How Your Practice Management Platform Can Fuel Growth and Be Part of Your Revenue Strategy

Beyond time tracking and admin: how midsize law firms can turn their practice management systems into growth engines that scale client service and profitability.

While midsize law firms continue to obsess over visible growth strategies (like hiring top talent, expanding practice areas, and building client relationships), there’s a silent revolution happening in the most overlooked corners of legal operations: practice management software (PMS).

The truth is, it’s 2025. Technology has advanced. Client expectations have changed. Yet many firms are still operating like it’s 2010 when it comes to how they operate their practice.

Actionstep’s 2025 Australian Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report reveals a stark reality: the firms pulling ahead aren’t just better at practicing law, they are operating a fundamentally different business. 71% of firms say that client satisfaction is their top priority for protecting revenue. That’s no surprise. What is surprising is that 74% of the same firms admit that time and workload limitations are holding them back from delivering that very satisfaction.

Let’s pause for a second.
If your team is too overwhelmed to deliver what your clients value most—how can your firm expect to compete on client experience?

And more to the point – why are we still working this way?

Even with these mounting pressures, only 38% of midsize firms are using process automation tools, and a mere 6% rank automation as a top efficiency priority.

It’s not that firms don’t know what matters. It’s that they’re trapped in operational habits that make their goals impossible to achieve.

What strategic firms see that others miss

Strategic firms have recognised a simple truth: if time constraints prevent exceptional client service, and exceptional client service drives revenue, then creating more time is fundamentally a revenue strategy, not just an operational concern.

Instead of asking “What software do we use to manage matters?”, they’re asking:

• What would it take for our PMS to help us grow, not just operate?
• How can we shift time from admin to advisory work – where our value is.
• What if our software could recognise patterns and surface opportunities?
• Why are we building workarounds for software that should be working for us?
• If our competitors figure this out first, how far ahead will they pull?

From an administrative tool to a strategic asset

The first step is recognising that disconnected tools and siloed data don’t just slow people down. They break the feedback look between what clients want and how teams operate. That leads firms to consolidate, integrate, and build workflows that don’t rely on human memory to function.

With that foundation in place, the next move becomes obvious: automation and integration. When client information, matter management, and billing processes exist in a unified ecosystem, the administrative friction that consumes 74% of firms’ capacity begins to disappear.

And, as automation scales, firms gain something even more powerful: VISIBILITY.

When the right systems are in place, patterns emerge. Time leakage becomes measurable. Underserved clients are easier to spot. Revenue opportunities surface without the need for manual reports.

Each of these advancements reinforces the next. Integration unlocks automation. Automation generates data. Data reveals opportunities. And opportunities become action – if your systems are set up to handle it.

This isn’t JUST about efficiency

When your practice management software is tightly woven into the way your firm operates, the upside is much bigger than saving a few hours.

It’s about reclaiming the capacity to think, to serve, to lead.

Take a firm of 20 fee-earners. If each lawyer saves just 30 minutes a day through better integration, that adds up to 2,500+ billable hours annually. That’s the equivalent of adding another full-time lawyer to the team—without the associated costs of hiring and onboarding.

What begins as an operational fix becomes a competitive edge.

This isn’t just about tools. It’s about building the kind of firm that consistently delivers the experience your clients now expect without burning out the people who make it possible.

Moving forward: Creating the systems you need

Transforming your practice management software into a strategic asset doesn’t require an overhaul, but it does require a shift in thinking. Start by asking yourself: where is the friction in our current workflows? Which processes are most critical to client satisfaction, and how can we automate them? What metrics will show that our systems are directly linked to revenue outcomes?

As you address these questions, you’ll begin to see a clear path forward.

This could look like:

• Automatic VOI
• Intake information feeds directly into matter strategy.
• Matter progress triggers automatic client communications.
• Billing data flows directly into business intelligence tools.
• Workflows are automated, reducing manual intervention and increasing consistency.

Too often, firms view their PMS in isolation, useful for managing matters and billing, but disconnected from the broader tools they rely on every day. The result? A patchwork of manual processes, duplicated data entry, and missed opportunities to streamline. The next step in operational maturity is integration—not just within the PMS itself, but across the entire ecosystem of tools your firm uses, from document management to e-signatures, reporting tools, and client communications. This level of integration is where real leverage begins to show up.

The invisible advantage of strategic practice management accumulates with every process streamlined, every integration point established, and every manual task eliminated. Those who recognise this shift aren’t just implementing better systems—they’re establishing the foundation for sustainable competitive advantage.

At Verlata Consulting, we work with firms to design these connected environments—aligning systems so they talk to each other, automate routine tasks, and support lawyers in delivering better client experiences without adding to their workload. The goal isn’t just efficiency. It’s about creating a digital foundation that allows your firm to scale strategically.

About Verlata Consulting

Verlata Consulting is a full-service legal technology consulting firm that transforms law firms and legal teams’ operations through tailored solutions, led by experts. With 70% of our team bringing deep legal tech and SaaS expertise, we help guide your practice from initial consultation through implementation, integration, and training — ensuring seamless delivery at every step so that you can go back to what you do best.

About the Author

Jason Mills is the CEO of Verlata Consulting, where he leads the strategic direction of the business while keeping culture and values at the core of every decision. With over 20 years of experience working closely with law firms, Jason has developed a deep understanding of the pressures, inefficiencies, and growing expectations that legal professionals face.