1. Start with the workflow, not the software category
Generic legal software is designed for an average workflow. Your firm may have different handoffs between attorneys, intake staff, paralegals, administrators, and clients. A custom build can be considered when the same task is repeatedly copied, re-entered, checked, or delayed. Examples include a client-status portal, an intake tool, an internal dashboard, or a referral tracker. These are possible scopes, not promises that every requested feature will be built.
Recommended approach
Document one bottleneck in plain language: who performs it, what information they use, where the process stops, and what a successful outcome would look like. Then ask whether a smaller tool could solve the problem without replacing systems that already work.
