# The IP Practice Software Checklist: Docketing, Intake, Portfolios, Documents, and Billing

Disclosure: Some links may become affiliate links after approval. This guide is educational software research, not legal advice.

## Who this is for

Ip lawyers managing trademarks, copyrights, deadlines, client intake, portfolio tracking, documents, and billing.

## The bottlenecks to fix first

Deadline tracking, portfolio visibility, document management, client intake, and status updates.

## Recommended starter stack

- **Clio**: Clio can serve as the main matter hub for ip lawyer software, especially when the firm wants calendars, notes, documents, billing, and client communication in one place. It matters most where deadline tracking, portfolio visibility, document management, client intake, and status updates are creating daily friction.
- **MyCase**: MyCase can serve as the main matter hub for ip lawyer software, especially when the firm wants calendars, notes, documents, billing, and client communication in one place. It matters most where deadline tracking, portfolio visibility, document management, client intake, and status updates are creating daily friction.
- **PracticePanther**: PracticePanther can serve as the main matter hub for ip lawyer software, especially when the firm wants calendars, notes, documents, billing, and client communication in one place. It matters most where deadline tracking, portfolio visibility, document management, client intake, and status updates are creating daily friction.
- **Lawmatics**: Lawmatics is strongest before a matter is opened. For ip lawyer software, use it to capture leads, trigger follow-up, collect intake details, and track which sources produce real consults.
- **LawPay**: LawPay helps reduce payment friction for ip lawyer software. Online payments, retainers, and invoice follow-up are not glamorous, but neither is chasing money after the work is done.
- **Gavel**: Gavel helps when ip lawyer software uses repeatable questionnaires, letters, forms, or templates. The payoff is fewer retyped answers and fewer documents rebuilt from the last good one.
- **Calendly**: Calendly can support ip lawyer software as part of the operating stack. Use it only where it solves a specific bottleneck.
- **Notion**: Notion can support ip lawyer software as part of the operating stack. Use it only where it solves a specific bottleneck.

## Implementation checklist

1. Pick one bottleneck before comparing demos.
2. Test one real matter workflow from intake to payment or close.
3. Confirm confidentiality, security, trust accounting, and data export requirements.
4. Assign one owner for templates, automations, and cleanup.
5. Review the stack every quarter. Software drift is real, and it wears a nice login screen.

## Deeper guide

Read the full directory page: https://lawyersoftwaretoolbox.com/ip-law-software/