Actionstep Review – Why Does It Stand Out?

There are a lot of options out there for a variety of law practice management software and it can be hard to tell what best suits you. This is why it's important to have an unbiased review of every potential product you consider. Here is everything you need to know about Actionstep and, as legal software, everything it provides. 

Here are just a few things that I'm going to show you in this Actionstep review:

• What sets Actionstep apart from other law practice management software on the market in 2022.
• Does it live up to the claims?
• The Pros Vs Cons of how Actionstep compares to its competitors. 

Legal Software

If you have found your way onto this review then there's a high chance you're shopping around for the perfect program that will become the backbone of your new or upgraded law firm. In this complete review, we will be covering all aspects of what Actionstep has to offer and the pros & cons of your specific business model. It will be a long read so for those who want a quick overview, use the table of contents to find the information you need or check out the TLDR at the bottom. 

What Is Actionstep Exactly?

Actionstep is a cloud-based law practice management software designed for law firms around the world to run their everyday operations. Perfect for those just getting into the world of their own private practice. It is suitable for firms with 1-50 users ranging from your receptionists to head lawyers. The selling point is the streamlined integration with all other software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Xero. With complete customization at the click of a button, you are able to open a new case for a client that has exactly what documents you need with time-sensitive emails to payment prompts. 

Designed and Created by Ted Jordan in 2004, the New Zealand-based company has 4 global offices situated around the world. It's this drive and motivation of global reach that has allowed Actionstep to reach new clients and tailor its product to suit a variety of needs. The key here is a completely customizable interface that involves zero code. 

How Does Actionstep Work?

As simple as logging into Facebook or Dropbox, Actionstep has been designed to be the simplest user-friendly plug-and-play system on the market. It really does cover everything you need to run a law practice as it includes useful intelligent time sheets (Down to the second), workflow automation, and matter management. 

When comparing it to a product such as Leap it becomes a strong contender as from the start it puts all cards on the table to provide full transparency for its users. The platform allows you to run a successful business from day 1 and provides all the support/ tutorials to appropriately integrate their software for your business model. 

If you're not sure that this software can work specifically for your small to medium law firm then you're in luck. It now has a practice management system to let you understand what you're getting into before putting real clients on the line.

Why Use A Law Practice Management Software?

To run a well-managed business it's all about delegation and time management. Is it possible to create your own system that works specifically for your needs? Absolutely! Is it possible within a reasonable amount of time and budget? Almost always, NO. This is why you leave it to the experts to create software that works well and gets the job done within your budget. 

If we can achieve anything out of this review that you read today it would be to help you find the perfect system that works best for you, so shop around and ask all the questions. Send us an email or reply below with any questions you may have. 

Top Features Of Actionstep

While the list on Actionstep's website will offer the most comprehensive list of features they offer, let's take a look at the top features that separate it from other legal software on the market. 

Workflow Automation

While many of the competitors offer a form of workflow automation we believe there are none out there that offer this level of customization while remaining user-friendly. Once it has been set up you'll find it's a set-and-forget system that will save your team many hours of paperwork.

Intelligent Timesheets

With access to a settings tab on nearly all pages you work on, you are able to start and stop the billing clock of a client to prove when an exact amount of work has been completed. This type of transparency is how the competition is falling behind. 

Xero Integration

While Xero itself has really outdone itself when compared to MYOB and other accounting software, with the ability to securely access its API, the fact that Actionstep has then linked up with this and made it a feature is impressive. This gives any small company a sigh of relief when they save a large chunk of time and money using automated software instead of an accountant. 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

While the premise isn't unique to Actionstep, the integration itself is. We have never before seen such a well-linked CRM that, when all data is used correctly, displays an active status report on all clients and their relationship with you. Allowing you to stay on top of prospective clients using workflows to create engagement.  

Who Would Use It?

Initially, when Actionstep was designed it was meant to be a general business solution to their software needs. Where it would be a completely modular design that would suit each business' workflow requirements. However, after noticing a gap in the legal market, the owner Ted realized its potential. 

Actionstep is now used as a law practice management software that has been tailor-made to suit all small, medium, and large firms. While we wouldn't recommend the 'Express' plan as we feel it doesn't provide all the features even a very small practice would use, the 'Practice Pro' plan option is still within a reasonable price range for a one-man-band. 

What Are The Pros Vs Cons?

While writing this review it can sometimes be hard to play devil's advocate as, understandably, much of the information online can be biased. We don't ever recommend getting your information from one source as this could restrict your ability to make an informed decision. With this in mind, here is our list:

Pros

• 3rd Party Integration: We have said above how we really like the ability to integrate with other major players such as Xero and Microsoft Office but we can't stress enough how useful this feature is, along with how much time it saves. 
• Endless Workflows: It really is all about sets and forgets. We agree the initial setup time can be modest and require training but the payoff is amazing. The ability to create a custom workflow that is specific to your business model and liking without touching a line of code is unheard of. 
• Document Automation: While the software does come with a few of its own legal documents ready out of the gate, the ability to create custom documents with document automation is very useful. Imagine once it's set up, signing up a client who needs a will completed and all you need is their information. Boom, the email was automatically sent, with their information already on the document with all relevant instructions with updated dates, and all. Truly a time saver. 
• Conflict Check: Such a simple feature but one we can't forget. When creating new clients, sending emails or filing important documents, the smart conflict check will let you know if this action has already been completed in the past or, more importantly, by another user. This is very useful when running a firm with a few employees where it becomes easy to mix up information. 
• Global Support: The support team, at least in our experience, has been some of the best we have seen. During the time of using this software, we needed to ask 4 questions, 1 major, and all were answered/ fixed within 1-4 business days. This included fixing a specific problem in our workflow and required a change in code, they dealt with everything! 
• Optional Add-Ons: While this doesn't change much in relation to the average user but we appreciate how features such as API access and App Integrations are the add-ons as they only affect a small number of users.

Cons

• Learning the software takes time and, depending on your needs, a bunch of online tutorials. While the information is easily accessible there is no way of getting around it. Around 15-20 hours of use/ learning to have all the basics down. This isn't just yourself either, everyone who uses the software will have to do training.
• Automation and 3rd parties: While this feature really is amazing once working, it does take time to set up and can sometimes become a headache if you stray slightly away from standard connection procedure. 
• No Offline Access: It really is a 100% online legal practice management software. If you don't have access to the internet then you can't access your files. What's good is you're able to download all files easily and freely, the main issue is, that you aren't able to work now offline and let it update later once online. 

While I would like to make a longer cons list Actionstep has really made it hard to find fault with their product. If you understand what it's capable of, work within the limits and put the effort in to get it started, there really is nothing that comes close to this user experience. 

How To Setup Actionstep - With Photos

Actionstep is a 100% cloud-based platform that provides everything you need to run your new/ upgraded law practice. It makes the legal management process easier by providing top-quality features with your specific workflow in mind. A typical signup process will take less than 15 minutes, with the setup process taking around an hour to have personalized settings in place and full legal practice integration complete within around a month. 

Getting Started With Actionstep 

To access your online Actionstep dashboard you will first need to 'request a trial'. This will prompt you to input standard information such as full name, email, country, phone number and firm name. 

Once you have filled out this information you will be informed that your 'free trial request' has been received and they will give you a call within 24 hours or at a time that suits you. 

With how many potential clients Actionstep goes through, it's good to see how they have managed to streamline the application process over the phone. The quick and easy 10-minute conversation covered all the essential information to start the trial process. So now what? Now you can start building and customizing your personal law practice management software. 

Actionstep Free Trial

Like many quality software out there today that is on a subscription-based program, Actionstep offers a trial run to see if you'll like the software. This is great news for those who are on the fence if they think it's worth getting Actionstep for their business. If you are ready to get a real legal law practice management software today then why not have a go? Check out Actionstep's trial below. With document management at its core, the Actionstep software is designed to improve workflows for all levels of your law firm.

Actionstep Free Trial

Want to know what all the fuss is about? Check out this free trial to see if Actionstep is the right software to run your law firm.

How Much Does Actionstep Cost?

Take a look at this pricing breakdown between the three payment plan options. The first plan 'Express' is at its cheapest ($69 AUD/ Month) when you pay for an entire year subscription ($828). With the second 'Practice Pro' ($129 AUD/ Month) at a total of ($1,548 Per Year). While looking at these numbers staring at you, just remember that these prices are for the entire legal practice management software that runs your business.

So let's break it down...

Express Plan - $69

Perfect for those who a running a one-man band that wants to quickly have their business up and running with a quality legal management system. This plan includes important workflow automation, matter management, and customer relationship management. These are the bare-bones essentials needed to run your firm.  

Practice Pro Plan - $129

Almost basically double the cost of the original plan, the practice pro, offers such a complete package it's easy to justify the extra cost. With important extra features such as document template & automation, customizable workflow and automated client intake it would be hard to pass up these features when time is so important. 

Enterprise Plan

For those who really want to customize everything, they can get their hands on. While no price is given as it then becomes user-specific we know it can go upwards of $350/ Month. This can be a justifiable cost for firms with a constant revenue stream, however, it's hard for those just starting out. Stick away from this package if it's your first time running a firm or only plan on working by yourself.

3rd Party And Add-Ons

While we've raved about how easy and important the 3rd party extras are we would be remiss to not talk about any additional costs that might come with using them. Straight off the bat, an Actionstep subscription doesn't sign you up for any 3rd parties. 

For example, as useful as Xero is to have integrated with your law practice management software, you'll still need to purchase a Xero subscription to have an account. Next, looking at the add-ons such as wills & estates AU, conveyancing, and family law range from being free to an additional $125/ month depending on your package. Not essential for those who already have these documents completed but a very quick and easy tool for those who want to save time. 

Certified Consulting Partners

Actionstep has set up a team of 'experts' who you are able to hire to help set up both software and 3rd party add-ons. This is great for those who don't want to spend many hours learning via internet tutorials. Keeping in mind you don't NEED to hire one during the installation of your new law practice management software, however, according to Actionstep, it is highly recommended as some jurisdictions have legal requirements during implementation. 

Is There An Actionstep Coupon, Bonus Or Discount?

Sadly from the research, we have done, no. We aren't able to find any potential savings on the packages they are currently selling (As of September 2019). However, we highly recommend taking full advantage of the free trial they offer and keeping a keen eye out for any future deals. 

Actionstep FAQ

While the Actionstep website does have a comprehensive FAQ section, we will quickly cover the most common questions we encountered while using and reviewing this product. 

What happens if the internet goes down?

With it being a 100% cloud-based system you will need to stay connected to use and update your files/ emails. Thankfully any connection, such as WiFi, cellular, or Hotspot will work to keep you connected. 

Is There A Mobile App?

Yes! While you can access the website on your phone/ tablet as you would on a laptop, there is also an app available for android and apple to download. You are also able to sync up all calendars to ensure complete integration. Sadly it hasn't found a way to fully integrate the benefits of running the software on a computer but it's nice to have the flexibility. 

Where Is My Data Stored?

Depending on your location/ choice you can store your online data either in Australia, New Zealand, America, the EU, or Singapore. This really supports a global community as no one wants to have a slow cloud connection to the other side of the world.

Can I Leave Actionstep?

The only thing required is 1 month's notice, that's it. during that time (Or any time for that matter) you can request a backup of your data. Keep in mind that during your trial period you don't pay a cent out of your pocket and can choose not to continue at any time. 

Actionstep Support

What makes it great is also its downfall. With the ability to customize nearly all aspects of your workflow, something is understandably bound to go wrong. What's great though is how prompt their support system is that is prepared to fix your problems right away. So if you're ever in need of some help/ advice feel free to hit up the great support staff. 

What Are Some Actionstep Alternatives?

It's always smart to look around at what everyone else is offering especially when making an important decision. So here are some of the high-end alternatives that create some serious competition. 

• BHL Software - This is essentially Actionstep offline, well not exactly, unlike the complete cloud-based options you would normally expect from most business management software of the 21st century. BHL gives you the ability to install directly to a device, connect to a local server or gain access directly online, neat. 
• Clio: Clio Suite is everything you need to run your new law firm from intake to invoice. Used by many people to have an easy all-in-one package. This is the sort of software you will be looking for if you don't have a 3rd party accounting software. 
• LEAP - Just like Actionstep, LEAP is an integrated legal practice and case management software. Tested by time, LEAP is well known in the industry to work well with small to medium firms. Great for those who want something that everyone else has but aren't interested in knowing what's the latest and greatest out there in the market of business-to-business connectivity. 
• Open Practice - Run by the GlobalX company, Open Practice is a well-regarded firm management software that strives to have one of the highest value and competitive pricing per user.  
• Thomson Reuters Elite - Moving into the much larger firm management software, 3E Elite seems to focus more on the business side of running a law firm. The ability to accurately track hours worked, cost-benefit analysis, and much more, helps companies with many employees keep track of day-to-day operations. 

Want More Alternatives?

Find out everything you need to know about these alternatives!

In Conclusion - Actionstep Review

Actionstep is an all-in-one law practice management software designed to cover all aspects of your business from start to finish. The main focus is workflow management which allows you to customize the software to your own liking. After using it for over a year I can say, the team here at ThePerthLawyer.com highly recommends the use of Actionstep in your new or upgraded firm. 

Let us know in the comments below if you have any further questions about this review. We will also keep you updated with any major changes Actionstep does to ensure you are able to make an informed decision on what law practice management software best suits your business.

Such a positive review would understandably make you skeptical so don't just listen to us here. Always shop around first before making any final decisions and see what other client management software is available.