The verdict in three sentences
Custom case management software for a Dublin law firm costs 28,000 to 75,000 EUR in 2026, delivered in 12 to 20 weeks. Vertical vendors (Secib, Kleos, Jarvis Legal) charge 50 to 130 EUR per user per month and cover most generalist firms. Custom becomes relevant beyond 10 lawyers, or when a specialty (employment, IP, white-collar crime) imposes bespoke workflows.
The scope of a law firm system
Case management goes well beyond simple filing. It orchestrates court deadlines, time-based billing and confidentiality. Here are the key modules and their budget weight (2026 order of magnitude).
| Module | Key function | Budget share | Indicative cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case management | Records, parties, history | 25 % | 7,000 - 18,750 |
| Deadlines & calendar | Limitation dates, hearings, alerts | 15 % | 4,200 - 11,250 |
| Time-based billing | Timesheets, hourly rates, invoices | 20 % | 5,600 - 15,000 |
| Digital vault | Encrypted storage, court e-filing | 15 % | 4,200 - 11,250 |
| Conflict checks | Automated screening | 10 % | 2,800 - 7,500 |
| Integrations & reporting | Accounting, e-filing, dashboards | 15 % | 4,200 - 11,250 |
Time-based billing is the highest-ROI module: rigorous time tracking recovers on average 5 to 10 % of fees previously left unbilled.
Custom vs vendor: the 5-year math
The choice depends on lawyer count and customisation needs. Total cost comparison over 5 years (2026 estimate).
| Criterion | Vendor (Secib/Kleos) | Custom (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 EUR | 28,000 - 75,000 EUR |
| Subscription | 50-130 EUR/user/month | Maintenance 600-1,500 EUR/month |
| 12 lawyers / 5 years | 36,000 - 93,600 EUR | 64,000 - 165,000 EUR |
| Business workflows | Standard | Bespoke |
| Vault & e-filing | Yes | Yes |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| Development day rate | N/A | 480-680 EUR |
Below 10 lawyers, the vendor keeps the best cost/speed ratio. Beyond that, or for a specialty requiring proprietary automation, custom becomes a lasting advantage.
Mini case study
Aoife Byrne, partner in a 14-lawyer commercial law firm in Dublin's docklands. She pays 110 EUR per user per month, i.e. 18,480 EUR/year. Custom software at 58,000 EUR with maintenance at 1,100 EUR/month (13,200 EUR/year) costs 71,200 EUR in year one, then 13,200 EUR/year. Over 5 years: 124,000 EUR custom vs 92,400 EUR vendor. The 31,600 EUR premium is offset by recovered billing: precise time tracking captures 7 % of fees on a 2.8 M EUR turnover, i.e. 196,000 EUR/year secured. Custom pays for itself within the first months.
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FAQ
How long for custom law-firm software?
Expect 12 to 20 weeks in 2026. A core of cases + time billing ships in 12-14 weeks; the encrypted vault and conflict checks add 4 to 6 weeks.
Can we connect e-filing and accounting?
Yes. Court e-filing integration, export to the accounting package and calendar sync are planned. These integrations weigh around 15 % of budget, i.e. 4,200 to 11,250 EUR.
How is professional privilege handled?
Through encryption at rest and in transit, per-case access segmentation and logging. EU hosting guarantees GDPR compliance and client confidentiality.
Does time tracking really improve billing?
Yes: firms recover on average 5 to 10 % of previously uncaptured fees. On a 2 M EUR turnover, that is 100,000 to 200,000 EUR/year.
What does maintenance cover?
Between 600 and 1,500 EUR/month: fixes, updates (scales, e-filing), backups and support. The SLA defines response times.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your firm size, specialty, priority modules and an indicative budget (28-75,000 EUR): we'll frame scope and timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
