Actionstep
Actionstep is a cloud-based legal practice management software that automates workflows and centralizes matter management, accounting, and billing to help law firms run more productive and profitable businesses.
TrustBooks
TrustBooks is a specialized accounting software designed for law firms to maintain compliance with state bar requirements through automated three-way reconciliations and simplified trust account management.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Actionstep | TrustBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Website | actionstep.com | trustbooks.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $49/month | $79/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2004 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | Charlotte, USA |
Overview
Actionstep
Actionstep is a comprehensive legal practice management platform designed to help you run your entire firm from a single cloud-based system. Instead of jumping between disconnected tools, you can manage every aspect of a legal matter—from initial intake and document generation to time tracking and final billing—within a unified environment. The platform is built around a powerful workflow engine that lets you automate repetitive administrative tasks and ensure your team follows consistent processes for every case.
You can customize the software to match your specific practice areas, whether you handle family law, personal injury, or corporate litigation. It scales effectively for mid-sized and growing firms that have outgrown basic tools and need integrated features like trust accounting, email management, and client portals. By centralizing your data, you gain better visibility into firm performance and can focus more time on practicing law rather than managing paperwork.
TrustBooks
TrustBooks provides a dedicated solution for managing your law firm's trust accounting without the complexity of general-purpose software. You can handle complex requirements like three-way reconciliations and individual client ledgers with just a few clicks. The platform focuses specifically on keeping you compliant with state bar rules, ensuring your records are always audit-ready and accurate.
You can easily track every dollar entering or leaving your trust accounts while maintaining a clear separation from your operating funds. Whether you are a solo practitioner or part of a growing firm, the software automates the tedious manual entries that often lead to accounting errors. It integrates directly with your existing legal tools to streamline your entire financial workflow.
Overview
Actionstep Features
- Automated Workflows Build custom step-by-step processes for your matters to ensure your team never misses a deadline or a critical document.
- Integrated Accounting Manage your firm's business accounts and client trust accounts in one place without needing separate third-party accounting software.
- Document Automation Generate complex legal documents instantly by pulling data directly from your matters into your own customized Word templates.
- Email Management File emails directly to specific matters from Outlook or Gmail so your entire team can access the latest correspondence.
- Client Portal Share documents and updates securely with your clients through a private portal that improves communication and transparency.
- Time & Billing Capture every billable minute with built-in timers and generate professional, accurate invoices with just a few clicks.
- Conflict Checking Run comprehensive searches across your entire database to identify potential conflicts of interest before taking on new clients.
- Reporting & Analytics Track your firm's profitability and productivity with real-time dashboards that show you exactly where your business stands.
TrustBooks Features
- Three-Way Reconciliation. Generate automated reports that reconcile your bank balance, book balance, and individual client ledgers instantly.
- State Bar Compliance. Maintain records that automatically adhere to your specific state bar's strict trust accounting and record-keeping rules.
- Individual Client Ledgers. Track every transaction at the client level so you always know exactly how much each person has on deposit.
- Bank Integration. Connect your bank accounts to import transactions directly, reducing manual data entry and preventing human error.
- Online Payments. Accept credit card and eCheck payments from clients directly into your trust or operating accounts.
- Conflict of Interest Checks. Perform quick searches across your entire database to identify potential conflicts before taking on new matters.
Pricing Comparison
Actionstep Pricing
- Matter management
- Contact management
- Document storage
- Basic time & billing
- Standard reporting
- Mobile app access
- Everything in Express, plus:
- Full office & trust accounting
- Advanced workflow automation
- Document assembly
- Email integration
- Client portal access
TrustBooks Pricing
- 1 Trust Account
- Unlimited users
- Three-way reconciliations
- State bar compliance reports
- Bank integration
- Email support
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Unlimited Trust Accounts
- Operating account management
- Advanced reporting
- Priority support
- Custom chart of accounts
Pros & Cons
Actionstep
Pros
- Highly customizable workflows adapt to any practice area
- All-in-one system eliminates the need for separate accounting
- Strong document automation saves hours of manual drafting
- Centralized email filing keeps matter history organized
- Excellent visibility into firm-wide productivity and billing
Cons
- Significant learning curve due to deep customization options
- Initial setup requires time and careful planning
- Mobile app features are limited compared to desktop
- Occasional slowness when loading large document folders
TrustBooks
Pros
- Simplifies complex three-way reconciliations significantly
- Excellent customer support tailored to legal needs
- Intuitive interface designed specifically for non-accountants
- Seamless integration with popular practice management tools
Cons
- Limited general business accounting features
- Higher price point than generic accounting tools
- Mobile experience is less robust than desktop