The verdict in three sentences
Custom law practice management software in Dublin runs EUR 45,000 to 100,000 in 2026, against EUR 40 to 90 per user per month for a vertical like Clio, LEAP or Actionstep. For a 10-lawyer firm, custom becomes competitive over 5 years once your processes (billing, disbursement re-invoicing, court e-filing) fall outside the standard mould. The decision hinges on total cost of ownership and data ownership, not the entry price.
What a law firm tool manages
The practice demands matter and client management, calendar and procedural deadlines, time capture, time-or-fixed-fee billing, and connection to court e-filing systems. Here are the 2026 line items for Dublin.
| Module | Scope | Range (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Matters & clients | Records, conflict checks, history | 10,000 - 20,000 |
| Calendar & deadlines | Procedural dates, alerts | 7,000 - 14,000 |
| Time capture | Timesheets per matter and lawyer | 7,000 - 13,000 |
| Billing | Time, fixed fee, disbursements | 9,000 - 18,000 |
| Court e-filing / integrations | Filing and tracking | 6,000 - 16,000 |
| UAT & migration | Testing, data import | 6,000 - 15,000 |
| Total project | Full suite | 45,000 - 100,000 |
Ongoing maintenance sits around EUR 700 per month. Typical delivery is 5 to 8 months.
5-year TCO: custom vs vertical (10-lawyer firm)
Compared against a vertical subscription at EUR 70 per user per month.
| Line | Vertical | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Licence / initial build | 0 | 75,000 |
| 5-yr subscription (10 users) | 42,000 | 0 |
| 5-yr maintenance | included | 42,000 |
| Setup & training | 5,000 | 6,000 |
| Blocked customisations | frequent | none |
| 5-year total | 47,000 | 123,000 |
The vertical stays cheaper in raw cash at 10 lawyers. Custom is justified when the firm has out-of-norm needs: complex multi-partner billing, integration with a wealth-management tool, or a wish to proprietarise a competitive edge.
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Mini case study
Aoife, partner at a 12-lawyer firm in Dublin, weighs Clio at EUR 70 per user per month, EUR 10,080 a year. But her firm bills fixed fees with an outcome-based bonus system that the standard tool can't model. A custom module at EUR 62,000 automates this billing and removes about 15 hours of manual rework a month, valued at EUR 90 an hour: EUR 16,200 saved per year. Payback in roughly 3.8 years, plus error-free invoicing.
FAQ
Can custom really handle court e-filing? Yes, via available gateways; budget EUR 6,000 to 16,000 for integration and filing tests.
Is it riskier than a vendor product? Risk is controlled with a precise spec and staged acceptance. You mainly avoid lock-in to a vendor who keeps raising prices.
What does annual maintenance cost? About EUR 8,400 a year (EUR 700 per month), covering fixes and small enhancements.
Can I migrate from LEAP or Actionstep? Yes, importing matters and history runs EUR 6,000 to 15,000 depending on export format.
At what size does custom clearly win? Above 20 lawyers, or sooner if your billing processes are atypical.
Let's scope your project. Give us your lawyer count, billing specifics and e-filing needs, and we'll price a realistic scope. 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.
