Attorneys lose some of their billable time due to inefficient tracking — time that disappears into forgotten phone calls, brief email exchanges, and quick research sessions that never make it onto timesheets. For a solo practitioner billing $300 per hour, that translates to roughly $60,000 in annual revenue lost.

Manual time tracking creates a constant administrative burden. You interrupt client work to jot down notes, reconstruct yesterday's activities from memory, or spend weekend hours piecing together what you actually did all week. Meanwhile, clients question vague time entries, and billing disputes erode relationships you've worked hard to build.

Attorney time-tracking software solves these problems through automated capture, real-time recording, and detailed audit trails. 

In this guide, we'll examine the top seven attorney time-tracking software options, comparing their features, pricing, and compliance capabilities to help you select the right solution for your firm.

What is a time-tracking software?

A time-tracking software is a digital tool that helps professionals record, monitor, and manage the hours they spend on tasks and projects. For legal professionals, these platforms go beyond simple timers — they offer specialized features such as matter-based tracking, billable-hour categorization, and integration with invoicing systems. 

Modern time-tracking solutions range from basic stopwatch-style applications to comprehensive practice management platforms that combine time capture with billing, trust accounting, and client management capabilities.

At its core, time-tracking software replaces manual timesheets and paper logs with automated, accurate digital records. Advanced platforms now incorporate AI-powered features that passively monitor activity across emails, documents, and calendar events, automatically suggesting time entries for work that might otherwise go unrecorded. 

This technology ensures that every minute of billable work is captured and properly attributed to the correct client matter.

Why lawyers need time-tracking software

Legal professionals face unique challenges in time management and billing. Unlike many other industries, law firms bill clients based on the time spent on their matters, making accurate timekeeping essential to profitability and client trust.

Maximize billable hour capture

Attorneys frequently lose billable time due to inefficient tracking methods — forgotten phone calls, brief email exchanges, and quick research sessions that never make it onto timesheets. 

Time-tracking software with passive monitoring and automated suggestions helps recover this lost time by automatically capturing work that would otherwise go unbilled due to forgetfulness or administrative burden.

Ensure billing accuracy and client trust

Clients expect detailed, accurate invoices that reflect the work performed on their behalf. Time-tracking software provides contemporaneous records that support transparent billing, reducing disputes and strengthening client relationships.

Meet ethical obligations

The American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct require lawyers to charge reasonable fees and communicate billing information clearly to clients. Accurate time tracking with proper audit trails helps firms demonstrate compliance with these ethical requirements.

Streamline administrative workflows

Manual time entry consumes valuable hours that could be spent on client work. Automated time-tracking reduces administrative burden, allowing attorneys to focus on practicing law rather than paperwork.

Support legal compliance requirements

For firms serving corporate or insurance clients, features like trust accounting, LEDES electronic billing, and UTBMS codes are essential for compliance with industry standards and state bar requirements.

Provide business intelligence

Detailed time data offers insights into firm productivity, matter profitability, and resource allocation. This information helps firm leadership make informed decisions about staffing, pricing, and practice development.

7 best attorney time-tracking software

1. Clio

Clio is a comprehensive legal practice management platform offering four subscription tiers ($39-$159/user/month) with AI-powered time tracking through Clio Manage AI and Billables AI integration. The platform stands out for its 250+ integrations and ability to capture 15-30% more billable hours through passive activity monitoring, making it ideal for firms seeking to reduce billing leakage.

Key features:

• AI-powered automatic time entry suggestions for calls, emails, and case notes
• Seamless integration with invoicing and billing modules across all plans
• 250+ third-party integrations with legal and business software
• Comprehensive analytics and detailed reporting with realization rate tracking

Pricing: Starts at $39/user/month (EasyStart plan, annual billing); ranges up to $149/user/month (Complete plan).

2. MyCase

MyCase (rebranded as 8am MyCase in October 2025) is a comprehensive legal practice management platform with three subscription tiers ($39-$109/user/month, annual billing) that combines time tracking with practice management capabilities. The platform excels at capturing billable hours through cloud-based case management and calendar synchronization.

Key features:

• One-click time tracking from multiple devices with simultaneous timers for different matters
• MyCase IQ generative AI tool for automation and workflow enhancement
• Billables AI integration for autonomous timekeeping with AI-generated descriptions (Pro/Advanced plans)
• Unlimited two-way texting and eSignatures (Pro/Advanced plans)

Pricing: Starts at $39/user/month (Basic plan, annual billing); Pro at $89/user/month; Advanced at $109/user/month.

3. TimeSolv

TimeSolv is known for its comprehensive, legally specific features included in the base plan rather than as premium add-ons. At $47.50/user/month, TimeSolv includes trust accounting with IOLTA compliance, LEDES electronic billing, conflict checking, and ABA task codes — making it ideal for firms requiring full compliance capabilities without tiered pricing.

Key features:

• Trust accounting with IOLTA compliance included in base plan
• LEDES electronic billing support for corporate clients
• Built-in conflict checking and ABA task and activity codes
• Flexible invoicing with comprehensive reporting tools and offline tracking

Pricing: $47.50/user/month with free trial available.

4. Rocket Matter

Rocket Matter is a cloud-based legal practice management platform offering four pricing tiers ($49-$129/user/month, annual billing) that integrates time tracking, billing, trust accounting, and business accounting. The Elite tier includes fully integrated law office business accounting, eliminating the need for separate accounting software.

Key features:

• Rocket Matter Track automatically monitors computer activity to capture micro-tasks
• Real-time tracking with multiple timers and batch billing capabilities
• Integration with popular accounting software across all pricing tiers
• Fully integrated business accounting with customizable chart of accounts (Elite tier)

Pricing: Starts at $49/user/month (Essentials, annual billing); ranges to $129/user/month (Elite with integrated accounting).

5. Bill4Time

Bill4Time offers scalable time tracking and billing with pricing starting at $27-$29/user/month for basic features. The Legal Pro tier at $45-$49/user/month includes essential compliance features such as trust accounting, conflict checking, LEDES billing, UTBMS codes, and contingency billing, offering competitive entry pricing for firms requiring legal compliance.

Key features:

• Trust accounting with IOLTA compliance (Legal Pro tier)
• LEDES electronic billing and UTBMS codes for corporate clients
• Customizable reports and analytics with detailed billing options
• Mobile time tracking with cloud sync across devices

Pricing: Starts at $27/user/month (Time & Billing, annual billing); Legal Pro at $45/user/month; Legal Enterprise at $80/user/month.

6. PracticePanther

PracticePanther is a comprehensive legal practice management platform with three subscription tiers ($49-$89/user/month, annual billing) that combines time tracking, billing, trust accounting, and document management. The platform features Smith.ai Virtual Receptionist Integration, which automatically logs call durations and notes as billable activities.

Key features:

• One-click time tracking with timer functionality across multiple matters
• Smith.ai integration automatically posts call durations to PracticePanther as billable activities
• Comprehensive analytics and reporting with calendar sync and task management
• Native two-way texting and eSignature with LEDES billing (Business plan)

Pricing: Starts at $49/user/month (Solo, annual billing); Essential at $69/user/month; Business at $89/user/month.

7. Toggl Track

Toggl Track is a general-purpose time-tracking platform that offers legal-specific features with flexible pricing. The Starter plan ($9/user/month) provides basic billable rate management, while the Premium plan ($18/user/month) adds critical compliance features, such as timesheet locking and approval workflows, to support ethical billing practices.

Key features:

• Simple time tracking with start/stop timers and detailed analytics
• Billable rate management and time rounding with one-click invoice generation
• Timesheet approvals and locking for ethical billing compliance (Premium plan)
• Integrations with major platforms, including Clio and QuickBooks

Pricing: Free plan for up to 5 users; Starter at $9/user/month; Premium at $18/user/month.

How to choose the right attorney time-tracking software

Selecting the ideal attorney time-tracking software requires consideration of several factors to ensure it meets your exact needs. These factors include:

Evaluate integration options

The software should easily integrate with your practice management and billing systems. According to guidance from the North Carolina Bar Association, trust accounting management is non-negotiable for legal compliance. This creates a smooth workflow, avoids duplicate data entry, reduces errors, and saves time.

Prioritize ease of use

The software should have an intuitive interface with a slight learning curve for your team. Tools that are easy to use will help your team quickly adapt to the new system and encourage consistent use, improving overall efficiency. According to the NC Bar Association's ROI analysis, change management and comprehensive training are more critical to achieving projected ROI than technology features alone.

Focus on features that drive ROI and ensure legal compliance

When choosing between several options, prioritize features that drive ROI and ensure legal compliance. According to bar association guidance, law firms should focus on three categories of features: must-haves (deal-breakers if absent), nice-to-haves (competitive differentiators), and features to avoid (unnecessary complexity).

Ensure essential features are included

Essential features include detailed reporting with legal-specific metrics such as realization rates; offline tracking for mobile attorneys; automated billing for cash flow management; trust accounting for state bar compliance; and LEDES/UTBMS billing code support for corporate clients. These capabilities directly impact firm profitability and prevent client disputes through standardized billing practices.

Consider advanced capabilities

Beyond the fundamentals, evaluate integration with practice management and accounting systems to enable unified workflows; security features such as end-to-end encryption and multifactor authentication to protect client confidentiality; AI-powered passive tracking, which vendors report can capture 15-30% more billable hours; and a user-friendly design that encourages attorney adoption and ensures ROI.

Analyze pricing and value

Pricing is another consideration. Compare the cost of each option against the benefits and features it provides. Entry-level plans start as low as $9/month with Toggl Track, while basic legal practice management tools like Clio and MyCase begin at $39/month per user. 

For law firms requiring legal compliance features such as trust accounting and LEDES billing, expect mid-tier plans ranging from $45 to $99 per user per month. Choose a solution that offers excellent value without compromising on legal-specific capabilities if your firm serves corporate or insurance clients.

Choose the best lawyer time-tracking software for your firm

Selecting the right attorney time-tracking software improves billing accuracy, captures more billable hours, and streamlines firm operations. 

Whether you choose a comprehensive solution like Clio or a specialized tool like TimeSolv, prioritize features that match your compliance requirements and integration needs.

For law firms seeking to maximize billable time capture, Smith.ai offers receptionist services with two complementary options: the AI Receptionist for high-volume routine calls and the Virtual Receptionist service with North America-based agents for sensitive matters. 

Both integrate with legal practice management software to automatically log call activities as billable time.

Schedule a consultation to learn more.