, wikis, and project management. Highly flexible but requires building your own structure.
Pros
- • Incredible flexibility
- • Great for documentation
- • Strong database features
- • Affordable
- • Good templates
Cons
- • Requires significant setup
- • Not traditional PM tool
- • Can get messy without discipline
- • Mobile apps less robust
Trello
Free to $17.50/user/monthBest for: Small teams wanting simple, visual tracking
Simple, visual Kanban-style project management. Easy to learn and great for teams wanting straightforward task boards.
Pros
- • Dead simple to use
- • Visual Kanban boards
- • Good free tier
- • Quick setup
- • Easy collaboration
Cons
- • Limited for complex projects
- • Basic reporting
- • Fewer features than competitors
- • Power-ups add up
Basecamp
$15/user/month or $349/month unlimitedBest for: Teams wanting simplicity and flat pricing
Opinionated project management tool focused on simplicity and team communication. Flat pricing model makes it attractive for larger teams.
Pros
- • Simple and focused
- • Flat pricing option
- • Good communication tools
- • Less overwhelming
- • Stable platform
Cons
- • Less customizable
- • Limited integrations
- • No Gantt charts
- • Opinionated workflow
Wrike
$9.80 to $24.80/user/monthBest for: Larger firms needing robust features
Larger-scale project management with strong reporting, resource management, and proofing features. Popular with bigger professional services firms.
Pros
- • Comprehensive features
- • Strong reporting
- • Good resource management
- • Proofing tools
- • Customizable workflows
Cons
- • Complex interface
- • Expensive at scale
- • Steep learning curve
- • Overkill for small teams
Smartsheet
$9 to $32/user/monthBest for: Teams who think in spreadsheets
Spreadsheet-like project management for teams comfortable with Excel. Strong automation and reporting with a familiar interface.
Pros
- • Familiar spreadsheet interface
- • Strong automation
- • Good reporting
- • Enterprise capabilities
- • Form builder
Cons
- • Can feel dated
- • Less visual than alternatives
- • Learning curve for automation
- • Mobile experience limited
How to Choose
Key factors to consider when selecting a project management tool.
Team Size & Complexity
Smaller teams often thrive with simpler tools like Trello or Basecamp. Larger firms may need ClickUp, Monday, or Wrike for advanced features.
Integration Needs
Consider what other tools you use. Most PM tools integrate via Zapier, but native integrations with your legal software may be limited.
Learning Curve Tolerance
ClickUp and Notion offer maximum flexibility but require more setup. Trello and Basecamp get you running in minutes.
Budget Constraints
Free tiers vary significantly. ClickUp and Notion offer generous free plans; Monday and Asana restrict features more aggressively.
Need Help Choosing or Implementing?
We help law firms select, configure, and integrate project management tools with their existing legal technology stack.