2026 Law Firm Planning Starts Now

The start of a new year is the perfect moment for law firms to leave behind inefficiency and adopt innovative solutions that streamline daily operations. We understand that the real obstacle to growth isn’t just about having more clients or a better organization; it’s about making managing and organizing cases, client communication, and all the administrative issues easier so the firm spends more time practicing law.

If you’re ready to make 2026 your firm’s most successful year yet, it’s time to get started. The first step is to understand where the firm stands now. Consider the firms primary pain points and address each with an action plan. 

Where the Firm Is Now

It all starts with how the firm is functioning now. What are the pain points the firm deals with? What functions take the most time? This doesn't need to be too scientific... it's generally the things the firm knows. Ask these questions to identify potential areas of concern:

• What does the firm really dread doing?
• What are the top issues our clients ask about? 
• What keeps the partner(s) up at night? 
• Are there specific tasks that tend to be put off until they must be done? 

Generally speaking, the tasks or processes that the law firm and clients don't feel good about are the top issues. Do these tasks or processes need to be done on a regular basis, or are they exceptions to the rule? The more regularly they need to be done, the bigger the impact to the productivity of the firm. Prioritize the specific tasks based on impact and regularity. Of course, importance is key but the reality is, if it isn't important, then why does the firm do it?

Prioritize Focus Areas

Now the firm has the list of potential issues. Give them a good review and identify the areas where the firm will focus. Each firm has their own approach, whether it's based on the ease of solution, impact to the firm's productivity, affect on both current and potential clients, or other criteria.

Some common areas of concern:

• Billing Process: Whether it's time and expense tracking, invoice creation, payment management or trust balance management, this is a typical area of concern.
• File Management: Quickly accessing files and ensuring the firm and client are seeing the files appropriately is another focus area.
• Repetitive Tasks: Creating standard documents, gathering information from clients, among others, can be unnecessarily time consuming.
• Lead Management: All law firms need new clients. How the firm tracks incoming leads, manages the follow-up process, and converts them to a client can be quite time consuming.
• Others: Task and calendar management, conflict check, the intake process, reporting, and client communications are also quite common. 

Once the specific areas to be addressed are selected, it's time to start looking for solutions. 

Look for Solutions

Solution options depend on the issue at hand. Consider contacting fellow attorneys, your Bar Association, and researching technology options, based on the issue at hand.

• Fellow Attorneys: Working with others who are facing a similar situation and learning from them what they tried, what worked, and what didn't, can be a real game changer. No two law firms are the same but learning from others is always helpful.

• Associations: Whether it's a geographic based bar association, a subject matter association, or even a professional group like the Chamber of Commerce, learning from other professionals who are not in the legal industry can be quite eye opening, too.
• Technology: Obviously, technology is a great option. Depending on the law firm, simply moving to case management software versus individual apps can be a real game changer. There are so many options out there. Be sure to look for user feedback, Reddit is a great source, and other attorneys, of course. 
• Custom: Perhaps the pain points can be easily solved by changing processes, or adjusting existing app defaults. There are many ways to solve problems. 

When considering your options, be sure to estimate the time to adopt the new approach, the challenge of data moves, if any, and the openness of the law firm to the change at all. More often than not, the stumbling block is other members of the firm. Be prepared with information, like a case study, that shows the potential time savings and positive impact to the firm.

Rather than managing multiple disconnected tools, case management software, like SimpleLaw, brings everything your firm needs into one platform:

• Case Management: Track every case from start to finish with clarity and control.

• File Management: Securely store, access, and share files without digging through folders or inboxes.

• Scheduling & Calendaring: Sync deadlines, meetings, and tasks to keep your team on track.

• Client Communication Tools – Keep conversations organized in one place for better response times.

• Billing & Time Tracking: Ensure billable hours and expenses are captured without extra steps. Create those invoices in just a few clicks.

• User Experience:  Look for a case management software provider that is focused on delivering an exceptional client experience, releasing new features on a regular basis, and really listens to their users.

The time is now to start planning your 2026. No need to take it all on at once. Start with reviewing the firm's current status. Identify those pain points, and then start considering your options. Perhaps the firm's pain points are already know. Start with solving for the biggest items first. Be open to seeing more options, solutions to things that the firm didn't even know were an issue, and new benefits overall. And remember, not all costs and benefits are the same. Be sure to dig into the details of what is included, and what is not. 

SimpleLaw streamlines administrative and organizational tasks in an all-in-one case management software program.