Start with your practice, not the feature list
The biggest mistake firms make when choosing software is starting from a vendor's feature list instead of their own workflows. Before you evaluate any product, write down the 5 things that consume the most time in your practice today.
For most family law firms, that list looks something like:
- Document preparation — financial affidavits, parenting plans, settlement agreements
- Client communication — status updates, gathering information, answering the same questions
- Deadline tracking — court dates, discovery deadlines, filing windows
- Financial analysis — support calculations, asset/debt inventories, equitable distribution
- Intake and onboarding — consultations, engagement letters, conflict checks
Any software you adopt should directly reduce time spent on at least 2-3 of these. If it doesn't, it's adding complexity without solving your actual problems.
The three tiers of divorce software
Tier 1: General practice management
Examples: Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther
These platforms weren't built for family law specifically, but they handle the fundamentals: case management, billing, calendaring, and document storage. They work well as a foundation, especially if your firm practices in multiple areas beyond family law.
Choose this tier if: You need solid practice management basics and already have workflows for family-law-specific tasks (or handle them manually and that's fine).
Tier 2: Family-law-specific tools
Examples: DissoMaster, Xspouse, family law document automation templates
These are point solutions that handle one or two family-law-specific tasks extremely well. Support calculators, for example, are indispensable in the states they cover. Document automation tools can save hours per case on standard forms.
Choose this tier if: You already have general practice management and need to add specialized capabilities.
Tier 3: AI-native family law platforms
Examples: divorce.law
This is the newest category — platforms built from the ground up for family law with AI as a core feature rather than an add-on. They combine case management, document automation, financial analysis, and client communication under a unified AI that understands case context.
Choose this tier if: Family law is your primary practice area and you want a single platform purpose-built for it.
Key evaluation criteria
1. Jurisdiction coverage
Family law is jurisdiction-specific. A platform that doesn't understand your state's support calculation formula, required court forms, or filing procedures is going to create more work, not less. Ask every vendor: "Which jurisdictions do you actively support, and how do you handle rule changes?"
2. Client-facing features
Your clients are going through the most stressful event of their lives. Software that reduces the number of "just checking in" calls and gives clients appropriate visibility into their case saves everyone time and reduces frustration.
Look for: client portals, secure document sharing, intake questionnaires, and real-time status updates.
3. Financial tools
Divorce is ultimately a financial event. If the software can't help you with support calculations, asset/liability inventories, or financial affidavit preparation, you're still doing the hardest analytical work manually.
4. Integration vs. all-in-one
Some firms prefer best-of-breed tools stitched together with integrations. Others want a single platform that does everything. Neither approach is wrong, but know which camp you're in before you start shopping.
Integration approach: Choose Clio or similar as your hub, then add DissoMaster for calculations, Gavel for document automation, Lawmatics for intake, and so on. More flexible, but more vendors to manage.
All-in-one approach: Choose a platform like divorce.law that handles the full workflow. Simpler to manage, but you're more dependent on a single vendor.
5. AI capabilities
AI in legal tech ranges from "we added a chatbot" to genuinely transformative. When evaluating AI features, ask:
- Does the AI understand my specific case context, or does it start from zero every time?
- Can it draft jurisdiction-specific documents, or just generic templates?
- Does it help with financial analysis, or only text-based tasks?
- Is the AI transparent about its limitations and when to consult a human?
6. Security and compliance
You're handling attorney-client privileged information. At minimum, require: SOC 2 compliance (or equivalent controls), data encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access controls, and audit trails for all data access.
The decision framework
| Factor | Weight it higher if... |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction coverage | You practice in multiple states |
| Financial tools | You handle complex asset cases |
| Client portal | You have high client communication volume |
| AI capabilities | You want to reduce research/drafting time |
| Integration ecosystem | You already use tools you want to keep |
| Pricing | You're a solo or small firm |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing based on a demo alone. Every product looks great in a demo. Ask for a trial with your real data.
- Ignoring the migration path. How do you get your existing cases into the new system? What does it cost?
- Over-buying features. A $149/user platform is wasteful if you only use 30% of its features.
- Under-estimating training time. Factor in 2-4 weeks of reduced productivity during any software transition.
- Skipping the security review. Ask for their SOC 2 report or security documentation. If they can't produce it, walk away.